Unbelievable! Cardinals stun Panthers 33-13, one win from
first Superbowl
The Arizona Cardinals were considered the softest team in the
playoffs, unable to win far from home and carrying the scars of years of
ineptitude.
But behind their cagey quarterback, dynamic receiver, improved defense—and a big
assist from Jake Delhomme’s horrible night—the Cardinals are a win away from the
unthinkable: a berth in the Super Bowl.
Kurt Warner threw two touchdown passes, Larry Fitzgerald had 166 yards receiving
and the Cardinals pounced on Delhomme’s six turnovers Saturday night in a 33-13
win over the bumbling Panthers.
A team that had won only two playoff games in their history before last week’s
win over Atlanta, the Cardinals became the last NFC team to reach the conference
championship since the 1970 merger with a win few saw coming.
Entering as a 10-point underdog and ridiculed for their 0-5 record in the
Eastern time zone this season, Arizona (11-7) raced to a 27-7 halftime lead and
cruised past the mistake-prone Panthers (12-5), who were the league’s only
unbeaten team at home in the regular season...more
Video Recap: Arizona
capitalized on poor play by Carolina and its high-powered offense to crush the
Panthers 33-13 and send the Cardinals to the brink of a Super Bowl berth
Jonathan Stewart rushed up the middle for 9 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
0 - 7
2:43
ARI
TD
Kurt Warner passed to Tim Hightower to the left for 3
yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT)
7 - 7
1:47
ARI
TD
Edgerrin James rushed up the middle for 4 yard gain
(Neil Rackers made PAT)
14 - 7
2nd Quarter
10:16
ARI
FG
Neil Rackers kicked a 49-yard field goal
17 - 7
5:28
ARI
FG
Neil Rackers kicked a 30-yard field goal
20 - 7
3:32
ARI
TD
Kurt Warner passed to Larry Fitzgerald to the right for
29 yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT)
27 - 7
3rd Quarter
4:40
ARI
FG
Neil Rackers kicked a 33-yard field goal
30 - 7
4th Quarter
3:10
ARI
FG
Neil Rackers kicked a 20-yard field goal
33 - 7
0:50
CAR
TD
Jake Delhomme passed to Steve Smith to the left for 8
yard gain (2pt attempt failed, Jake Delhomme pass to DeAngelo Williams)
33 - 13
Team Statistics
ARI
CAR
First Downs
21
16
Passing
10
11
Rushing
8
4
Penalty
3
1
Third Down Efficiency
10-18
2-8
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
360
269
Total Plays
76
51
Average Gain Per Play
4.7
5.3
NET YARDS RUSHING
145
75
Rushes
43
15
Average Per Rush
3.4
5.0
NET YARDS PASSING
215
194
Completions-Attempts
21-32
17-34
Yards Per Pass Play
6.5
5.4
Times Sacked
1
2
Yards Lost to Sacks
5
11
Had Intercepted
1
5
PUNTS
4
4
Average Punt
43.5
48.0
PENALTIES
5
6
Penalty Yards
65
40
FUMBLES
0
1
Fumbles Lost
0
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
39:49
20:11
Preview: The Eastern time
zone hasn't been very friendly to the Arizona Cardinals. The Carolina Panthers
couldn't be more comfortable in their home just 200 miles from the Atlantic
Ocean.
The Panthers look to improve to 9-0 at home by beating the Cardinals in
Charlotte for the second time this season as the teams square off Saturday night
for the chance to advance to the NFC championship game.
Carolina tied for the best regular-season record in the NFC at 12-4, thanks in
large part to its first undefeated record at home since 1996. The Panthers won
their eight games at Bank of America Stadium by an average of 15.4 points.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, went 0-5 in the East, losing to Washington, the New
York Jets, Carolina, Philadelphia and New England by an average of 20.0 points.
They are 2-20 in their last 22 games in the Eastern time zone...
Prediction: This is probably
the upset pick of the week as no one is giving the Cardinals a chance to win,
but remember, on Oct. 26 at Carolina, Arizona led 17-3 in the third quarter
before a furious Carolina comeback. The Cardinals match up well with the
Panthers. We don't think they will win on the road in a playoff atmosphere, but
they should cover fairly easily. If you can get a money line, it might be worth
a shot.
Panthers 30 - Cardinals 27
The Game Plans:
The
Cardinals' strength is the pass, but the run game has improved over the past two
games (197 yards). That's helped the team's play-action passes. Carolina
concentrated on stopping the run when the teams met earlier this season, and the
Cardinals hurt them through the air
Sure,
the Panthers want to run the ball and keep Kurt Warner off the field. But they'd
be crazy to forget about their most dynamic offensive weapon in receiver Steve
Smith. In his last five starts against the Cardinals -- all Carolina wins --
Smith has 37 catches for 550 yards and five touchdowns. All five of those scores
have come in the last three games. Expect a bold, attacking game plan from the
Panthers.
Watch out for this:
Carolina has scored 30 or more points five times this season and
dating to December of 2004, has won 16 consecutive games when putting 30-plus
points on the scoreboard
Arizona is 0-5 in games played in the Eastern Time Zone this
season and, dating to November of 2004, just 1-14 in its last 15 games played
Video Preview: The Carolina
Panthers have yet to lose a game at home this season. Jason Horowitz and Charley
Casserly see if the Arizona Cardinals can put an end to that streak this weekend
12.9
15.2