We'll be keeping track of predictions all week. Most experts are staying away from picking winners and scores this early, choosing instead the comfort of X's and O's. Some, however, are taking the leap.
Your early-week prognostications:
AccuScore: Computer sports forecaster has run more than 10,000 simulations, with the Panthers winning 79 percent of the time. Average score: Carolina 29.5, Arizona 19.
Peter King - Sports Illustrated: Earlier this season, Oct. 26, at Charlotte: Carolina 27, Arizona 23. This is the one Arizona loss this season that still has the Cards apoplectic. They led 23-17 with 16 minutes to go and Steve Smith burned them with a 65-yard touchdown catch to take the lead. Then Kurt Warner led a drive to the Panthers 15 and got picked by Jon Beason on a short throw over the middle. They drove to midfield later in the fourth quarter but stalled. Arizona's a bad road team, but this one was anyone's game.
If the Cards play the run this weekend nearly as well as they played it Saturday against Atlanta, when they throttled Michael Turner, this will be a game.
Charles Robinson, Yahoo Sports: Carolina. The Panthers will do what Atlanta couldn't -- run the football and dominate tempo. Kurt Warner and Arizona will put up points, but Steve Smith's big-play ability and Carolina's offensive balance will be the difference.
Michael Silver, Yahoo Sports: Arizona. Arizona came close to winning at Carolina in October. Maybe, like the Chargers, the Cardinals will shake off those regular season disappointments and get their signature victory when it matters most.
Jason Cole, Yahoo Sports: Arizona. The Panthers couldn't get to Arizona QB Kurt Warner in Week 8. Another week of solid protection and some better decision-making should cause the home team major headaches.
James C. Black, Yahoo Sports: Carolina. Arizona contained the Falcons' rushing attack, but that won't occur again vs. the two-headed attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. And if the backs struggle, watch out for Steve Smith.
Andy Benoit - NFL Gridiron Gab: Arizona Cardinals, key vs. Carolina will be… Stopping one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Don’t expect the Cardinals to do it. As well as the front four played Saturday, it’s doubtful they can reenact the performance against an oversized and aggressive Carolina offensive line. A lot of responsibility will fall on the linebackers. Arizona will need Karlos Dansby to be in his brilliant mode (a tossup given the way Dansby’s week-to-week output fluctuates).
Stopping the run is the first key for the Cardinals, but it might not be enough anyway. It remains to be seen whether Antrel Rolle is a good enough safety to help the corners contain Steve Smith.
Ross Tucker - Sports Illustrated: The Cardinals have to pick up where they left off Saturday against another NFC South foe. The Cardinals played their best game up front in a very long time on both sides of the ball, running the ball effectively while shutting down John Abraham on offense and bottling up Michael Turner while consistently pressuring Matt Ryan on defense. This time, however, they will be on the road and are unlikely to have the same snap count advantage they had in round one.
It all starts and ends from a pass protection standpoint for the Cardinals by identifying where Carolina star Julius Peppers lines up. The Panthers will not just line him up at right end all game against the Cards' Mike Gandy because they know full well Arizona will consistently give Gandy help. That means Peppers will take turns testing each and every one of the Cardinals linemen. Arizona needs to give that lineman help or hope he can hold up against the cat-like quickness of Peppers. The good news for Arizona is none of the other Panthers defensive linemen are elite pass rushers. The health of Maake Kemoeatu will make a big difference in the Cards ability to run the football against a Carolina defense that has been susceptible on the ground at times this season.
The Panthers have had amazing success on offense considering none of the starters on the offensive line are playing the same position they did a year ago. On defense, Gabe Watson and Darnell Dockett had big days for the Cards on Saturday but they will get tested again by a powerful line that loves to open holes for the hottest running back in the NFL in DeAngelo Williams. The Cardinals defensive line was jumpy on Saturday, which led to a couple of offsides penalties, but a plethora of big plays in return. It is unlikely they will have the same key on Jake Delhomme's cadence this week.
AccuScore: Computer sports forecaster has run more than 10,000 simulations, with the Panthers winning 79 percent of the time. Average score: Carolina 29.5, Arizona 19.
Peter King - Sports Illustrated: Earlier this season, Oct. 26, at Charlotte: Carolina 27, Arizona 23. This is the one Arizona loss this season that still has the Cards apoplectic. They led 23-17 with 16 minutes to go and Steve Smith burned them with a 65-yard touchdown catch to take the lead. Then Kurt Warner led a drive to the Panthers 15 and got picked by Jon Beason on a short throw over the middle. They drove to midfield later in the fourth quarter but stalled. Arizona's a bad road team, but this one was anyone's game.
If the Cards play the run this weekend nearly as well as they played it Saturday against Atlanta, when they throttled Michael Turner, this will be a game.
Charles Robinson, Yahoo Sports: Carolina. The Panthers will do what Atlanta couldn't -- run the football and dominate tempo. Kurt Warner and Arizona will put up points, but Steve Smith's big-play ability and Carolina's offensive balance will be the difference.
