The Arizona Cardinals came out strong in their season and home field debut, hoping to bury the bad taste of last year’s disappointing 5-11 record by beating the Carolina Panthers 28-21.
The Cardinals could not be denied against a Carolina team that is still suffering from their previous 2-14 season, as the red birds went on to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the game. Before a ravenous home field crowd, former Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb led the Cardinals to a late victory throwing 2 TD passes and amassing a total of 309 yards. Kolb was brought in to settle last year’s musical chairs at quarterback and put in a solid performance.
The game was capped off by a stunning 89 yard punt return for a touchdown by 5th round Cardinal draft pick Patrick Peterson, his first career touchdown.
Other Cardinals standouts included Beanie Wells who took the team on his shoulders, rushing for 90 yards and scoring one of the team’s four touchdowns. Wells also caught 4 passes for an additional 12 yards.Although Kolb found eight different Cardinal receivers, he hit tight end Jeff King in the third quarter and wide receiver Early Doucet in the fourth for touchdowns, the latter tying the game at 21 points and giving Doucet 105 yards on the day.
Former ASU Tight End and former Baltimore returned to the Valley to provide good blocking and catch two passes for 40 yards. High profile target Larry Fitzgerald was denied a touchdown but caught three passes for 62 yards.
The Cardinal victory overshadowed the amazing debut appearance of Carolina’s first round draft pick Cam Newton. The rookie quarterback looked like veteran hitting eight receivers, particularly Steve Smith for two early touchdowns that gave the Panthers a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Smith went on to catch eight passes for 178 yards.
Newton himself would run one in from a yard out in the third quarter to raise the Panthers to 21-14, but the Cardinals came back with Kolb at the helm to score on a 70 yard pass to Doucet, followed by Peterson’s 89 yard dash to the endzone. Normally dangerous DeAngelo Williams was stymied by the Cardinals defense, managing only 30 yards in twelve carries.
Despite the loss, Cam Newton went on to set a new opening day passing record for a rookie, being only the first rookie quarterback to throw for over 400 yards. Newton finished the day with 422 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception in his debut.
A close game is often lost on penalties and Carolina was saddled with ten on a team that is still trying to find its rhythm. The Cardinals meanwhile were marked for six penalties as they tried to sort out their defense. They buckled down in the fourth quarter, shutting down Newton’s high flying show to allow the Cardinals offense and special teams to go on a 14-0 run. The Cardinals go on to play Washington in Week 2. The Panthers will host Green Bay.
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