ARIZONA CARDINALS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009 8:00 P.M.
The Arizona Cardinals (10-7) travel to Charlotte to meet a Carolina Panther team (12-4) that has not lost at home this season. By contrast, the Cardinals have traveled to the east coast five times this year and have a 0-5 record. They lost to Carolina 27-23 in Week 8 of the season after building a 17-3 lead. Saturday the Panthers are 10 point favorites to defeat the Cardinals again.
ARIZONA: UP: The Cardinals handled the Falcons 30-24 in the wildcard game. WR Anquan Boldin had a 71 yard catch-and-run touchdown. QB Kurt Warner hit WR Larry Fitzgerald early in the game with a beautiful pass on a flea-flicker play for a touchdown. RB Edgerrin James had one of his best games of the season. Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he liked being the underdog after the win over the Falcons. DOWN: Boldin pulled a hamstring on the 71 yard TD play and is questionable Saturday. The Cardinals finished the season losing 4 of their final 6 games. James has had very few good games this year. Arizona’s record over the past 6 years is 2-19 in the Eastern Time Zone. The Cardinals depend largely on the passing game, having run for only a 74 yard average.
CAROLINA: UP: The Panthers won 6 of their last 8 games to claim the NFC South title and # 2 seed in the playoffs. Carolina got a first round bye in the playoffs for the 1st time since 1996. DE Julius Peppers had a career high 14 ½ sacks this year. QB Jake Delhomme and WR Steve Smith have connected on some very athletic pass completions this season. The 5’9” Smith has hauled in 2 “uncatchable” heaves in the last 5 weeks with the game on the line. He also returned a punt for the 1st time this year in the last game vs. New Orleans. Head Coach John Fox has a “wait & see” attitude about using Smith for returns in the playoffs. DOWN: Over the past 6 games the Panthers have yielded an average of 29 points and 395 yards per game. Defenses against the pass and the run have been equally weak. Two weeks ago they gave up 301 rushing yards to the Giants. The next week they allowed New Orleans QB Drew Brees to throw for 386 yards. Carolina has several key players injured, including DT Maake Kemoeatu, DT Damione Lewis, OG Geoff Hangartner and RT Jeff Otah. All of these players hope to play against Arizona.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Carolina cannot enter the fray taking the Cardinals for granted. The Panthers defensive backfield must not lose coverage of Boldin or Fitzgerald. At the same time they must contain James. The Cardinals will need to pressure Delhomme to rush his passes. Arizona’s special teams coverage will need to keep Carolina’s returners in check, especially if Smith returns punts.
BY THE NUMBERS: Arizona is 10-7 ATS and 12-5 O/U. Carolina is 8-6-2 ATS and 8-8 O/U. As underdogs the Cardinals are 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS. As favorites the Panthers are 10-1 SU and 6-3 ATS. In road games Arizona is 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS while Carolina is 8-0 SU and 5-2 ATS at home. In playoff games since 1993 the Cardinals are 2-1 both SU & ATS. During the same period the Panthers are 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS. On paper the Panthers have this one locked up. In reality, Arizona isn’t making the trip intending to lose.