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I hate to break it to you boss but the reason the Cards game was as close as it was had as much to do with two things as much as anything 1) Kurt Warner played out of his mind and 2) they played the Cards during their "lull time", i.e., when they struggled in the middle of the season over a three-to-five week span. The didn't play well against the Cards, then the Raiders, then even the Lions! Even after that they had two more games in which they struggled--against Atlanta and GB. What was their record during this time of struggle when they were trying to find themselves? 4-1.

That's what the best teams do--win even when they struggle.

I hate to break the news to the Arizona folks but the Panthers are peaking at the point they're supposed to peak--at the end of the year.

How did things work out for the Cards when they were supposed to be peaking at the end of the year, especially in their games against Philly, Minnesota and NE? They even lost to the Giants *at home.* If the Panthers had played the very same game at home which they played in the Meadowlands a month ago, they would have won the game by 7-10 pts---and NY couldn't have played any better than they did that night!

The Cards will get massacreeed.

I do admire your pulling for them. If they weren't playing the Panthers I would be pulling for you guys. No one really hates the Cards around here. See the following article in today's Charlotte paper:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/story/454246.html

I admire the Cards, especially Kurt Warner (a fantastic human being, much less football player) and Tim Hightower from the national champion University of Richmond Spiders.

But, they are playing the Panthers--at home--after the Panthers have gotten their number a little more after playing them this year---at the time when the Panthers are peaking instead of when they're doing their mid-year struggle.

It's going to be ugly---red feathers everywhere around Bank of America Stadium---which is in *the East* by the way.

I'll put you down for over-confident?

The panthers will control the game with there running game. they will tire out the cards defense, which was impressive last week, and in the end they will come out on top.
It is also crazy if people think that edge will have a good game running against a panthers defense that is lead by 2 pro bowlers. The panthers will also have there DTs back. The only reason they lost to the giants was because Damion Lewis and Makee Kemouateu were out.
It will be a good game, but the panthers will come out ontop in the end

Panthers win
Running game will be on fire. even if the cards get a hot start, Kurt will be forced to throw the ball a lot and he will make some bad decisions on he will get picked off. The panthers will control the clock, the game, and in the end will tire out the cards defense. It will be a good game but the cards are too 1 dimensional to beat the panthers.
It will be a good game though.

Any given Sunday!

The Panthers are 8-0 at home...the Cardinals are 3-5 on the road.

They beat Atlanta because a.) they were at home and b.) We had a rookie (but still very impressive) quarterback

Panthers 24, Cardinals 10.

I have been an Arizona fan since they left St Louis. Even when we win, the media cannot give anything more than half-a55ed credit. They like to attribute it to the other team's loss, instead of a well played game. Even last week, I heard more about ATL's rookie weakness, than I did about a solid backfield from AZ.
I live in Charlotte, and am really looking forward to this game. Panthers are a force to be reckoned with, but if AZ can again utilize both the running and passing offensive threats, there is no way they wont score more than 10, as Timmy C suggests. It should be closer than 10.5 pts, and yes- like last time they played, stop the turnovers and they do have a chance to pull it off.

I think the Panthers should win but that spread is a joke. Waaaay to big. The Panthers need to bring the heat to Warner a little more than their last match up. That's tough cause Warner can get rid of it quick when he has to. Lucas has to try and not lay 10 yds off his receiver too. Should be an interesting game. Hopefully D-Will does his thing, the Panthers control the clock, and keep doing what they have been doing at home. Go Panthers!

panthers should "RUN" away with this game

Again, if Arizona can keep their defense focused and together, they should do a good job of stopping the run. In my opinion, Steve Smith will pose the biggest threat, and Jake can scramble. If AZ can get a good start early and keep the Panthers off balance, it will definitely be close.

I admire the h@@@ out of Kurt Warner *but* I've been waiting all season to see the Kurt Warner all of us have seen so often the past few years. You know--the Kurt Warner who fumbles, gets rattled in the pocket when there's too much pressure, the KW who will sometimes throw Favre-esque forced throws.
What happened to that guy this year?
Hopefully he'll show up Saturday night.

Somebody said something about Lucas getting burned because he stays too far off his man.
What about the two-point conversion in N.Y. He was right on the guy and still he got faked out.
I swear I could have done a better job covering that receiver when I was 15 years old playing touch football.

This could be the upset of the weekend....I know the Cards have not played well on the road, especially back east, but I have a feeling about this game....it could be gas but I have a feeling!

Unfortunately I think the Cards are going to get handed their **** this weekend. As a Ram fan ( I apologize for that ) I am pulling for Warner to have another miracle season but the Cards are just not good enough. If they get behind to much they'll get blown out. And Peppers is going to be all over Warner since Warner runs like he's got steel spats on his shoes. When Arizona got blown out they really got cleaned. I just hope it doesn't get so out of hand that I have to watch that ingrate Linehart come in and pretned he can claen up the mess. He'll probably be to tired from partying the night before.

Cards can't win Saturday: they were on the cover of SI this week.

Hey Little Moose, how are things in beautiful Bastrop, TX? Good luck to your Cards this weekend but I think our Panthers are going to win this one.

Don't ever underestimate John Fox's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory though (see the NYG game).

Go Panthers!

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 03:47 PM ET  01.09 by broiler

Hey Little Moose, how are things in beautiful Bastrop, TX? Good luck to your Cards this weekend but I think our Panthers are going to win this one.Don't ever underestimate John Fox's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory though (see the NYG game).Go Panthers!

Funny, I didn't see John Fox in a Giants uniform with an OL number on it pushing the Panther defense around so two running backs could get close to 200 yds apiece. Dude, you must have better vision than I do...

Or was it him, not the wind, that blew Kasay's kick to the right?...

And, I'm sure that was Ken Lucas instead of Fox doing a slack-**** job of covering the NY receiver during the two-point conversion. I could have sworn Fox isn't that thin and dark...

You Fox-haters remind me of a church I used to serve in which every pastor was vilified during his tenure by the "usual suspects" but after each pastor leaves he has to hear how bad a job the present pastor is doing and how much they miss him being there! Crazy as H###, ain't it?

After Fox is gone, you guys will be able to ruminate and rant about "how good it was when 'good ol' Foxie' was still the coach. Best d### coach we ever had!"

I'd bet my last dollar on it.