Arizona's James Conner looks to exploit favorable matchup against league's worst run defense

Arizona (7-7) at Carolina (3-11)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOX.

BetMGM Odds: Cardinals by 4 1/2.

Against the spread: Cardinals 9-5, Panthers 6-8.

Series record: Panthers lead 12-5.

Last meeting: Cardinals beat Panthers 26-16 on Oct. 22, 2022, in Carolina.

Last week: Cardinals beat Patriots 30-17; Panthers lost to Cowboys 30-14.

Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (7), pass (21), scoring (t-15)

Cardinals defense: overall (16), rush (18), pass (18), scoring (10)

Panthers offense: overall (31), rush (24), pass (29), scoring (28)

Panthers defense: overall (31), rush (32), pass (12), scoring (32)

Turnover differential: Cardinals minus-2; Panthers minus-8.

TE Trey McBride has been quarterback Kyler Murray's favorite option for much of the season, but the connection has really gained steam over the past month. McBride has 40 catches for 386 yards over the past four games and continues to make the case that he's one of the NFL's elite tight ends.

WR Jalen Coker vs. Cardinals secondary. Coker is beginning to emerge as a deep option for Carolina. The undrafted rookie returned from a three-game absence last Sunday to have a career game with four receptions for 110 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown catch. With Xavier Legette out this week and David Moore's status uncertain because of a concussion, Coker could play a prominent role against the league's 18th-ranked pass defense.

Cardinals RB James Conner vs. Panthers run defense. Connor is coming off his best game of the season, rushing for 110 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns against New England. Now he gets the Panthers, a team that has struggled against the run. Rico Dowdle had a career game last week, running for 149 yards on 25 carries as the Cowboys racked up 211 yards on the ground. Carolina’s defense has allowed at least 190 yards rushing in five of its past six games.

Cardinals RB Trey Benson (ankle), OT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee), LB Jesse Luketa (thigh) and LB Mack Wilson Sr. (concussion) didn't practice on Wednesday. LB Zaven Collins (neck) and CBs Max Melton (shin) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (hand) were also limited early in the week. ... The Panthers placed two more linebackers on injured reserve this week, losing Claudin Cherelus (toe) and Trevin Wallace (shoulder), leaving them young at that position.

Including playoff games, the Panthers have defeated the Cardinals in six of the past seven meetings. The Panthers trounced the Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC championship game in the 2015 season to reach Super Bowl 50.

The Cardinals are 7-7 this season and looking for their first winning season since 2021. They're third in the NFC West, one game behind the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. ... Arizona's defense has allowed an average of just 17.9 points over the past eight games. That ranks second in the league over that span, trailing only Philadelphia. ... LB Baron Browning and rookie DL Darius Robinson both had their first sacks of the season last week against the Patriots. ... S Budda Baker signed a three-year extension this week, keeping him with the Cardinals through 2027. The two-time All-Pro leads the team with 142 tackles this season. ... The Cardinals have 16 different players who have a sack this season, which leads the NFL ... The Cardinals have been flagged for penalties just 71 times this season — the fewest in the league. ... The Panthers are 2-6 at home. ... QB Bryce Young had four turnovers in last week's loss to the Cowboys — two on interceptions and two on sack-fumbles — and was sacked a season-high six times. ... RB Chuba Hubbard has his first career 1,000-yard season, but is coming off a rough game last week in which he was held to 32 yards on 10 carries. ... WR Adam Thielen has been targeted 28 times and has 22 catches over the past three games for 252 yards and a touchdown. ... The Panthers have had six consecutive double-digit loss seasons and have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has been quiet of late with only six catches for 81 yards over the past two weeks, but Arizona's rookie wide receiver could be in for a big game against a Carolina defense that allowed Dallas' Cooper Rush to throw for a career-high three touchdown pass last week at home.

NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones tackles Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jeeno Thitikul handled a strong wind and a double bogey at the turn by making nine birdies Saturday for a 7-under 65 that gave her a one-shot lead over Celine Boutier going into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open.

Defending champion Nelly Korda missed a pair of birdie opportunities on the back nine at Liberty National and settled for a 68, leaving her only two shots behind as the No. 1 player in women's golf goes for her first win of the year.

The LPGA Tour moved up several tees to account for wind strong enough to bend flagsticks, particularly on the closing stretch at Liberty National. That led to some big finishes as players positioned themselves for the final round.

Thitikul, the No. 2 player in women's golf, was among those who took advantage. She birdied the reachable par-4 16th with water down the right side, picked up another birdie on the 17th and finished at 14-under 202.

“The strategies for today, I just trying to keep it on the fairway and then on the green,” Thitikul said. “I know it’s going to be a really tough day and then I have to be patient out there. So I don’t know how I did that, but like I take it.”

Boutier rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt over a ridge on the 15th — that was a bonus — for the start of three straight birdies. She made par on the 18th for a 66 to leave her one shot behind.

“It was a nice setup today,” Boutier said. “I feel like it was challenging with the wind, but the setup made it possible to have some chances if you were hitting good.”

Korda tried to keep pace with Thitikul and rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt from just off the green at the par-3 14th, which runs along the Hudson River across from the Manhattan skyline. But her drive on the 16th left her a bad angle to chip, and she had to settle for par.

With the wind at her back, she judged her wedge perfectly to 4 feet for birdie at the 17th, and her 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th just stayed on the high side of the hole.

“You just have to dial in to small target and you have to be focused 100% on each shot,” Korda said of the tough conditions, rain Friday and wind on a clear Saturday. “You knew you were going to make mistakes. Had a pretty solid day.”

Andrea Lee had her third straight 68 and joined Korda at 12-under 204. Yealimi Noh chipped for eagle on the 16th and shot 67. She was three shots behind.

Thitikul, who opened with a 64, followed with a 73 and then came charging out of the gates in the strongest of the wind. She had four birdies on the front nine until hitting into the hazard in the par-4 sixth and making double bogey.

No matter. She responded with two birdies to erase that mistake, and she had three birdies in four holes to start the back nine and stayed ahead of the pack with her two late birdies.

Starting times are much earlier Sunday for the Mizuho Americas Open to be on network television (CBS) for a 3 p.m. finish. The wind isn't likely to be a strong, though Boutier said that might present a different set of challenges.

“It’s supposed to be a bit less windy. I’m assuming the scores are going to be kind of low, too,” Boutier said. “We’ll see what happens, but happy to be in this position.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Nelly Korda hits from the fourth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Celine Boutier, of France, hits from the fourth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, hits from the sixth tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)