Remember back in January when the two best teams in the NFL were playing in the NFC Championship game? It seems so long ago when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers took their combined 28-4 regular season record into that matchup for the right to play in Super Bowl 50. Both teams have struggled this year and the Panthers are just one win better than the Browns at this point. At least the Cardinals have shown signs of being a playoff contender, but they let one get away last week and now look ahead to avenging that disappointing loss that prevented them from playing for a Super Bowl title.
This contest in Week 8 of the regular season will go down Sunday, October 30, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium.
Odds Analysis
With the Cardinals playing late on Sunday, the spread and total have yet to hit the board. The spread won’t be large in this one and the Panthers will have the edge for being the home team. But they haven’t enjoyed much success coming off their bye. The Panthers are just 1-4 SU and ATS the game after their bye week and have lost two straight at home.
Injury Report
Jaron Brown – Left Sunday night’s game with a knee injury and didn’t return. The Cardinals are already without the other pass-catching Brown, John, who missed the contest with leg pain, depleting what was one of the league’s stronger receiver groups.
Michael Oher – Has missed the last few games with a concussion and his status isn’t known. Oher is a tremendous pass blocker and his ability to seal the edge in the run game hasn’t been matched by his replacements. Arizona has two pass-rush threats on the outside and Oher’s presence would at least lock down one side.
Last Meeting
With a trip to Santa Clara and Super Bowl 50 at stake, the Cardinals headed to Charlotte with the league’s second-best regular season record and plenty of confidence. That was all squashed early in the NFC Championship as the Panthers smothered Carson Palmer and the Cards in a convincing 49-15 trouncing. It was a forgettable performance by the Cardinals, who turned the ball over seven times, surrendered 476 yards of offense to Cam Newton and the Panthers, and played their worst game in the Bruce Arians era. And it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Sure the Panthers had something to do with it, but the Cards couldn’t hit their ass with both hands.
Trailing by 10 points and about the get the ball after forcing a punt, the Cards muffed the kick. Carolina recovered and punched it in five plays later for an even bigger advantage. There was still hope for the Cards after an interception set them up late in the first half. But Palmer uncorked one of his four picks on the next play to squelch that drive. At that point, the Cards knew it wasn’t going to be their day. There obviously isn’t as much at stake Sunday, but Arizona still has that bad taste in its mouth and they have an opportunity to kick the NFC Champions while they’re down.
Free ATS Pick
The Cardinals thoroughly outplayed Seattle on Sunday night and deserved a better fate. If you were to look at the stat sheet without knowing the outcome, I bet you would have pegged the Cards for a comfortable double-digit win. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Arizona had chances but couldn’t come up with a play and special teams proved costly once again. There was the blocked punt that allowed Seattle to tie the game, a blocked field goal in regulation and the missed field goal in overtime. Iron out those issues and the Cardinals have at least two more wins on their slate.
Arizona’s defense was downright dominant in stifling the Seahawks and played to the level of talent on that end of the football. We still can’t count out the Panthers, especially after what happened in Kansas City last season. If Newton and his squad need any motivation, they can look to the Chiefs rattling off 10 wins after starting 1-5. History isn’t on the Panthers side and neither is a good secondary. The poor play on the back end has Carolina among the worst in the NFL in total and passing defense. Arizona will use the NFC Championship as motivation to put another nail in the Panthers’ coffin.
NFL Odds: Cardinals 26, Panthers 22
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