GLENDALE — The woeful stat line was strangely similar to the one that surfaced in last season's NFC divisional playoff game.

Only this time it belonged to Kurt Warner, not Jake Delhomme.

The Cardinals quarterback threw five interceptions and lost a fumble — the same number of turnovers his Carolina counterpart committed in last year's playoff game that ignited Arizona's run to the Super Bowl.

The result was another disheartening loss at home for the enigmatic Cardinals, who fell behind early and never recovered in a 34-21 loss to the beleaguered Panthers on Sunday.

The defeat snapped Arizona's three-game winning streak and dropped the team to 1-3 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

"We can't afford to play a game like this after we've been on a pretty good role," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Losing at home is very disappointing to me."

Arizona (4-3) had a chance to open up a two-game lead in the NFC West standings after San Francisco lost to Indianapolis earlier in the day.

Now, the Cardinals are in danger of losing their division lead altogether with a tough matchup looming at Chicago next weekend.

At this point, Soldier Field may look more inviting than their own home.

After struggling through its first six games of the season, Carolina (3-4) looked every bit like the team that went 12-4 and won the NFC South last year.

Delhomme came into Sunday's game with a meager 56.5 passer rating, fourth worst in the league, and 13 interceptions, tops in the NFL.

But the embattled quarterback came out sharp, completing 4 of 6 passes on a game-opening drive that culminated with a 6- yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart.

It was the first time Arizona had surrendered a first-quarter touchdown this season.

"We started off slow," Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said. "We didn't have enough energy and enthusiasm.

"They were a desperate team and they came out and outplayed us."

Arizona answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Warner to LaRod Stephens-Howling, but the Cardinals' top-ranked run defense couldn't answer the call.

DeAngelo Williams shot through an over-pursuing defense for 77 yards on the next play from scrimmage, setting up a 10-yard touchdown by Stewart on the first play of the second quarter.

Williams rushed for 158 yards on 23 carries and Stewart finished with 87 yards on 17 carries. All total, Carolina rushed for 270 yards - 200 more than the Cardinals' average allowance on the ground.

A two-play sequence later in the quarter caused things to spiral out of control for the Cardinals.

Delhomme froze sometimes over-aggressive cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with a pump fake and then hit receiver Steve Smith in stride for a 50-yard touchdown 7:33 before the half.

On the next play from scrimmage, Julius Peppers fought through a cut block and intercepted Warner's swing pass into the left flat. The 6-foot-7 defensive end casually strolled into the end zone from 13 yards out to put the Panthers up by three scores.

"He's just such an athletic, good football player that he never got cut," said Warner, who finished with 242 yards on 27-of-46 passing. "He bounced back up and the ball was in the air, so he picked it for six.

"It's one of those games where it just seemed like every time the ball was bouncing somewhere it went into their hands. It's to their credit. They were running all over the football field. They were making plays and we weren't."

Peppers' pick was the first of three straight interception-ending drives for the Cardinals to close out the first half.

Two of Warner's five interceptions came on tipped passes. He also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.

It was a stark contrast to last season's playoff game, when Delhomme committed six turnovers.

The Carolina quarterback didn't commit any turnovers Sunday, although he did end up in the hospital.

Delhomme suffered a chest contusion after taking a hit from Dockett in the third quarter. He returned for a series before leaving the stadium for further evaluation.

"They hit me where it hurts," said Delhomme, who finished a modest 7 of 14 for 90 yards. "Once I hit the ground I couldn't catch my breath."

Arizona couldn't take advantage of Delhomme's absence, however, not with the way the Panthers were running the ball.

The Cardinals sandwiched a 1-yard touchdown catch by Ben Patrick and a 1-yard run by Tim Hightower around a Carolina field goal to pull within 31-21 with just under 10 minutes left in the game.

But The Panthers' defense forced two more turnovers and Williams and Stewart simply salted away the win behind the Panthers' punishing line.

"It's a cruel twist of fate," Whisenhunt said. "We had the turnovers and they didn't.

"I feel like we're a better team than we showed today."

Rory Faust can be reached at rfaust@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.