NFC Championship: Cardinals vs. Panthers

[jablo1312]

I didn't see a thread started for this game so figured I'd jump the gun. From a general NFL fan perspective, this is a fascinating match-up of two powerhouse teams. A lot of interesting questions to discuss. Can Carolina rush the Cardinals with 4 down lineman, like they did for much of the game against Seattle, and have success making Palmer uncomfortable in the pocket? How much will Arizona have to blitz to get home against Cam? Can they succeed in keeping him contained? How will Josh Norman be deployed against Arizona's deep passing attack? I know the early game will get more focus because of the quarterbacks but this is the more interesting game on Sunday, from a neutral perspective, for me.

And then for Pats fans- who would you rather play in the Super Bowl, if the Patriots advance? I can certainly see arguments for both, but barring more injuries to either team I think the Pats match-up a tad bit better against the Cardinals. Even with Jared Allen primed to miss the rest of the postseason, Carolina has a nasty front 4 rotation that boasts several potential game-busting players. Combine that with the best LB duo in the league, and I'd prefer the Brady and co. take their chances with blitz-heavy Arizona. And then on offense, while Carolina's receiving corps don't scare anyone, I have no interest in watching Cam Newton extend plays and wear out the Pats front by making plays with his legs.

 

[Kliq]

As a Pats fan I'd much rather play Arizona. I think with two weeks to prep for Carson Palmer BB, Patricia and Co. can come up with a game plan to contain Arizona on offense and Brady can take advantage of the blitzes to find mismatches with Gronk and put up points. Brady historically does really well against the blitz, it is why Dick LeBeau has "Property of Tom Brady" tattooed on his old ass. It is when he is pressured by a four man rush that he tends to struggle, which is why Coughlin has given him trouble in the past.

Carolina scares me more because they have shown the ability to blow other teams off of the line and power run their way through other teams. That was a good front seven in Seattle and they destroyed them during the first half Sunday. Carolina doesn't have the "name" guys at the receiver position that scare you on paper, but those guys were getting open on Sunday and converting third downs. I can also see trouble with Cam's legs on offense and hurting us; Alex Smith was bad enough picking up first downs against our defense. I think the Pats can in theory score against their defense, but Luke Kuechly terrifies me. He is the most underrated defensive player in the NFL; maybe he should do a war dance and talk about god more often.

 

[Oppo]

Why is this the early game and the late game is in Denver?

 

[tims4wins]

Why is this the early game and the late game is in Denver?

Alternates yearly. Last year Pats played late and Seattle played early

Edit: this is the late game by the way. Pats play early in Denver

 

[Oppo]

Oops that's what I meant but you answered. Thanks

 

[j-man]

the Panthers are the better team i say Car 28 zona 20

 

[Zososoxfan]

I agree that the NFC matchup is more interesting. These teams are pretty even, but Cam is playing at a very high level right now and that will give the edge to the Cats. I'd rather play AZ for the reasons others have stated, but I think it's Pats-Cats on 2/7.

 

[soxhop411]

Rex?

 

[Seels]

I actually thought that this wouldn't be close til Arizona played GB close this weekend. I think Arizona is clearly a better team, but I agree it should be close. I think Carolina's D is a bit overated though, and not sure how they stop Arizona's pass game. We'll see I guess.

 

[johnmd20]

I actually thought that this wouldn't be close til Arizona played GB close this weekend. I think Arizona is clearly a better team, but I agree it should be close. I think Carolina's D is a bit overated though, and not sure how they stop Arizona's pass game. We'll see I guess.

Palmer is the wild card. He just seems to shrink in the biggest games. Some of his passes Saturday night were absolutely abysmal, especially around the goal line. If he tightens up, Arizona's passing game becomes a liability.

His best passes Saturday were a miracle tip and another where Fitzgerald ran for 90% of the yards gained on the play. I don't think Arizona is that scary, this is Carolina's game to lose.

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

Palmer is the wild card. He just seems to shrink in the biggest games. Some of his passes Saturday night were absolutely abysmal, especially around the goal line. If he tightens up, Arizona's passing game becomes a liability.

His best passes Saturday were a miracle tip and another where Fitzgerald ran for 90% of the yards gained on the play. I don't think Arizona is that scary, this is Carolina's game to lose.

It's almost like Palmer still hasn't entirely gotten rid of the Marvin Lewis/Bengals big game suck.

 

[bakahump]

Which is why i am absoulutely frothing at the mouth for a Pats-AZ game.

We may see the 2nd QB ever puke during the Superbowl.....both against us.

 

[johnmd20]

It's almost like Palmer still hasn't entirely gotten rid of the Marvin Lewis/Bengals big game suck.

