It’s been a recurring defensive theme for the Arizona Cardinals all season, and it was on display again Sunday as a 36-30 overtime loss to the Panthers ended the team’s playoff dreams.

Maybe it sounds like a broken record, but the lack of takeaways, running back burns and allowing explosive plays led Carolina to score 36 points (30 in regulation), only the second time they had 30 this season or more points achieved. The first came in Week 3 when they beat the Raiders 36-22. They only reached 20 or more six times this season.

So, let’s break it down for those who don’t put all the blame on quarterback Kyler Murray.

No snacks on Sunday

It was the fourth time this season that the Cardinals failed to force a takeaway, and it was also the fourth game in which they were minus-2.

They are 1-3 in minus-2 games, defeating the Bears and losing to the Packers, Seahawks (second game) and Panthers. They are 2-2 in no-takeaway games, losing to the Seahawks and Panthers and defeating the Bears and Dolphins.

Carolina entered the game ranked 27th in the league at minus-8 and was the sixth-worst team in the league with 22 turnovers. The Panthers had just 14 takeaways, tied for the ninth-fewest in the NFL along with the Cardinals, Commanders and Falcons. The Cardinals had one or no takeaways in 13 of their games.

Overall, they are 1-4 in minus-turnover games, 4-0 in plus-turnover games and 2-4 in even-turnover games.

The explosives

Carolina totaled 392 yards in 65 games and a whopping 198 (50.5 percent) in eight games (24.8 average). They were evenly split between runs and passes, although two of quarterback Bryce Young’s runs came on passing plays.

Young ran 34 yards and scored on a 23-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter that gave them a 13-3 lead.

Young’s big-play passes included 23 to former Cardinals wide receiver Dan Chisena on third-and-5 in the fourth quarter, 20 to wide receiver Adam Thielen and two to wide receiver David Moore for 18 and 21, with the former a touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave the Panthers a 30-20 lead.

Aside from the Young runs, the other two (28 and 21 yards) were completed by running back Chuba Hubbard and both came in overtime, including the game-winning 21-yard touchdown.

When asked if the team allowed 243 yards rushing, head coach Jonathan Gannon said: “I thought that was a component of the game that we had on defense, in the running game, on the line of scrimmage, and in the component of the game “We didn’t handle it well enough.” At the start of the game, sooner rather than later, the quarterback extension occurred. But if you have things that you absolutely have to get under control to have a chance of winning, then I don’t think we handled them well enough today.”

Hubbard, the hero

The Cardinals had an answer to many of Hubbard’s attacks, but again, the big plays were tough.

Hubbard finished the game with 152 yards on 25 attempts, but 8 of 105 (13.1 average) on runs of seven yards or more. The remainder of those runs were for 47 yards on 17 carries (2.8 average). He also had four runs of 12 yards or more for 73 yards (18.3 average) and the rest after those runs was 21 of 79 (3.8 average).

The Panthers started their winning streak in two plays on the Cardinals’ 49-yard line, and on the first play Hubbard darted through the first and second levels unscathed, only being touched at about the 30-yard line and gaining 28 yards. Outside linebacker Zaven Collins failed to set the edge, left the gap and was on his way to Young when Hubbard went into the area Collins had vacated.

On the winning 21-yard run, cornerback Garrett Williams and safety Jalen Thompson missed tackles at the 18-yard line and Hubbard had nothing but open space to the end zone.

Defensive player LJ Collier said, “We knew Chuba was a good player and we knew we had to stop him and keep him under 100 to get to Bryce Young, and that’s one of the goals we didn’t accomplish today.” Hats off to him. He’s a great player and his resume shows it.”

Ryland a ray of hope

Matt Prater returned to practice in the days leading up to the game, but Ryland is doing everything he can to ensure the Cardinals sign him for 2025 and beyond.

For the second straight week, he made all six of his shots (three extra points and three field goals), including a 58-yard bomb that tied the game at the end of regulation. He also made field goals from 30 and 48 yards.

Punter Michael Palardy is no Blake Gillikin as he had three punts with a 39.3 average and a 38.0 net score. He returned a 58-yard punt in overtime that would have had the Panthers starting from their own 34-yard line. However, linebacker Victor Dimukeje was illegally downfield and forced another punt. This was good for 47 yards, but brought the Panthers into Cardinals territory at the 49-yard line after a 2-yard return.

Long snapper Aaron Brewer was penalized 10 yards for holding on to a punt, while linebacker Krys Barnes cost the team 10 yards for an illegal block on a kickoff return.

More Cardinals and NFL coverage

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and more by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe to Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Panthers 36, Cardinals 30: Defensive special teams learn lessons from discouraging losses