Big Red
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- Mar 16, 2019
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The Cardinals had two deep shots that could have changed the complexion of the game. Wideout Christian Kirk couldn’t hold on to a beautifully thrown ball down the middle of the field that would have sent the Cardinals from inside their own territory into scoring position before the half.
“I just wasn’t expecting Tre (Boston) to be there,” Kirk said. “I wasn’t expecting the contact, but I know that that’s a catch that I have to make for Kyler.”
In the third quarter, wideout Trent Sherfield dropped a pass that could have been a big gain or maybe even a touchdown because he was so wide open. The Cardinals scored a field goal on the drive, but the Panthers answered with a 76-yard rushing touchdown by Christian McCaffrey.
Murray made his only big mistake of the first three quarters when he was picked by cornerback Donte Jackson on an errant throw on the ensuing possession, and the Panthers scored another touchdown to take a 35-20 lead.
“We got a field goal, threw an interception, and then you look up and we’re down 15,” coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “Playing catchup once again, ended up trying to throw it a bunch to try and come back and we weren’t very successful.”
Murray was sacked eight times, five of which came in the final quarter as the Cardinals became one-dimensional.
“When they know it’s pass and it’s just 1-on-1 with you and the defender, it’s difficult, for sure,” guard Justin Pugh said. “But we’ve got a job to do. We’ve got to protect him better. We’ve got to give him the confidence that he can sit back there and throw the ball.”
The Cardinals may have rallied from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit in the opener against the Lions, but it is not a spot they want to be in. The offense was much more potent when it kept Carolina off-balance with the threat of the run.
“I think we can move the ball regardless,” Murray said. “It just got predictable in the end.”
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