The first words out of Jordan Hicks’ mouth postgame Sunday were about what went wrong and were the theme of day: “Simply execution.”

The Cardinals defense simply did not execute Sunday in the 31-21 loss to the Panthers in Charlotte. Arizona is now 2-2, after back-to-back losses to teams that entered with losing records. 

This was not a game where the offense flourished, and the team only struggled defensively. The Cardinals as a whole floundered. And the defense was without a number of key players, most significantly safety Budda Baker.

Coach Kliff Kingsbury knows the impact Baker can have on a game, and how thin the Cardinals were at safety this week. But he felt the defensive problems ran deeper. 

“Obviously, he’s one of the best safeties in the league and brings a lot of intensity and play-making to that side of ball, but it’s no excuse,” Kingsbury said. “We knew what we had going in, and we had to make plays. We weren’t able to make plays and get them off the field on third down.”

The Cardinals allowed a season-high 444 yards, as the Panthers converted 7-of-11 third downs. However, when Carolina head coach Matt Rhule looks bad at it, he counts it a bit more as 8-of-11, considering his team got the outcome they wanted on one that did not result in a first down. 

“The last one, we were just kind of not really trying to get the third down. We were just trying to run the ball there,” Rhule told Carolina media after the game. “Threw that little naked to Robby (Anderson) there and told him to stay in-bounds and kick the field goal.”

Third downs had been a strong point for the Cardinals defense earlier this year. On Sunday, Carolina was able to stay on the field and ultimately held on to the ball for 37:08. 

“It was frustrating. Going for 12, 15-play drives at a time is tough,” Hicks said.

“One thing we’ve been well at this season so far is getting off on third down. So that was obviously disappointing. And again, that’s just execution.”

The linebacker led both teams with 12 total tackles. There were times Cardinals defenders whiffed on tackles, but other cases of wide-open Panthers receivers. 

Kingsbury could not pinpoint a reason for the defense’s performance on third down, but quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was a big part of it. 

“I thought Teddy (Bridgewater) played great and went to the right place with the ball,” Kingsbury said. “They protected well. We had a hard time getting pressure, and those receivers are really talented. So I’ve got to give them credit, but we have to be better. We have to get off the field on those third-and-long situations.”

The Cardinals defense was held without a sack, unable to bring the same quarterback pressure that they have in weeks past. 

“Well, we knew Teddy was getting the ball out quick, and he liked getting the ball out fast,” Hicks said. “Especially with with the pass rush our guys have, we knew that was gonna be part of the game plan.”

Bridgewater threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception, into the hands of Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, but outside of the that, the Arizona defense was devoid of big plays.

And despite a thin roster, rookie Isaiah Simmons still had a small role. 

“We want to put him in positions to be successful, to understand our scheme, and it’s a work-in-progress still — no offseason, no preseason. We knew it would take some time,” Kingsbury said. “We’re a month in now, and I think he is progressing, but we’re going to continue to try and find ways to get him in where he can have success.”

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 480-356-6407. Follow her on Twitter @kfitz134.

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