Are Panthers ‘a hot mess’? Here’s what NFL experts think about Sunday’s with Arizona
Are the Panthers a hot mess?
CBS Sports Will Brinson thinks just that, and he thinks — Cam Newton or not — the Panthers losing streak continues in Arizona Sunday. He likes the Cardinals winning, 23-13.
“The Panthers are a hot mess,” Brinson writes. “Such a mess they’re apparently bringing back Cam Newton?!?! Imagine cutting Cam, signing Teddy Bridgewater to a huge deal, trading Teddy, trading FOR Sam Darnold ... only to bring back Cam....David Tepper is really something else. Desperation is a stinky cologne and the Panthers are soaked in it. The defense will keep them in this one for the first half but it’s hard to imagine them having a chance to win this game, even with a bunch of Cardinals reserves playing.”
▪ At ESPN, David Newon and Josh Weinfuss both think Sunday’s game will be a laugher for Arizona.
Newton (predicts 32-13): “The Cardinals will sack Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker six times and force him into three interceptions behind an offensive line that has only one starter at the same position he began the season (right tackle Taylor Moton).”
Weinfuss predicts 38-17 for the Cardinals.
▪ Ditto for Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and Michael David Smith.
Florio (calling 30-13 for Cardinals): “Don’t look now, but David Tepper could decide to do with his coach what he’s been doing with his quarterbacks.”
David Smith (picking Arizona 27-10): “Panthers backup P.J. Walker starting in place of Sam Darnold won’t make much of a difference because Darnold was playing like a backup. The Cardinals will cruise either way.”
▪ All 11 ESPN experts like the Cardinals.
▪ Over at CBS, their 8-man picking panel is split on this game.
And former Observer writer Jonathan Jones believes the Panthers will play Newton Sunday.
“I won’t be surprised if (Cam) Newton is active Sunday against the Cardinals as either an emergency player or subbing in for some special packages,” Jones writes. “I’d expect Newton to have a decent enough understanding of the offense to provide a better alternative to P.J. Walker by next week, and he should be the starter when Carolina plays host to Washington in Week 11 ... Cam Newton is back in Carolina because the Panthers believe they can make the playoffs.”
▪ At NFL.com, Gregg Rosenthal thinks the Cardinals win 28-17.
“Five seasons into a career given a big boost by the XFL, (PJ) Walker will get his second NFL start on Sunday and then should head back to the bench in favor of Cam Newton: The Return,” Rosenthal writes. “Walker’s intriguing preseason snaps have not translated during mop-up duty this year, but Matt Rhule should introduce some offensive wrinkles and Walker can’t play worse than (Sam) Darnold did lately. Unfortunately, Walker’s first start this season will come against a team that is second in defensive DVOA. Arizona has repeatedly found the weak spots in offensive lines better than Carolina’s and pushed them around without mercy.”
▪ At the Sporting News, Bill Bender likes the Cardinals by about two touchdowns, 32-19.
This story was originally published November 14, 2021 at 6:35 AM with the headline "Are Panthers ‘a hot mess’? Here’s what NFL experts think about Sunday’s with Arizona."
