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Around SBN: NFL Week One: Previews and Predictions for all 15 games

Panthers Offense vs Cardinals Defense: Playoff Edition

Panther Playoffs! Carolina Offense vs Cardinals Defense

This is the time we've all been waiting for. The curtain of the regular season has closed, and it's time for the true show to begin. It's time for the NFL playoffs. It's the time of year whether you either win or you go home. What better motivation can you have? You either win this game, or your season is over. Some of them may lose jobs, some of them may retire, but all of them lose a chance for a run at a championship.

It showed a certain growth in our fan base, especially in our own city. In times of economic crisis, the Panthers are proving that they can be the team that the city can rally behind. Whether it's a huge boost to small business in a time of need, a way for people to get together, or just something for me to write about, the team is the best thing that happened to our city. We've dedicated so much hope and optimism into this team, and they've done a great job. We all ought to be thankful to owner Mr. Richardson for his lifetime of work. As the Panthers roll into its second decade, he has firmly entrenched the Panthers, NFL, and football in general into the Carolina landscape.

Now the Panthers face the Cardinals, considered by most to be the best match-up that the Panthers had the possibility to face. However, it's important to note that the Falcons thought the same thing, right up to the point when they were slaughtered by Kurt Warner. We know what the Cardinals are going to come in here and try to do. They're going to try to abandon their running game and get their west coast magic to work once again, and it's time for the Panthers to put the smack down on Kurt Warner and show him that you can't pull that crap in this league.

The Panthers will need to get the ball to Steve Smith as early as possible to free up Williams in the running game. If the Cardinals have any sense at all they'll try to stack to box to stop Williams and the Panthers running game. If they don't do it, then Williams will have to run all over them and demand it. Even then, with a offensive line that is returning all five starters, it might not be enough. To say the Cardinals will be challenged this week could be the understatement of the century.

And here comes the top match-ups for the week.

DeAngelo Williams Vs. Cardinals Run Defense

DeAngelo is the best running back in the NFL. Sure I'm biased because I'm a fan of the Panthers, but he's the only running back in the NFL that doesn't have a fumble besides Tomlinson, and he leads the league in touchdown runs with 18. That's a pretty big thing to bring into the game, on top of all his yardage. The Cardinals have a below average defense, 16th in defending the rush. That doesn't bode well for their chances, once again vs a offensive line that is returning all five starters. Williams should break out at least once for a big gain.

 

Star-divide

Steve Smith/Moose vs Hood/Rodgers-Crocmartie

The Cards have a pair of corners that are pretty decent. They're not excellent, but they're decent enough. Either way, you have to contend with Steve Smith. Neither one of them are skilled enough to take care of him one on one. They'll need a lot of safety help. You can be sure that Rodgers will have a big target mark on his back as well. He's a rookie in his second postseason game. That said, he did play pretty good in his first game. He'll still be a target though, perhaps Moose can pull out some of his moves on him? Who knows?

Jake Delhomme vs Rust

There is a factor here that Jake Delhomme could come out rusty and lay an egg. The Panthers need to take this into consideration when calling plays. I'd say you challenge Jake to throw the ball on the first play of the game. Give him a short completion to Williams or something like that to get him into the game, and then start pulling out the playbook bit by bit. The key is to get Jake into a rhythm. When you do that, he can throw almost as good as Peytan Manning. Ok that's exaggerating, but he can make a play to Steve Smith instead of Steve Smith making a play on Jake's lob up the field. There is a difference.

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i am all for a play action deep to smith first play of the game.

by jamieclayton on Jan 10, 2009 9:47 AM EST reply actions  

the game

You make a great point about play calling and Jake Delhomme. I think we need to run a couple screens to D-Will and the pass in the flat to SMitty. One thing I’m doing to see is for us to use the flea flicker. When you’ve got the players we have, it will work, or a halfback pass from Stew to Moose. We need to let it all hang out, but if we get up by two TDs or something like that, then I guess we’ll just pile up the rushing yards and get ready for another trip to NY.

by usana_gaines on Jan 10, 2009 9:49 AM EST reply actions  

Croc-martie? lol...Was that intentional?

Or start with the ‘smoke’ play to Smitty if the CB if back off the line.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 10, 2009 12:15 PM EST reply actions  

DRC seems to be overrated to you folks..

thats ok, you’ll be surprised when he contains Smith tonight. If he doesn’t, then I dont have a problem coming back here to eat my own words. lol

by Andrew602 on Jan 10, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions  

No one can contain Steve Smith. No one.

The best you can do is try to contain him by trapping him between a corner and a safety. And even then Steve Smith has the ability to jump up there and make those “OMGWTF” moments happen. If you guys can double team him and take him out of the game, I’d consider it a great job by the Cards. I just don’t see someone taking him out of the game on their own. He has great strength for his size, cuts too quickly, and he has that unique ‘it’ factor that causes you to lose him in coverage.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Jan 10, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions  

sO HOW DID drc DO??

FRRREEEEDDDDOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!

by badmatty53 on Jan 12, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions  

Lol

For the motherlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand!

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Jan 13, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions  

He had a good game. To say he took advantage of Jake's bad day is a huge understatement

Good game!

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Jan 13, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions  

I don't think it's so much underrating DRC

as it is noticing the fact that Smith, like a couple of other receivers (Fitzgerald comes to mind), is (near) impossible to contain.

by UtesFan89 on Jan 10, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions  

Ok well I told you guys before the game DRC is something special...

His two catches in “garbage” time werent even on DRC. You said no one, well, almost no one now. Good game guys.

by Andrew602 on Jan 11, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions  

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