If you’re searching for Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats, you probably want more than just a box score. You want the story the numbers tell: who swung the game, who quietly did the dirty work, and which “good on paper” stat lines actually hid a rough day.
- Quick game context behind the Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats
- Passing stats that mattered most
- Rushing stats and why Carolina’s ground game was a problem
- Receiving leaders and who actually tilted the field
- Defensive impact plays that don’t always show up in casual recaps
- Key player stat tables for quick scanning (mobile-friendly)
- Best player performances: who truly won the game
- Worst player performances: where the stat sheet points to real issues
- What these match player stats tell you going forward
- Common questions
- Conclusion: What the Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats really say
This breakdown uses the Cardinals’ 27–22 win over the Panthers on September 14, 2025 as the reference game, then zooms in on the best and worst player performances with context — efficiency, impact plays, and what each stat means for future matchups.
Quick game context behind the Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats
The final score was Arizona 27, Carolina 22, but the “why” lives in three areas:
Arizona got enough efficiency from Kyler Murray to stay on schedule, even with one interception.
Carolina’s offense generated volume through the air, led by Bryce Young’s 55 attempts, but paid a tax in turnovers and inability to establish a run game.
Arizona’s defense created disruptive plays — especially in pressure and coverage impact — highlighted by Calais Campbell’s sack production and a takeaway.
Passing stats that mattered most
Quarterback stat lines can look similar on rating and still feel totally different on film. Here’s what the core passing numbers show.
Cardinals passing: Kyler Murray’s efficient-but-not-flawless day
Murray finished 17/25 for 220 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. That’s 8.8 yards per attempt, which is the kind of efficiency that keeps the entire offense “ahead of the chains.”
But the interception matters in how it shifts win probability: one negative play can erase several efficient completions. The key is that Arizona limited other drive-killers — only one sack logged against the Cardinals QB line in the box score view.
A practical way to read Murray’s day: he didn’t need to be heroic because the offense got chunk plays and avoided sustained mistakes.
Panthers passing: Bryce Young’s volume game with real punch — and real risk
Young posted 35/55 for 328 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, taking three sacks.
The 55 attempts signal game script and structure: Carolina leaned on passing to move the ball. The 6.0 yards per attempt (328 on 55) also hints at what kind of passes these were — more chain-moving than explosive, unless the receivers do extra work after the catch or win in the red zone.
And the risk showed up in two places:
- the interception (a direct lost opportunity), and
- a fumble lost (a drive-ending mistake that often flips field position).
Rushing stats and why Carolina’s ground game was a problem
Arizona rushing: enough to stay balanced
Arizona’s team rushing line in the box score section shows 22 carries for 82 yards.
James Conner led with 11 carries for 34 yards and a TD.
Murray added a notable efficiency piece: 7 carries for 32 yards, including a long of 30, which is the kind of QB run that can change defensive math instantly.
This wasn’t a dominant rushing day, but it was functional — enough to keep play-action credible and prevent Carolina from sitting in obvious passing looks.
Carolina rushing: the “hidden stat” that explains the loss
Carolina’s team rushing totals were 19 carries for 49 yards.
Chuba Hubbard had 10 carries for 38 to lead the team, while the rest of the rushing production was minimal.
When a team can’t run at even a modest baseline, it tends to create two downstream problems:
First, it increases third-and-medium frequency. Even with completions, it’s harder to string together long drives without one penalty or sack killing momentum.
Second, it increases QB exposure. More dropbacks means more chances for sacks, hits, tipped balls, and turnover-worthy plays — exactly where Carolina’s game turned.
Receiving leaders and who actually tilted the field
Panthers receiving: red-zone winners stood out
Carolina spread the ball, but two performances clearly popped in terms of impact.
Hunter Renfrow: 7 receptions, 48 yards, 2 TDs on 9 targets.
Two touchdowns on a modest yardage total is the definition of high leverage. This is the “possession receiver as a finisher” profile — winning in tight areas where separation windows shrink.
Tetairoa McMillan: 6 receptions, 100 yards on 10 targets.
This is the classic “field stretcher / volume chunk” line: 100 yards without a TD still matters if it consistently flips field position or sets up goal-to-go situations.
