This should be a pretty good football game as the surprising Falcons and the Panthers are tied for first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers.  The Falcons will try to do what they always want to and that’s to run the football against the Panthers.  The Falcons are averaging 203.0 yards rushing per game and 5.7 yards per carry so the Panthers will have their hands full trying to stop them.  But, the Panthers are only allowing 3.9 yards per carry this season so Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood will likely have to fight hard for every yard they get tomorrow.  Pressure seemed to give Matt Ryan trouble in the teams’ only loss against the Buccaneers so the Panthers will be blitzing a lot on passing downs in this game.  Julius Peppers could also have a big game against the Falcons if the Panthers stop the Falcons’ running game.

The Panthers also would like to run the football tomorrow with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams against a Falcons’ defense that is allowing 136.7 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry.  But, the Panthers also want to get the ball to Steve Smith early in the game to soften up the Falcons’ run defense.  QB Jake Delhomme has been waiting to break out this season but this probably won’t be the game as the Falcons have played well against the pass.  The Panthers’ O-Line needs to improve the pass blocking as Delhomme has been sacked 9 times already this season and Falcons’ DE John Abraham already has six sacks this season as he appears to be a man on a mission.

PREDICTION:  CAROLINA PANTHERS 20, ATLANTA FALCONS 17

The Panthers have lost rookie linebacker Dan Connor for the season due to a torn ACL.  Connor had 4 tackles this season for the Panthers.  The Panthers will miss Connor more on special teams than they will on defense but this really hurts the linebacker depth.

Jake Delhomme has looked a little rusty the last two weeks for the Panthers.  In his defense the Vikings and Bears are two very stout teams on the other side of the football.  He has also been sacked 9 times this season so the O-Line has to shoulder some of the load in Delhomme’s rough start.  Delhomme has completed 52 of 91 passes (57.1%) for 566 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception (74.7 QB Rating).  Look for Delhomme to pick up the pace as the next five games are all against some of the softer defenses in the league.

The Panthers just couldn’t get anything going against the rugged defense of the Vikings last Sunday.  Jake Delhomme completed 17 of 29 passes for 191 yards in this game.  DeAngelo Williams only rushed for 27 yards on 10 carries (2.7 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg).  Jonathan Stewart didn’t do any better against the Vikings as he carried the ball 7 times for 15 yards (2.1 ypc) with a TD run.  WR Steve Smith got into his first action of the season and he caught 4 passes for 70 yards (17.5 avg).  The Panthers finished up with 47 yards rushing on 20 carries (2.4 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 29 passes for 157 yards.

Linebackers Thomas Davis (8 tackles) and Jon Beason (7 tackles) led the way for the Panthers’ defense which had a so-so game.  The Vikings finished up with 119 yards on 32 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 28 passes for 186 yards.  The Panthers fell to 2-1 on the season after this loss.

These are two football teams going in opposite directions right now as the Panthers are 2-0 while the Vikings are 0-2.  This will be interesting to watch as the Panthers’ running game is working well (128.0 yards rushing per game, 4.3 ypc) but the Vikings have a great run defense (82.0 yards per game, 3.6 ypc).  With that in mind look for the Panthers to throw a lot on first down.  That could be a problem for the Vikings who are allowing 244.5 yards passing per game.  If Jake Delhomme has time to throw the Vikings will be in trouble because Steve Smith is officially back.  Mushin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett and TE Dante Rosario are all other decent weapons in the passing game for the Panthers.  Still, don’t expect an all-out passing attack out of the Panthers as they really like what RBs Jonathan Stewart (130 yards) and DeAngelo Williams (117 yards) are doing on the ground for them this season.

The Vikings finally woke up and benched Tarvaris Jackson who is an awful QB.  Even with an outstanding running game he still couldn’t throw the football.  With Adrian Peterson a little iffy for this game the Vikings might have to lean on Chester Taylor at RB.  He’s more than capable of having a big game if Peterson can’t go.  No matter which RB gets the football the Vikings should have some success on the ground as they are averaging 183.5 yards rushing per game and 5.4 ypc and that was with no threat of a passing game.  As soon as the Vikings establish the running game look for Gus Frerotte to run some play action passes and attempt to get the ball deep to speedster Bernard Berrian.

PREDICTION:  CAROLINA PANTHERS 20, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 17

The Carolina Panthers played well on defense yesterday and it stood up.  Linebacker Jon Beason led the way for the Panthers on defense with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.  Linebacker Thomas Davis (9 tackles) and CB Chris Gamble (8 tackles, fumble recovery) each pitched in on the defense for the Panthers.  The Bears rushed for 115 yards on 29 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 32 passes for 141 yards.

The offense wasn’t great yesterday but it was good enough to win.  Jake Delhomme completed 12 of 21 passes for 128 yards with 1 interception.  Rookie RB Jonathan Stewart had a very solid game with 77 yards rushing on 14 carries (5.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs (4, 1 yards).  DeAngelo Williams pitched in with 31 yards rushing on 11 carries (2.8 ypc) in this game.  Mushin Muhammad was the leading receiver for the Panthers in this football game with 5 grabs for 59 yards (11.8 avg).  The Panthers finished up with 114 yards rushing on 31 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 12 of 21 passes for 102 yards.  The Panthers are off to a very good start to the 2008 season with a 2-0 record.

