ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals to face Carolina Panthers in Wild Card round

Dec 29, 2014, 12:23 AM | Updated: 3:10 am

Follow @AZSportsPresented By...

The Arizona Cardinals are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10 and will travel to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 2:35 p.m.

Arizona started the season 9-1, but a myriad of injuries, particularly to their starting and back-up quarterbacks, caused them to finish the season with an 11-5 record, good enough for the fifth seed in the NFC.

Carolina won the lowly NFC South with a record of 7-8-1, beating the Atlanta Falcons in their regular season finale to clinch the division. The Panthers are only the second team to win their division with a losing record (Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West at 7-9 in 2010).

Carolina and Arizona did not meet during the 2014 season, with their last matchup coming in Week 5 of last season, a 22-6 Arizona win in Glendale.

The last time Arizona traveled to Charlotte for a playoff game was in 2009. The Cardinals upset the Panthers 33-13 in the Divisional round on the road to their Super Bowl appearance.

That game was the last road playoff win for the Cardinals. Arizona is 0-1 on the road since.

Only Larry Fitzgerald, Lyle Sendlein and Calais Campbell remain on the Cardinals’ roster from that game.

Drew Stanton’s status for next weekend’s game is up in the air due to a knee injury.

Arizona will rely on its “next man up” mentality to advance in the playoffs with, at best, an injured back-up quarterback.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals to face Carolina Panthers in Wild Card round