Also worth noting: Chuba Hubbard added meaningful value as a receiver (5 for 39 and a TD).
When the run game is quiet, RB receiving becomes a pressure valve — and Hubbard delivered there.
Cardinals receiving: the tight end room drove consistency
Arizona’s top receiver by yards in the box score was Trey McBride: 6 receptions, 78 yards (7 targets).
That’s a reliable “move-the-sticks” profile, and it’s often a quarterback’s best friend against mixed coverages.
Elijah Higgins chipped in a high-efficiency line (2 for 45), which suggests his touches were designed or matchup-driven.
The only receiving TD listed for Arizona went to Michael Wilson (1 catch, 11 yards, 1 TD).
A one-catch TD can be either a sign of limited overall involvement or simply that the offense chose to attack a specific coverage tendency in a scoring situation. The impact is real either way — touchdowns are currency.
Defensive impact plays that don’t always show up in casual recaps
If you want the “best and worst” performances, defense often decides it — even when the offense looks louder.
Cardinals defense: Calais Campbell changed drives
The biggest individual defensive stat line in this game belongs to Calais Campbell with 2 sacks, 2 TFL, and 2 QB hits.
That’s a drive-wrecking profile. Sacks don’t just remove yardage; they create long-yardage situations that increase turnover odds.
Arizona also got a takeaway via Baron Browning, who recorded an interception (returned 4 yards).
An interception is an immediate swing in expected points, and in a five-point game, one takeaway can be the entire margin.
Panthers defense: D.J. Wonnum’s interception was the highlight
Carolina’s defensive takeaway came from D.J. Wonnum, credited with 1 interception.
That play mattered — especially because Arizona’s passing volume was lower. When a QB only throws 25 times, one interception represents a big percentage of total dropbacks.
But even with that turnover, Carolina still had to climb out of a deficit, and the run game couldn’t help stabilize the offense.
Key player stat tables for quick scanning (mobile-friendly)
Passing (Cardinals vs Panthers)
| Team | QB | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAR | Bryce Young | 35/55 | 328 | 3 | 1 | 3–25 |
| ARI | Kyler Murray | 17/25 | 220 | 1 | 1 | 1–9 |
Source: ESPN box score
Top receiving producers
| Team | Player | REC | YDS | TD | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAR | Tetairoa McMillan | 6 | 100 | 0 | 10 |
| CAR | Hunter Renfrow | 7 | 48 | 2 | 9 |
| ARI | Trey McBride | 6 | 78 | 0 | 7 |
Source: ESPN box score
Game-changing defense and takeaways
| Team | Player | SACKS | TFL | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI | Calais Campbell | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| ARI | Baron Browning | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| CAR | D.J. Wonnum | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source: ESPN box score
Best player performances: who truly won the game
Best (Panthers): Bryce Young, despite the loss
A lot of losing-QB lines are empty calories. This one wasn’t. Young threw 3 touchdowns and moved the ball enough to keep the game within one score late.
Why he still grades as a “best performance” candidate:
The TD production is hard to fake.
55 attempts require durability, composure, and quick processing.
He generated enough offense without a run game supporting him.
The counterpoint — turnovers — matters (we’ll address it in “worst”), but the overall passing output was one of the main reasons Carolina had a chance at all.
Best (Panthers): Hunter Renfrow as the finisher
Two receiving TDs in a five-point game is massive leverage. Renfrow’s 7-48-2 line is the kind of stat profile that shows up in “clutch” packages: option routes, spacing concepts, and red-zone reads.
Best (Cardinals): Calais Campbell as the drive disruptor
Campbell’s 2 sacks + multiple hits reads like a defensive coordinator’s wish list.
When an edge/interior presence can collapse the pocket without blitzing, it unlocks everything behind it — more conservative coverage shells, safer third-down calls, and cleaner tackling angles.
Best (Cardinals): Kyler Murray for efficiency and situational control
Even with an interception, Murray’s 8.8 yards per attempt reflects chunk efficiency.
In practical terms, that means fewer plays are required to cross midfield, and fewer “must-convert” third downs appear.
