Panthers-Cardinals: Arizona Comes to Charlotte To Face 5-2 Carolina

Arizona Cardinals (4-2) @ Carolina Panthers (5-2)

Preview Summary

Arizona Cardinals

The visiting Arizona Cardinals head to Charlotte and Bank of America Stadium after a restful bye week out in the Arizona desert. The Cardinals' last game was a 30-24 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys, in a game where special teams really made a difference.

The Cardinals are also the only team so far to have beaten the 5-1 Bills, after their 41-17 route in Week Five.

So far, their offense is sixth in the league and averaging 360 ypg. Most of that is coming from the Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner-led passing offense, which is second-best in the NFL and getting over 270 yards per game.

The running game has not been nearly as good, averaging only 87 ypg, which puts it at a disappointing 28th in the league.

The Cardinals' defense is playing an average season right now, ranked 14th. They have held three teams under 20 points, but they did give up 56 points to Brett Favre and the Jets.

Carolina Panthers

The 5-2 Panthers are an impressive team coming off an impressive game heading into this week. Last week, Carolina was coming off a 27-3 slaughter down in Tampa and was hoping to rebound in a big NFC South game against the New Orleans Saints. They did just that in their 30-7 route of New Orleans.

On offense, All Star receiver Steve Smith is averaging nearly 100 yards per game and quarterback Jake Delhomme is 120-203 for 1,533 yards this season. Half of his completions (60 out of 120) have been to either Steve Smith or Muhsin "Moose" Muhammad.

The running duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have also been combining for nearly 110 ypg. But despite all of their statistics, the Panthers are only ranked a mediocre 16th in the NFL.

The defense, however, is a different story. It is currently ranked fifth in the NFL and is giving up less than 15 points a game. They also have shutout Kansas City and held Reggie Bush and Drew Brees to a single touchdown. The Panthers' "D" is holding opponents under 280 ypg of total offense and is doing its job of getting the offense back on the field.

It is also worth noting that kicker John Kasey is 14-14 on field goals and 15-15 on extra points this year. His long is from 49 yards.

Current Standings

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals (4-2) are the current NFC West leaders, but that's not saying much. That division is 9-16 for the year and also 6-13 out of the division. Arizona has a two-game lead on the Rams (2-4), a two-and-a-half-game lead on the 49ers (2-5), whom they have already beaten 23-13, and a three-game lead on the Seahawks (1-5).

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers (5-2) are tied right now for the NFC South lead with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2), whom they lost to 3-27 in Tampa earlier this season. Carolina has a half-game lead on the surprising Falcons (4-2), but they have already beat them 24-9, and a comfortable two-game lead on the Saints, whom they've also already beaten 30-7, last week. In a division that is currently 17-10 combined for the season, they are doing very well.

Previous Scores

Arizona Cardinals

Week 1........Win 23-13 @ San Francisco

Week 2........Win 31-10 vs. Miami

Week 3........Loss 17-24 @ Washington

Week 4........Loss 35-56 @ NY Jets

Week 5........Win 41-17 vs. Buffalo

Week 6........Win 30-24 vs. Dallas

Week 7.........bye

Carolina Panthers

Week 1........Win 26-24 @ San Diego

Week 2........Win 20-17 vs. Chicago

Week 3.........Loss 10-20 @ Minnesota

Week 4........Win 24-9 vs. Atlanta

Week 5........Win 34-0 vs. Kansas City

Week 6........Loss 3-27 @ Tampa Bay

Week 7........Win 30-7 vs. New Orleans

Statistics

Arizona Cardinals

OFFENSE..........360.0 ypg (6th).....29.5 ppg

     Running..........86.8 ypg (28th)

     Passing..........273.2 ypg (2nd)

DEFENSE..........314.0 ypg (14th).....24 ppg

Carolina Panthers

OFFENSE...........342.0 ypg (16th).....21 ppg

     Running..........114.0 ypg (15th)

     Passing...........210.0 ypg (16th)

DEFENSE..........275.7 ypg (5th).....14.9 ppg

Offensive Leaders

Arizona Cardinals

QB.....Kurt Warner.....rating-102.8.....148-213 (70%).....TD-12.....Int-5.....Sacked-13

RB.....Edgerrin James.....101 rushes for 363 yds.....avg-3.6 yds.....TD-3.....Fum-1

WR.....Larry Fitzgerald.....36 rec. for 546 yds.....avg-15.2 yds.....1st downs-27.....TD-5

Carolina Panthers

QB.....Jake Delhomme.....rating-84.0.....120-203 (59.1%).....TD-7.....Int-5.....Sacked-10

RB.....DeAngelo Williams.....103 rushes for 414 yards.....avg-4.0.....TD-2.....Fum-0

RB.....Jonathon Stewart.....88 rushes for 352 yards.....avg-4.0.....TD-5.....Fum-0

WR.....Steve Smith.....28 rec. for 496 yds.....avg-17.7.....1st downs-22.....TD-2

WR......Muhsin Muhammad.....32 rec. for 469 yds.....avg-14.7.....1st downs-23.....TD-2

Predicted Score: Arizona Cardinals 21 @ Carolina Panthers 24

I predict that the Panthers will pull out a win in a close game. But what do you think?