And it almost cost him on Saturday night. Those goal line passes were so incredibly poor for a seasoned QB like Palmer. It looked like he had the yips. It was so weird.

Arizona, at home, barely beat an ok Green Bay team whose entire receiving corps was made up of practice squad guys. I don't think anyone has ever heard of that Jeff Janis guy until Saturday.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

It's almost like Palmer still hasn't entirely gotten rid of the Marvin Lewis/Bengals big game suck.

Palmer's essentially played two playoff games and the other one was against the 2009 Jets (with a clinically dead Laveranues Coles as his #2 and zero passing game weapons outside of an aging Ochocinco) who had one of the best pass defenses of all time. He technically played in a third one but I don't remember what happened.

 

[JoePoulson]

His knee got destroyed by PIT in his first one. Maybe he's still shaky because of that as well.

 

[loshjott]

His knee got destroyed by PIT in his first one. Maybe he's still shaky because of that as well.

That was sarcasm from the guy who helms the Bengals thread.

 

[jablo1312]

I think it's very dangerous to play the "last week, one team looked like garbage and one team dominated" game- just off the top of my head in recent years:

- In 2013, Denver handled the Pats fairly easily, while the Seahawks eeked out a win in the last minute against the 49ers, and summarily annihilated the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Not that the Hawks necessarily looked like trash, but the line for that game swung like 5 points in two weeks.
-The Pats crushing the Bronco's in the 2011 divisional round while the TJ Yates and theTexans were 35 yards from tying the Ravens in the final 3 minutes of their game. Followed by a total nail-biter in Foxborough. Followed by similar situation the following year between the same two teams

The Panthers might smoke the Cardinals, but I don't think it will be because one played bad last week, and one played well. I actually think Arizona can replicate some of the success that Seattle had in the second half of last week's game. They have 3 legit wide-outs who can attack Carolina downfield, meaning they can throw away from Josh Norman. More importantly, they have a significantly better offensive line than the Seahawks, who's first 4-5 drives were mostly a disaster with 5 guys trying to block 4 and failing. Palmer's probably the runner-up MVP this year, and I think he definitely has a shot to put up big numbers on the Panthers.

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

On the Panthers side, what happened in the second half of their game? I had to stop watching at halftime and thought it was going to wind up something like 48-14. In the absence of an explanation, being shutout/giving up many unanswered points and coming somewhat close to blowing a big lead would make me hesitant to predict an easy NFCCG win anyway, let alone say they dominated last week.

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

Carolina scares me more because they have shown the ability to blow other teams off of the line and power run their way through other teams. That was a good front seven in Seattle and they destroyed them during the first half Sunday.

Is this true? It's easy to forget in the flow of that first-half curb-stomping, but after Stewart's big first rush Carolina didn't do much running the ball. Their 3 RBs carried 16 times for 40 yards after the big one. On the season all of their 3 RBs have a very pedestrian 4.1 ypc (Blount average 4.3, by comparison).

Newton seems like an unholy terror to deal with based on his scrambling and they're very good at short yardage from what I can tell. But I don't think their running game should necessarily be striking fear in anyone's heart.

Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong, but the numbers don't look too intimidating. Rather, it looks like the improvement in the passing game has been the big differentiator for Newton this year.

 

[JoePoulson]

That was sarcasm from the guy who helms the Bengals thread.

Yea that's my bad. Along those lines, I'm still pissed at Kimo von Oelhoffen for that shit. I remember watching that game and was psyched to see an actual good CIN team for the first time in forever. And then the injury happened, etc. I'm not a Bengals fan, but my grandfather was (he lived in OH for a long time) and so I felt bad for him and their fans. Plus it was just another reason to hate PIT.

Anyway, I picked AZ to win this game, and like others have said, if you go by what we saw this past weekend CAR is gonna win by 50. BUT I still think AZ will win as long as Palmer doesn't play so tight and the limit the mistakes. CAR doesn't beat SEA without all the help.

 

[Oil Can Dan]

It's a week-to-week league. I agree with the others that said so long as Palmer relaxes the Cards win this one. Should be a fun game to watch...

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

For what its worth, at least one book has released prospective Super Bowl lines. Pats are -1 against both the Cards and Panthers. Broncos are +3 against both.

I think that's pretty accurate. I like the Cards matchup a little better for us but I don't think its a big difference. Against the Cards I wouldn't be surprised to see that line move a point or two toward the Pats in the end.

 

[edmunddantes]

Are the Cardinals making a mistake by not flying out before the storm? They are still waiting till Saturday.

Charlotte is in for a wintry mix, and it could be awhile for the airport to get cleaned up.

