NFC Championship Game Preview

[kerouac9]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/?p=700

I'm going with my heart instead of my head here. I think the matchups here are absolutely compelling.

Our front seven can clamp down on the run game that is Carolina's offensive base, but has historically struggled to find an answer to mobile QBs. We can't create pressure with a four-man pass rush, but it's not clear that you want to pressure Newton immediately.

Our secondary can shut down opposing wide receivers, especially the opponent's #1 wideout. Carolina doesn't have a #1 wideout, so how much do they care about losing Ted Ginn?

On the other side of the ball, Carolina's pass defense is exceptional (#2 in DVOA), and that's driven by exceptional play against #1 WRs and locking down TEs and RBs. They're even better defending the short passing game (#2 DVOA) than they are against deep passes (#5 DVOA). The only area where the Carolina pass defense is below average is in passes to the right — this could be a big game for Michael Floyd.

 

[Iceman]

Great write up K-9. All match ups are extremely key and this game will be an extremely fun but stressful game to watch. As to do with score, my prediction is almost dead on with you. I have it 34-24 Cards!

 

[TJ]

I think if the Cards win on Sunday , K9 should post a video of him doing the "I'm Fat Eddy Lacy" dance.

 

[Iceman]

I think if the Cards win on Sunday , K9 should post a video of him doing the "I'm Fat Eddy Lacy" dance.

Oh ya! I forgot about that, but yeah, that should be the requirement!

 

[BigRedRage]

lmao at the photo of drone vs newton

 

[cardncubfan]

Great write up & great pic at the end.

 

[kerouac9]

I think if the Cards win on Sunday , K9 should post a video of him doing the "I'm Fat Eddy Lacy" dance.

Oh ya! I forgot about that, but yeah, that should be the requirement!

Ugh. It'd be hard to simulate the 8 beers I had during the tailgate before that game.

Less hard to simulate waiting 4.2 seconds to watch Lacy lumber forward for a gain of 2. "I'm fat and slow. I'm to fat to be able to do my job."

 

[iRobot]

Jonathan Stewart DNP. Could be news...

 

[DVontel]

Jonathan Stewart DNP. Could be news...

He has a history of not participating much in their practices.

He'll play.

 

[kerouac9]

Jonathan Stewart DNP. Could be news...

According to the twitterverse, Stewart practiced today.

 

[TJ]

Ugh. It'd be hard to simulate the 8 beers I had during the tailgate before that game.

Less hard to simulate waiting 4.2 seconds to watch Lacy lumber forward for a gain of 2. "I'm fat and slow. I'm to fat to be able to do my job."

I think you should seriously consider it. You could be the next YouTube sensation; like the guy who simulates baseball players' batting stances. You could be the guy who makes dances based on each NFL player's character flaws; for example, "I'm homicidal Aaron Hernandez" or, "I'm party-goer Johnny Football who cares more about nailing chicks and drinking at the club than being a responsible franchise QB". I would strongly advise against doing one about Greg Hardy, though.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I'm a party-goer who cares more about nailing chicks and drinking at the club.

Normal behavior, at least where I come from. Abnormal behavior is being a franchise NFL player.

 

[fatosber]

I might be wrong as I have not watched a lot of Panthers games this season, but here are my observations about them:

Not so impressive wins:

Week 1: Won by 11 against a Jaguars team that ended the season 5-11. Only two teams managed to score less points on the Jags than the Panthers. Those two teams were the Colts and the Colts. Jags ended the season as the second worst defense based on points per game.

Week 2: Won by a TD against a Houston team that was brutal to start the season. Managed to score 24 points against a team that started the season 2-5.

Week 3: Won by only 5 points against the Saints, who were by far the worst defensive team this year. The Cardinals won this fixture by 12.

Week 4: Won against the Bucs by 2 TD. The Bucs ended the season 6-10 and were the 7th worst defense this year.

Week 6: Won by 11 against Philly. Philadelphia had the 5th worst defense this year. Cardinals won this fixture by 23.

Week 7: Won by only 3 against the Colts. The colts had the 8th worst defense.

Week 10: Won by 17 against the worst team in the NFL. The Titans were also the 6th worst defense.

Week 13: Won by only 3 points against the disaster that was the Saints. Allowed 41 points in this game.

Week 15: Won again by only 3 points against the second worst defensive team this year. The Giants almost came all the way back and won having scored 35 points.

More impressive wins:

Week 5: Won by 4 in Seattle. Cardinals also beat Seattle away.

Week 8: Won by 8 in Green Bay. Green bay lost to the Lions, Bears, and Vikings at home as well.

Week 14: Blanked the Falcons 38-0. They would later lose to the Falcons 20-13.

Overall rankings:

Defense: Cardinals and Panthers almost identical with 19.6 and 19.3 points allowed respectively.
Offense: Cardinals first in Yards per Game. Second in points per game. Carolina first in points per game but 11th in yards per game.

Passing: Carolina 24th in Yards per game. Carolina played the: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th, and 31st worst pass defenses. Average of 15.

Arizona 2nd in yards per game. Arizona played the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th,10th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 21st, 25th, 27th, 31st. Average of 14.

Passing Defense: Arizona 8th. Carolina 11th.

