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.

For college football and NFL picks, check this site out.  http://www.baysportspicks.com/

 

The Saints have been a mess all season long as they are 0-3 having been outscored 103-38!  The Panthers have been like two different teams this season as they are awful at home going 0-2.  But, on the road the Panthers are 2-0 having outscored their opponents 54-33!

The Saints have been lost this season on offense and things have gotten a lot tougher with Deuce McAllister going down for the season.  The Saints are planning on using Reggie Bush (80 yards rushing, 2.8 ypc) as the main man in the running game.  At least, that’s what they are saying in public but I have a feeling that undrafted rookie Pierre Thomas will get a big chance to show what he can do soon as Bush can’t handle running between the tackles.  Teams have rushed for 118.0 yards per game against the Panthers so look for the Saints to try to run a balanced offense this week.  Drew Brees (677 yards passing, 1 TD pass, 7 interceptions) needs to be more careful with the football and this week he could have some success as the Panthers don’t have any pickoffs yet this season.  Look for Marques Colston and TE Eric Johnson to have big games this week.

It looks as if David Carr is going to start again this weekend so look for the Panthers to attempt to run the football often.  The Saints are allowing 116.3 yards rushing per game but only 3.7 ypc so DeShaun Foster (302 yards rushing, 5.0 ypc) and DeAngelo Williams (145 yards rushing, 4.0 ypc) will likely have to fight for every yard they get.  The Saints pass defense has been awful this season as they are allowing 239.0 yards passing per game and they have also allowed 7 TD passes and only have 1 interception.  The Saints also don’t have a sack yet this season so David Carr will likely have a lot more time to throw the football this week.  Look for Steve Smith to have a monster game this week (21 rec, 313 yards, 4 TDs).

PREDICTION:  The Saints are lost right now and I don’t see how a bye week will cure all of their ills.  The Panthers will win this game in the Super Dome as the Saints look forward to next April’s Draft.

 

The Buccaneers and Panthers will be playing for first place in the NFC South as both teams are 2-1 this season.  The Bucs have been outstanding the last two weeks outscoring their opponents 55-17!  The Panthers have lost there only home game this season 34-21 to the Texans.

The Bucs have evolved into a power running offense.  They might find the going tough against the Panthers defense which is only allowing 95.3 yards rushing per game and 3.8 yards per carry.  But, the Bucs will pound away with Cadillac Williams (167 yards), Michael Pittman (80 yards) and Ernest Graham (88 yards) to set up the play action passing game.  The Panthers pass defense has allowed 246.7 yards passing per game and they only have 2 sacks and 0 interceptions so far this season.  The Panthers must know where Joey Galloway is at all times as he has already caught 13 passes for 249 yards (19.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

With the Panthers likely starting David Carr this week they will probably try to run a little more than they pass the ball on Sunday.  The Bucs have had issues stopping the run this season as they are allowing 124.7 yards rushing per game and 4.0 ypc.  With that in mind expect a heavy dose of DeShaun Foster (238 yards rushing, 5.2 ypc) and DeAngelo Williams (140 yards rushing, 4.1 ypc).  Linebackers Barrett Ruud, Cato June and Derrick Brooks must be kept clean by the defensive line in order to make plays in the running game.  Don’t think that the Panthers will abandon their much improved passing game this season as Steve Smith (16 rec, 281 yards, 4 TDs) is still one of the most dynamic receivers in all of football.  Also, TE Jeff King (13 rec, 130 yards, TD) has turned into a reliable mid range receiver for the Panthers so the safeties must be prepared to stop him.  The secret weapons of the Panthers this week will be WRs Drew Carter and Keary Colbert who will most definately be single covered by the Bucs.

PREDICTION:  The Panthers will be happy they signed David Carr after they win this football game.  Look for DE Julius Peppers to make at least one game altering play on defense for the Panthers that turns the game in their direction.