This game will pit two teams that came up with huge road upsets last week as Chicago pounded the Colts 29-13 and Carolina beat the Chargers 26-24 on the last play of the football game.  The Bears will try to again control the football and play it safe on offense.  Matt Forte (123 yards rushing) and Kevin Jones (45 yards rushing) will both probably have huge workloads in this football game.  Linebacker Jon Beason of the Panthers has the ability to shut down the running game of the Bears as he led a inspired defense last week that did a solid job against LaDainian Tomlinson.  Kyle Orton is a game manager type of QB who will just try to not make mistakes with the football.  That is a shame because the Chargers did throw well against the Panthers last week but the Bears don’t have the WRs to take advantage of that weakness.  TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen appear to be Orton’s targets of choice so the safeties of the Panthers will likely be busy.

The Panthers would like to jump on the Bears quick with the passing game and then grind out the win on the ground with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  The Panthers only have one downfield threat right now until Steve Smith returns next week so D.J. Hackett will have to handle the long stuff.  Mushin Muhammad would like to sting his old team but he just doesn’t have the wheels to get down the field anymore.  TE Dante Rosario had a huge game last week for the Panthers catching 7 passes for 96 yards (13.7 avg) with a TD so the Bears’ safeties (Mike Brown and Kevin Payne) will have to watch him closely.  DeAngelo Williams (86 yards rushing) and Jonathan Stewart (53 yards rushing) led a running attack that rolled up 142 yards rushing last week against the Chargers.  But, the interior of the Bears’ Defense is better than the Chargers as Brian Urlacher will be chasing these guys tomorrow.

PREDICTION:  CAROLINA PANTHERS 20, CHICAGO BEARS 17

The Panthers have lost QB Matt Moore for the next 4-6 weeks after he fractured his fibula in practice last week.  Moore did not play too well in the preseason for the Panthers as he completed 35 of 65 passes (53.8%) for 389 yards with 0 TD passes and 3 interceptions (52.7 QB Rating).  Moore’s performance in the preseason was the reason that the Panthers acquired Josh McCown from the Dolphins but that looks like a genius move right now due to Moore’s injury.

Things looked bad for the Chargers with 2:27 left in the football game but that’s when Jake Delhomme took the team on a magical 11 play, 68 yard TD drive that culminated with a TD pass with 0:00 on the time clock.  Delhomme hit TE Dante Rosario with a 14 yard TD pass in the back of the end zone to win this football game!  Delhomme was very effective in his first start of the season as he completed 23 of 41 passes for 247 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  DeAngelo Williams was very solid in this game with 86 yards rushing on 18 carries (4.8 ypc).  Jonathan Stewart also had a good game in his NFL debut with 10 carries for 53 yards (5.3 ypc).  2nd year TE Dante Rosario had by far the best game of his NFL career as he caught 7 passes for 96 yards (13.7 avg) with a game winning TD grab.  Mushin Muhammad also had a decent game with 6 grabs for 56 yards (9.3 avg).  The Panthers finished up with 142 yards rushing on 29 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 41 passes for 246 yards.

Chris Harris led a so-so effort on defense for the Panthers with 10 tackles. Linebacker Na’il Diggs was also solid in this game with 8 tackles and a sack.  CB Chris Gamble finished up with 5 tackles and he returned a fumble 31-yards for a TD in this game.  The Chargers finished up with 105 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.9 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 27 passes for 211 yards.  This was a fantasic effort by the Panthers who will look to build off it and get off to a good start to the 2008 season.

With Steve Smith out for this game the Panthers will try to run the football early and often against the Chargers.  Rookie RB Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will split carries to keep both of them fresh.  NT Jamal Williams and inside linebackers Matt Wilhelm & Derek Smith will have their hands full trying to stop the Panthers’ backs.  The Panthers will likely keep the passing game conservative in Jake Delhomme’s first start in a long time.  He will target D.J. Hackett, Mushin Muhammad and TEs Dante Rosario and Jeff King in the passing game.  CBs Antonio Cromartie, Quentin Jammer and rookie Antoine Cason are all impact players that make big plays so it will be interesting to watch what happens when Delhomme drops back to pass the ball.

The Chargers will likely feed the rock to LaDainian Tomlinson early and often against a Panthers’ defense not really equipped to stop him.  But, 2nd year middle linebacker Jon Beason will likely be chasing L.T. all over the football field.  When Philip Rivers drops back to pass he better beware of Panthers’ DE Julius Peppers who looked great in the preseason.  The Panthers do have a solid set of corners in Ken Lucas, Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall so the Chargers better be careful when throwing the ball downfield to Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson and Chris Davis.  The Chargers hope that TE Antonio Gates is ready to go because he is a mis-match for safeties Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey.

PREDICTION:  SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 23, CAROLINA PANTHERS 20