Running: Carolina 2nd. Arizona 8th.
Both Carolina and Arizona played an average of 13th worst rush defenses. But whereas the Panthers only played one top 10 rush defense, the Cards faced the 1st, 5th, and 7th defense.
Running Defense: Carolina 4th. Arizona 6th.


Record of teams played:
Carolina 133/143
Arizona 122/134


Based on all of these statistics and observations it is safe to say that despite playing similarly ranked passing teams, Arizona is by far the superior passing team. Carolina has the edge in rushing and this should pose as Arizona's biggest problem.

If we keep their running in check, we should easily outpass them and win by 7+.

 

[Absolute Zero]

I really don't buy all these season long statistics at this point, especially after our loss of Badger and others on the defensive side, and Palmer's erratic play the the last couple of games. An analysis of the last 3 games would give better insight.

I am hoping for the best of course, but we are going to have our hands full, and will be in trouble if our O line can't protect Palmer.

 

[Shaggy]

I might be wrong as I have not watched a lot of Panthers games this season, but here are my observations about them:

Not so impressive wins:

Week 1: Won by 11 against a Jaguars team that ended the season 5-11. Only two teams managed to score less points on the Jags than the Panthers. Those two teams were the Colts and the Colts. Jags ended the season as the second worst defense based on points per game.

Week 2: Won by a TD against a Houston team that was brutal to start the season. Managed to score 24 points against a team that started the season 2-5.

Week 3: Won by only 5 points against the Saints, who were by far the worst defensive team this year. The Cardinals won this fixture by 12.

Week 4: Won against the Bucs by 2 TD. The Bucs ended the season 6-10 and were the 7th worst defense this year.

Week 6: Won by 11 against Philly. Philadelphia had the 5th worst defense this year. Cardinals won this fixture by 23.

Week 7: Won by only 3 against the Colts. The colts had the 8th worst defense.

Week 10: Won by 17 against the worst team in the NFL. The Titans were also the 6th worst defense.

Week 13: Won by only 3 points against the disaster that was the Saints. Allowed 41 points in this game.

Week 15: Won again by only 3 points against the second worst defensive team this year. The Giants almost came all the way back and won having scored 35 points.

More impressive wins:

Week 5: Won by 4 in Seattle. Cardinals also beat Seattle away.

Week 8: Won by 8 in Green Bay. Green bay lost to the Lions, Bears, and Vikings at home as well.

Week 14: Blanked the Falcons 38-0. They would later lose to the Falcons 20-13.

Overall rankings:

Defense: Cardinals and Panthers almost identical with 19.6 and 19.3 points allowed respectively.
Offense: Cardinals first in Yards per Game. Second in points per game. Carolina first in points per game but 11th in yards per game.

Passing: Carolina 24th in Yards per game. Carolina played the: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th, and 31st worst pass defenses. Average of 15.

Arizona 2nd in yards per game. Arizona played the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th,10th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 21st, 25th, 27th, 31st. Average of 14.

Passing Defense: Arizona 8th. Carolina 11th.

Running: Carolina 2nd. Arizona 8th.
Both Carolina and Arizona played an average of 13th worst rush defenses. But whereas the Panthers only played one top 10 rush defense, the Cards faced the 1st, 5th, and 7th defense.
Running Defense: Carolina 4th. Arizona 6th.


Record of teams played:
Carolina 133/143
Arizona 122/134


Based on all of these statistics and observations it is safe to say that despite playing similarly ranked passing teams, Arizona is by far the superior passing team. Carolina has the edge in rushing and this should pose as Arizona's biggest problem.

If we keep their running in check, we should easily outpass them and win by 7+.

Nice, now do this same thing to AZ and see how they match up.

 

[fatosber]

I really don't buy all these season long statistics at this point, especially after our loss of Badger and others on the defensive side, and Palmer's erratic play the the last couple of games. An analysis of the last 3 games would give better insight.

I am hoping for the best of course, but we are going to have our hands full, and will be in trouble if our O line can't protect Palmer.

I agree with you. My main point is that Carolina does not seem to have a good group of WR to create trouble for our Pass defense. On the other hand, I believe that we are pretty capable of stoping their run given that we play with discipline and follow the game plan


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[daves]

Record of teams played:
Carolina 113/143
Arizona 122/134

FTFY!

...dbs

 

[Iceman]

I just hope hope hope that Ginn does something that causes them to lose the game or at least set us up for a big play/points!

 

[Big Deal]

FTFY!

...dbs

Thanks daves, the math wasn't working

 

[juza76]

Nice Read and thank u
Happy ending with the Blondie in Panthers jersey
K9 do u see rob Bryant being active this Sunday?

 

[MrYeahBut]

Does anyone know what uniforms the Cards are wearing?

 

[juza76]

Does anyone know what uniforms the Cards are wearing?

Red jersey white pants and Pink helmet

 

[Cardiac]

Red jersey white pants and Pink helmet

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Record of teams played:
Carolina 133/143
Arizona 122/134
.

How did Carolina's opponents play 20 more games than our opponents?

 

[fatosber]

How did Carolina's opponents play 20 more games than our opponents?

Its 113 mstake


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