 

[I12XU]

The airport is closed today, who knows about tomorrow. They should've left yesterday.

 

[Leather]

For what its worth, at least one book has released prospective Super Bowl lines. Pats are -1 against both the Cards and Panthers. Broncos are +3 against both.

I think that's pretty accurate. I like the Cards matchup a little better for us but I don't think its a big difference. Against the Cards I wouldn't be surprised to see that line move a point or two toward the Pats in the end.

Well, tell that to this asshole.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Jared Allen ruled out for Sunday

 

[WayBackVazquez]

Well, tell that to this asshole.

Like 80% of the "experts" at nfl.com, he had the Colts in the Super Bowl preseason. And winning.

 

[Soxy]

My heart says Carolina (lived there for 7 years and have some friends that root for them) but my head says Arizona. I think they're a more complete team, have more talent, and are better coached. But Carolina has been very tough at home recently and they don't often beat themselves like they used to.

Arizona plays a high variance game and as such are combustible in either direction. They make a lot of big plays and can give them up as well (which is why I love watching them play and have such admiration for Bruce Arians). I understand the criticisms of Palmer and how they played last week but it still took two miracle hail marys for Green Bay to even force OT. It often signals a good team when they bring their 'C' game and still find a way to win. That won't be good enough this week, but they have more playmakers and firepower than Carolina does.

What may come back to bite them is the loss of Honey Badger during garbage time a few weeks back. That will hurt their ability to cover Olsen, who has finally started getting the recognition he deserves this season. He is far and away the most important skill player on Carolina and has been for years. Not having Mathieu could end up being the difference in what should be a close game.

I'm all over place on this one and could really see it going either way. Should be a great game and I look forward to watching it, though it may be tough to focus depending on how the early game goes.

 

[McBride11]

Wellll, another game to watch. Hopefully it is entertaining. And whoever wins curbstomps the Broncos ala 2013

 

[Al Zarilla]

This game gets Vinovich, my favorite crew chief. Not saying the Pats game outcome would have changed, but Vinovich and his crew seem really good.

 

[Al Zarilla]

AZ offense looks like the Raiders with the Mad Bomber Daryle Lamonica back in the day.

 

[Remagellan]

Palmer-Manning would be the worse QB matchup since Collins-Dilfer in SB XXXV.

 

[DanoooME]

AZ offense looks like the Raiders with the Mad Bomber Daryle Lamonica back in the day.

Showing your age dude.

 

[Dollar]

Palmer-Manning would be the worse QB matchup since Collins-Dilfer in SB XXXV.

Kaepernick-Flacco seemed pretty good at the time, but not so much right now,

 

[brandonchristensen]

Wow, what a play

 

[Remagellan]

That was a great play by Ginn. This whole drive was on him.

 

[Remagellan]

Kaepernick-Flacco seemed pretty good at the time, but not so much right now,

Flacco is underrated. What has that guy do but win?

 

[brandonchristensen]

Obviously early, but AZ is getting outplayed like crazy.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Wow, 17-0 in the first quarter.

 

[Soxy]

Obviously early, but AZ is getting outplayed like crazy.

Yes, they are. Did not see this coming.

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

I have to say, it's going to be more enjoyable watching the Panthers do this to the Broncos than to the Pats.

 

[johnmd20]

Carolina loves the first half. Like, a lot.

 

[McBride11]

Obviously early, but AZ is getting outplayed like crazy.

Go on. If not for a weird loss to the Falcons, the Panthers could have been looking at 72 Dolphins territory

 

[dcmissle]

There are more than a few Carolina doubters here. Heads will explode when face off against Manning. Shit or go blind time.

 

[Slow Rheal]

Seriously. Unless the panthers somehow develop a case of the yips, this is going to be an epic beat down in Santa Clara.

 

[Dehere]

This team has to be the biggest surprise since the 99 Rams. God are they good.

 

[ifmanis5]

Feels like this game is pretty much over already.

 

[staz]

I have to say, it's going to be more enjoyable watching the Panthers do this to the Broncos than to the Pats.

Yeah, ready the popcorn. Unless Newton gets his arm torn off before daybreak, we weren't beating this Carolina team.

 

[McBride11]

This team has to be the biggest surprise since the 99 Rams. God are they good.

This is very true. Though Carolina has been showing signs for a while. The weirdest thing to me, how useful Ted Ginn has finally become.

 

[McBride11]

Yeah, ready the popcorn. Unless Newton gets his arm torn off before daybreak, we weren't beating this Carolina team.

I think Pats would have had a better chance than Denver. Then again I thought Pats had a good chance today. Denver is the Pats kryptonite. Peyton or no.