Michael Silver, Yahoo Sports: Arizona. Arizona came close to winning at Carolina in October. Maybe, like the Chargers, the Cardinals will shake off those regular season disappointments and get their signature victory when it matters most.
Jason Cole, Yahoo Sports: Arizona. The Panthers couldn't get to Arizona QB Kurt Warner in Week 8. Another week of solid protection and some better decision-making should cause the home team major headaches.
James C. Black, Yahoo Sports: Carolina. Arizona contained the Falcons' rushing attack, but that won't occur again vs. the two-headed attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. And if the backs struggle, watch out for Steve Smith.
Andy Benoit - NFL Gridiron Gab: Arizona Cardinals, key vs. Carolina will be… Stopping one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Don’t expect the Cardinals to do it. As well as the front four played Saturday, it’s doubtful they can reenact the performance against an oversized and aggressive Carolina offensive line. A lot of responsibility will fall on the linebackers. Arizona will need Karlos Dansby to be in his brilliant mode (a tossup given the way Dansby’s week-to-week output fluctuates).
Stopping the run is the first key for the Cardinals, but it might not be enough anyway. It remains to be seen whether Antrel Rolle is a good enough safety to help the corners contain Steve Smith.
Ross Tucker - Sports Illustrated: The Cardinals have to pick up where they left off Saturday against another NFC South foe. The Cardinals played their best game up front in a very long time on both sides of the ball, running the ball effectively while shutting down John Abraham on offense and bottling up Michael Turner while consistently pressuring Matt Ryan on defense. This time, however, they will be on the road and are unlikely to have the same snap count advantage they had in round one.
It all starts and ends from a pass protection standpoint for the Cardinals by identifying where Carolina star Julius Peppers lines up. The Panthers will not just line him up at right end all game against the Cards' Mike Gandy because they know full well Arizona will consistently give Gandy help. That means Peppers will take turns testing each and every one of the Cardinals linemen. Arizona needs to give that lineman help or hope he can hold up against the cat-like quickness of Peppers. The good news for Arizona is none of the other Panthers defensive linemen are elite pass rushers. The health of Maake Kemoeatu will make a big difference in the Cards ability to run the football against a Carolina defense that has been susceptible on the ground at times this season.
The Panthers have had amazing success on offense considering none of the starters on the offensive line are playing the same position they did a year ago. On defense, Gabe Watson and Darnell Dockett had big days for the Cards on Saturday but they will get tested again by a powerful line that loves to open holes for the hottest running back in the NFL in DeAngelo Williams. The Cardinals defensive line was jumpy on Saturday, which led to a couple of offsides penalties, but a plethora of big plays in return. It is unlikely they will have the same key on Jake Delhomme's cadence this week.
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Panters will beat the Cardinals; Cardinals are a terrible road team....
ReplyDeleteCards get revenge....
ReplyDeleteThe game plan for the Cardinals will be the same thing it was the first time they played the Panthers. They will set back and throw were ever Richard(see me on TV)Marshall is lined up. He will always be in the wrong place on the field instead of doing his job.
ReplyDeleteIve never seen a guy so desperate to make himself look good that he would jeopardize the team. But he does this every week. I Hope the Panthers are working in Howard at nickel for this game.
I know that there are a lot of fans for Richard Marshall on these boards so I'm sure I will get some messages saying he has played great. All I can say is go back and look at the games. Most importantly watch this Saturday he will get thrown on for at least 190 of the Cardinals yard and prob give 170 of them.
No way the Cards stop DOUBLE TROUBLE!!!
ReplyDeleteSir Purr-27 Big Red- 14. GO PANTHERS!!!!!
My only concern for saturday's game is how well Carolina DB's can hold on to Arizona's wideouts. Carolina needs to follow the game plan of previous games by running the football well and hopefully we can be playing the NFC Championship game in Charlotte with a Giants lost to the Eagles.
ReplyDeleteC'MON BIG CATS
"I Hope the Panthers are working in Howard at nickel for this game."
ReplyDeleteYou obviously don't know what you're talking about. Reggie Howard hasn't been on the Panthers since 2006. Haha
The best way to defend the quick scoring passing attack of Arizona is to keep the offense off the field.....Ball control, ball control, ball control. We need to control the ball, clock and tempo of this game. We can't get into a shootout with their passing attack. It's simple dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides and run the crap out of the ball with the best ground game in the league..........Go Panthers
ReplyDeleteLucas is going to get burned all day long, especially if Bouldin is healthy enough to play.
ReplyDeleteI hope it doesn't turn out to be the case, but I can see him getting beat like a rented mule.
As an Eagles fan, I'd rather see them play on the east coast than on the west coast. Plus, if they come to Charlotte, I might have a chance to see them play!
Oh sorry I did type Howard I meant Wesley #23 lol. But that does not change richard marshall.
ReplyDeleteJust apply enough pressure on Warner so he doens't feel comfortable in the pocket and make big plays, but instead mistakes. Our offense will put up the points, but our defense needs to control the temp, 3-and-outs. I hope Fox watches tape and takes notes on some of those butt kickings the Cards took in the last month. In Jake we trust.
ReplyDelete