CAROLINA PANTHERS @ NEW YORK GIANTS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2008
8:15 P.M.
The Panther’s invasion of Giants Stadium Sunday evening comes with a major trophy at stake: the winner of the game becomes the NFC’s number one seed and enjoys home field advantage right up to the Super Bowl. Both teams enter the conflict with identical 11-3 records. But the Super Bowl Champion Giants have looked anything but super the past two weeks. Conversely, Carolina sports a little swagger after a solid thumping of the Broncos. The line is NY -3 which is a typical advantage for the home team. In other words this one is too close to call.
CAROLINA: UP: This marks the first time in the teams 14 year history they have played for the right of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In a bizarre twist, if they lost their final two games they might not even make the playoffs. But, of course, they aren’t even thinking about that. Against Denver RB DeAngelo Williams rushed for a TD for the 7th straight game, for a total of 12 in those 7 games. K John Kasay hit three FG, making him 24 out of 25 for the year. His only miss?.. 54 yards. Owner Jerry Richardson, facing heart transplant surgery, was in attendance Sunday. He has been a real inspiration to the team. DOWN: Williams was dinged on the TD run and did not return until late in the game. He will play vs. NY. RG Keydrick Vincent, the only lineman to take every snap this year, went down with a groin injury in the 4th quarter. His status is questionable. DT Maake Kemoeatu injured his ankle. He is day to day.
NEW YORK: UP: This game is not as critical for NY as it is for Carolina. Regardless of the next two weeks, the Giants are still NFC East Champions and playoff bound. But, home-field advantage would sure be nice. Punter Jeff Feagles averaged nearly 48 yards on 7 punts, and put 3 kicks inside the twenty yard line and out of bounds. Special teams also recorded 5 kickoff returns for 101 yards. K John Carney had 2 for 2 FGs. He is 29 out of 30 with the miss being a blocked snap. DOWN: QB Eli Manning had a poor outing due to eight sacks and constant defensive pressure. The Giants converted only 3 of 13 first downs. Dropped passes that normally would have been caught further complicated any offensive efforts. All the NY tight ends together managed only one reception, normally key to the Giants. WR Plaxico Burress has been suspended for the season. NY’s defensive backfield was woefully inadequate vs. Dallas as they allowed QB Tony Romo to complete 20 of 30 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Carolina QB Jake Delhomme should attack the Giants defensive backfield persistently mixed with occasional rushes. Defensively, the Panthers should use their speed to pursue Manning non-stop. NY must regain its composure by stepping up its line play on both sides of the ball. Receivers must make some big plays to take some pressure off their QB. The Giants defensive backfield should study game tapes and figure out how to maintain coverage again.
BY THE NUMBERS: Carolina is 8-5-1 ATS & 6-8 O/U. New York is 10-4 ATS & 8-6 O/U. As an underdog the Panthers are 2-2 SU & ATS. As a favorite the Giants are 9-2 SU & 8-3 ATS. In the NFC the Panthers are 7-3 SU and 4-5 ATS while New York is 8-2 both SU and ATS. This game is historic for Carolina and they are pumped up for it. New York would do well to step out of the fog they are in or they just might get smashed by a run-away train.