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Cardinals at Panthers: 3 things we learned

By John Buhler

Oct 30, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) runs against Arizona Cardinals defensive back D.J. Swearinger (36) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) runs against Arizona Cardinals defensive back D.J. Swearinger (36) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Week 8, 30-20. Here are the three biggest takeaways from this NFC game.

The Carolina Panthers move to 2-5 on the season by besting an exhausted Arizona Cardinals team in Week 8, 30-20. Arizona falls to 3-4-1 on the season.

Carolina got back to what it does best with the ground-and-pound running game and big plays from its defense. Arizona just isn’t the same team that went to the NFC Championship Game a season ago. Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Panthers’ win at home over the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

1. Overtime ruined Arizona before the game began

This game was over before it even began. The Panthers didn’t even have to game plan to beat the Cardinals. Arizona was too tired to compete after tying the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.

Arizona fell into a 21-0 hole almost immediately and could not overcome that big of a deficit on the road in Charlotte. The Cardinals offensive line did a miserable job of keeping quarterback Carson Palmer upright. He didn’t play horrible in the place that made him look foolish in the 2015 NFC Championship Game. His offensive line did that for them.

Carolina was well-rested coming off its Week 7 bye. In all honesty, Arizona is probably the better of these two middling NFC teams, but the recovered Panthers were the better team on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

2. Jonathan Stewart is the Panthers’ only hope for the NFC Playoffs

The most important play on the Panthers isn’t quarterback Cam Newton, it is running back Jonathan Stewart. He gives the Panthers an offensive identity when he is able to run from the Carolina backfield.

Newton doesn’t have it this year with his arm, but Stewart at least gives the Panthers a fighting chance at qualifying for the 2016 NFC Playoffs in the second half. Carolina has to be a run-first team to win ball games in the National Football League. Stewart allows the Panthers to be just that.

3. Cam Newton is not a 2016 Pro Bowler

Yes, the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest, but Newton doesn’t deserve to be there in 2016. He’s not completing a high percentage of his passes and does not offer the kind of dynamism he has shown before as a runner.

He wasn’t terrible on Sunday, but the Panthers won the game over the Cardinals on Stewart and not him. Just over 200+ passing yards, completing 50% of his passes for no touchdowns is what a game-manager does at the quarterback position.

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Maybe that is what Newton has to be this year? It’s odd to admit that, especially the season after he won NFL MVP. If he plays better, Carolina might be a dangerous team in the second half, but he hasn’t been elite in 2016.

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