Carolina Panthers (-10.5) vs Arizona Cardinals (+10.5)
Saturday 8:15 EST
Carolina Panthers
This club seemed to quietly beat the snot out of teams all year long. When you have a running game like the Panthers do with DeAngelo Williams racking up 1,515 yards to go along with 20 TD’s and Jonathan Stewart adding 835 yards and 10 scores, Delhomme can afford to be average. Take the Oakland game for example, Jake was 7/27 with 4 interceptions and they still won by 11.
Even though he had a less that stellar year he seemed to come up with a big play when he needed one. The respect the running game gets forces the D to put extra guys in the box and when there’s less guys in coverage, a certain all pro wide out named Steve Smith will burn you every time. Unfortunately for the Cardinal D, it’s going to be all DeAngelo, all the time this weekend, and if he gets loose that over of 48 ½ will be demolished.
Arizona Cardinals
Not many people picked the Cardinals to even be in this position, but here they are. After a solid win over the Cinderella Falcons, Kurt Warner showed that he’s still got some juice in that arm and more importantly, has some wide outs who can go up and get it.
Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston are the best receiving core in the NFL. They all had over 1,000 yards catching the ball and give the Cardinals a punchers chance against any team because of their big play ability. Much like the running game opens up the pass game for Carolina, the pass game gives Arizona the opportunity to run draw plays and other screen options that can go for big yards. Edge and Hightower need to pick up yards on first down to open up the playbook for Warner and the wide outs.
Philadelphia Eagles (+4.5) at New York Giants (-4.5)
Sunday 1pm EST
Philadelphia Eagles
This game rests on the shoulders of Donovan McNabb. Something that can’t be taught is experience and poise, McNabb has the savvy and coolness about him to sit in the pocket for half a second longer than most QB’s in the league. Take their last meeting in Week 14 for example, If McNabb doesn’t sit in the pocket and avoid the heat, that short dump off in the 4th quarter to Westbrook that went 40 yards for a TD never happens and the Giants may take that game.
It’s really going to be up to the offensive line to give him a pocket to work with and if he has time he can beat you. With a deep threat in DeSean Jackson, look for the Eagles to take shots down the field while getting Westbrook involved in the short pass and screen game. McNabb will have to be great, and there’s just something about the Eagles right now that makes you believe.
New York Giants
Brandon Jacobs went down with a knee injury in the third quarter of their week 14 tilt with the Eagles and so did the Giants, 20-14. He had 52 yards on just 10 carries and the Giants were marching. After he left the Giants backups rushed for just 19 yards and failed to convert some key third and shorts, plays that Brian Westbrook was making all day.
