Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals: game preview

Panthers host Cardinals Sunday on FOX

The Carolina Panthers are fresh off a blowout of the New Orleans Saints in a big NFC South Matchup. The Cardinals are coming in off their bye week and two weeks removed from knocking off the Dallas Cowboys in overtime. This could be an advantage for Carolina as teams sometimes are flat coming in off a bye after a victory.

The keys to winning the game for the Carolina Panthers:

Offense - Once again the Panthers need to limit mistakes, turnovers and penalties kill this offense. Of course you can say that about any football team. But the Panthers are built to get a lead and maintain that long enough to win. While Steve Smith is a gamebreaker this is still a ball control offense.

The Panthers currently rank 16th in the NFL in offense (based on yards) and 14th in rushing yards. This needs to improve against Arizona to keep their offense off the field. Look for Carolina to continue pounding the ball with Williams and Stewart. This sets up their play action passing game that they need to have to be successful. Arizona’s defense is ranked 13th in total yards and 11th in rushing yards. So it may not be easy to run on them but the Panthers will have to, in order to win the game. Even though Arizona’s defense ranks 20th in passing yards allowed.

Defense - The Carolina Panthers do rank 2nd in passing defense but they have only played one passing team, the Saints. They rank 14th in rushing yards allowed but it’s Arizona’s passing attack they need to worry about.

Arizona’s offense is ranked 20th in total yards but 3rd in passing yards. Kurt Warner is having a good season but he can be defeated with hard hits. He is both injury and fumble prone. Hightower and James are decent running backs but the passing game is what makes the Cardinals go.

> Find Carolina Panthers jerseys & hats online through Pro Football Fans and check the 2008 NFL scoreboard as well!

The Panthers need to double team Larry Fitzgerald but also watch out for the best receiver in the game that nobody talks about. Steve Breaston has come into his own with the injury to Anquan Boldin. Breaston caught only 8 passes last year. This season he has 28 for 373 yards and one touchdown. He had a great game against Dallas and he could burn the Panthers as well. If the Panthers get a good pass rush and keep Warner under pressure, they will do well.

By Randy Inman
ProFootball-fans.com Carolina Panthers Correspondent

For more of Randy's work check out FootballDogz.com where he is the Chief Writer!