TV Schedule: Sunday, Jan. 24, 6:40 p.m. ET, Fox
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium-Charlotte, N.C.
Current Line: Carolina (-3)
Over/Under: 48 (Vegas Insider.com)
The Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers have been the two best teams in the NFC all season, so it’s a fitting conference title game matchup that will take place Sunday night. The similarities between the two teams are obvious, with two good defenses, two MVP candidates at quarterback and two legitimate Coach of the Year candidates. But Sunday’s winner will be determined by which team can take advantage of the other’s weaknesses.
The Cardinals have a deep group of wide receivers led by Larry Fitzgerald, who added to his excellent postseason resume during the divisional round win over the Green Bay Packers. Blown second-half leads have been a problem for the Panthers, and an injury-thinned secondary may struggle to limit Michael Floyd and John Brown as secondary targets for Carson Palmer.
Running back Jonathan Stewart returned to action for Carolina last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks and made an immediate difference, with 59-yard run on the first play from scrimmage on his way to 106 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Stewart reportedly suffered an ankle injury last Sunday, perhaps related to the sprained foot that had sidelined him at the end of the regular season, but all indications are he will be good to go against Arizona.
Sunday night’s game will center on the play of the two quarterbacks, with Cam Newton as an efficient dual threat for the Panthers and Palmer as the pilot of a more aggressive offense for the Cardinals. Weather should not be a limiting factor during the game, with a current forecast high of 47 degrees in Charlotte with no chance for precipitation on Sunday. Though if poor field conditions from last weekend linger that will be something to watch.
Prediction: Cardinals 27, Panthers 23
