Carolina plays New York Giants on primetime

If you are looking for a breakdown of the Carolina Panthers/New York Giants game, then read on! The game has already been switched from a day game to Prime Time due to its importance to both teams and fan interest in the matchup.

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The Panthers/Giants game will be for Home Field Advantage in the NFC playoffs. The Giants and Panthers are expected by many to meet in the NFC Championship game thus this Regular Season Game is very important to both teams.

The Panthers and Giants appear to be teams headed in opposite directions. New York with an injury to Brandon Jacobs and the loss of Plaxico Burress to a gun shot wound and suspension, have dropped two straight games. The Panthers looked bad even in some wins earlier in 2008 but seem to have their act together now.

The Keys to the Carolina Panthers beating the New York Giants

The Panthers are built on the Giants formula of a strong defense and great running game. The Panthers need to out Giants the Giants. Expect a heavy dose of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Running Back Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers must limit turnovers and their many false start penalties and keep the ball. Look for Carolina to keep trying to get Steve Smith with a long pass any time the Giants attempt to defend the run with 8 men in “The Box”

On defense the Panthers will often play that way to stop the Giants running game, whether Brandon Jacobs plays of not. Without Burress to force a double team, the Panthers can concentrate on stopping the run.

Julius Peppers HAS to show up and I think he may do so. He got shut out of any stats against the Broncos and this a Prime Time game with playoff ramifications in Pepper’s contract year. Look for Carolina’s great Linebackers Beason and Davis to be very involved in stopping the Giants running game.

I think the Giants will be playing hard to avoid losing a 3 rd game in a row. But the Panthers are playing like sharks smelling blood in the water. Also Carolina Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson is in ill health and awaiting a Heart Transplant. Richardson is a very popular owner among the players and fans in Charlottes. This is added incentive for the Panthers to play well and win a Super Bowl for the only NFL Team Owner to actually play in the League. My prediction is that the Panthers will win the game 24 to 21.

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!