Best (Cardinals): Trey McBride as the chain-mover
McBride’s 6 for 78 led Arizona in receiving yards.
That’s the profile of a player who keeps drives alive, which is often the hidden difference between 27 points and 20.
Worst player performances: where the stat sheet points to real issues
“Worst” doesn’t mean “bad player.” It means the performance (or unit) that most clearly hurt their team’s chances — especially relative to game context.
Worst (Panthers): the entire rushing attack
Carolina’s rushing total — 49 yards on 19 carries — is the type of number that forces a pass-heavy script even if you don’t want it.
This is also one of the easiest “why did they lose?” answers in football:
If you can’t run at all, the defense can hunt your QB and squat on short routes. The box score already shows Young taking three sacks and committing a turnover.
Worst (Panthers): the ball security swing (fumble lost)
The fumbles section credits Bryce Young with 1 fumble lost.
One lost fumble is often a 3–7 point swing depending on field position. In a one-score game, that’s the exact margin you feel afterward.
To be clear: this doesn’t erase the 3-TD passing day. But it does explain why big passing volume still ended in a loss.
Worst (Cardinals): inconsistent receiver touchdown conversion
Arizona’s receiving lines show only one receiving TD credited — to Michael Wilson on a single catch.
That’s not automatically “bad,” but it can point to red-zone limitations or reliance on non-WR scoring paths.
Arizona won anyway, partly because defense and efficiency covered the gap. But if you’re projecting forward, the low WR touchdown volume can be something opponents try to exploit by tightening coverage in scoring areas.
What these match player stats tell you going forward
If you’re the Cardinals: keep winning the efficiency battle
Arizona’s offense didn’t need to be explosive everywhere. It needed to be efficient enough to protect the lead. Murray’s yards per attempt and McBride’s steady production fit that template.
Actionable takeaway for fans and analysts: when Arizona’s defense is producing sacks and a takeaway, the offense can play a cleaner, lower-variance style and still win.
If you’re the Panthers: you can’t live on 55 pass attempts every week
Even when a QB plays well, that volume usually means you’re losing the script battle somewhere else — often on the ground or in early-down efficiency. Carolina’s 49 rushing yards is the loudest “fix this first” number from the whole game.
The good news: the passing TD production shows the offense can finish drives through the air.
The urgent news: fix the run game and ball security so those passing yards translate into wins.
Common questions
What were the most important Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats?
The swing stats were Bryce Young’s 3 passing TDs for Carolina, Kyler Murray’s 220 passing yards on 25 attempts, and Arizona’s defensive disruption led by Calais Campbell’s 2 sacks, plus an interception by Baron Browning.
Who was the best player in Cardinals vs Panthers (Sep 14, 2025)?
On defense, Calais Campbell had the most drive-ending impact with 2 sacks and multiple hits. On offense, Bryce Young produced the biggest raw output with 328 yards and 3 TDs, even in a loss.
Who had the best receiving performance?
Tetairoa McMillan led all receivers with 100 yards, while Hunter Renfrow delivered the most leverage with two receiving touchdowns.
Why did the Panthers lose despite strong passing stats?
Carolina’s run game produced only 49 team rushing yards, and the offense also had a lost fumble and an interception. In a five-point game, those negatives are often the difference.
Did kickers affect the outcome?
Both kickers were perfect on listed attempts: Ryan Fitzgerald went 1/1 FG and 1/1 XP, and Chad Ryland went 2/2 FG and 3/3 XP, so special teams accuracy was not the deciding factor.
Conclusion: What the Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats really say
In this Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats review, the scoreboard (27–22 Arizona) matches the underlying story: Arizona won with efficiency and defensive disruption, while Carolina produced big passing volume but couldn’t balance it with a functioning run game or mistake-free possessions.
The best performances came from players who delivered high-leverage results — Calais Campbell’s sacks, Baron Browning’s interception, Bryce Young’s three TD throws, and Hunter Renfrow’s red-zone finishing.
The worst performance, by impact, was Carolina’s 49-yard rushing output, because it forced the offense into a narrow, high-risk path: throw constantly, stay perfect, and hope the defense steals extra possessions. That’s hard to sustain — especially against a defense that can generate pressure without selling out.
