Carson Palmer struggled mightily against the Panthers’ defense Sunday.
Carson Palmer played an NFC Championship Game to forget Sunday.
Vying for a Super Bowl berth for the first time in his career, Palmer struggled mightily, turning the ball over to Carolina over and over again en route to a 49-15 loss.
The quarterback’s first giveaway came in the second quarter, when he fumbled while the Cardinals trailed 17–0.
Defense wins championships. #Carolina looks solid tonight. #AZvsCAR NFC Championship: C… Fox https://t.co/0AEixRtTh9 pic.twitter.com/Vt1kjCBvB7
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Palmer was bit by the fumble bug for a second time later in the quarter, losing control of a pass and giving the Panthers the ball deep in Arizona territory.
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Three plays later, right after a Cam Newton interception, Palmer committed perhaps his worst turnover of the game, throwing an interception to Kurt Coleman in the end zone after Arizona had a chance to go into halftime with a manageable deficit.
Coleman picks off Palmer NFC Championship: Cardinals at Panthers Fox https://t.co/pKvmlUVOO5 pic.twitter.com/2aCKzlwjtE
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Now losing by 19, Palmer was again picked off by Coleman on a deep pass to the one-yard line.
Coleman gets his second pick of the game NFC Championship: Cardinals at Panthers Fox https://t.co/IAgjzNbl98 pic.twitter.com/6U2s6SLzHU
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By the fourth quarter, Palmer’s turnovers grew comical. First, he threw an interception to Luke Kuechly, who returned the ball 21 yards for a touchdown.
Luke puts the finishing touches on this game. NFC Championship: Cardinals at Panthers Fox https://t.co/zI0xeAKuEa pic.twitter.com/eSo5XOZxVj
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Then two plays later, Palmer was picked by Tre Boston.
Palmer picked off yet again NFC Championship: Cardinals at Panthers Fox https://t.co/QNRMCwZKAL pic.twitter.com/G8VHtAT6uz
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 25, 2016
Palmer committed six turnovers by himself, while Arizona committed seven as a team. The seven giveaways by the Cardinals were the most in a playoff game since 2001.
As a result, the Panthers are headed to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.