Panthers on Pace for a New High in Losing

If nothing else, the Carolina Panthers at least had a little pride during their losing streak. Not anymore.

The Panthers played so poorly they made the Arizona Cardinals look good in a 30-7 loss Sunday that gave Carolina a record-tying 14 consecutive defeats.

Carolina Coach George Seifert wearily blamed himself--again. Although he has steadfastly refused to discuss his future with the team, he sounded like a coach at the end of his stay.

“Well, that was particularly brutal,” Seifert said. “I didn’t have this team prepared to play with any zest or execution. It was a particularly humiliating loss ... and for whatever reason, I didn’t push the correct buttons to motivate them to play.”

The Panthers, who haven’t won since Week 1, will set an NFL record with 15 consecutive defeats if they lose next week to the New England Patriots. The 1990 Patriots were the last of four other teams to lose 14 consecutive.

While Carolina is in a free fall, the Cardinals are moving up.

After winning only three games last year, they improved to 7-8 and could finish the year at .500 for the first time since 1998 if they win against Washington next week.

David Boston, who leads the league in yards receiving, caught two touchdown passes and had seven catches for 127 yards. But otherwise Arizona did not dominate.

Instead, the Cardinals capitalized on many Carolina miscues and all-around bad football.

Arizona returned a fumble for a touchdown 56 seconds into the game, used an interception to set up another touchdown, benefited from two personal fouls to set up a field goal, and scored 17 points in a 5:14 span at the start of the second quarter.