This will be a battle of backup QBs in the desert as Kurt Warner will start for the Cardinals and either David Carr or Vinny Testaverde will start for the Panthers.  You can easily tell who has the edge in that matchup.  The Carolina Panthers are 3-2 overall but they are 3-0 on the road this season.  They have outscored their opponents 70-46 in those road games.  The Cardinals are also 3-2 on the season and they are 2-0 at home this season.  So as boxing announcer Michael Buffer likes to say…..”Someone’s O must go!”

David Carr has a bad back and he needed a shot at halftime last week to finish the game.  If he can’t go Vinny Testaverde will start and he’s only been with the Panthers since Monday.  Look for the Panthers to run the ball often this weekend with DeShaun Foster (361 yards rushing, 4.5 ypc) and DeAngelo Williams (168 yards rushing, 3.9 yards per carry) against a Cardinals defense that is allowing 101.0 yards rushing and 4.0 yards per carry so far this season.  Look for the Cardinals to try to double Steve Smith (25 rec, 360 yards, 5 TDs) and make the Panthers throw to someone else to beat them.

Kurt Warner looks like a new man behind the center.  He has a 102.3 QB Rating so far this season and he should have an outstanding day throwing the ball as the Panthers are giving up 233.6 yards passing per game this season.  The Cards do need to double Julius Peppers as he’s one of the most dangerous DEs in the NFL.  Don’t think for a minute that the Cards won’t run the ball often as Edgerrin James (442 yards rushing, 4.1 ypc, 3 TD runs) should have success on the ground against a Panthers defense that is allowing 3.9 yards per carry and 112.8 yards rushing per game.

PREDICTION:  The Cardinals appear to be a team on the rise and I just can’t see David Carr or Vinny Testaverde leading the Panthers to victory in this game.

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