The Carolina Panthers are 1-2 on the season after defeating the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in the desert. Head coach Ron Rivera's Panthers tabbed the team's first victory of the season without franchise quarterback Cam Newton, who is currently sidelined due to a lingering lower leg injury.

As a result of Newton's absence on Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals, backup quarterback Kyle Allen stepped up in a big way, leading the Panthers to a 38-20 win on the road. Because of Allen's big game against the Cardinals, in addition to Newton's oft-injured status, Rivera was forced to shut down any rumors surrounding a potential quarterback controversy in Carolina following the team's Week 3 win.

Allen threw four touchdown passes against the Cardinals while the Panthers' offense absolutely rolled in the absence of Newton. Prior to defeating the Cardinals in Week 3, the Panthers had lost to both the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to start the year 0-2 — each loss came under the direction of Newton as well.

Unfortunately for Ron Rivera and company, though, the road will not get any easier for the Panthers in Week 4. With Newton's health status remaining up in the air with Week 3 officially coming and going, the Panthers will immediately begin to gear up for the team's upcoming matchup against the surging Houston Texans, who improved to 2-1 on the year with a road win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon.