The Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals have been the two best teams in the NFC, and they’ll face off in the NFC Championship Game in Charlotte. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 10:40am AEDT.
Carolina were the best side in the NFL during the regular season, amassing a 15-1 record, with their only loss coming against the Atlanta Falcons.
They took on the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round, and survived a ferocious rally from the visitors to win 31-24.
A hot start was encouraging for the Panthers, but they faded out of the game after half time, and they can’t rely on a similar start against a very strong Cardinals side.
The Cardinals were the victors in one of the best postseason games in recent memory, surviving an Aaron Rodgers miracle to run out with a 26-20 overtime victory.
Larry Fitzgerald was the catalyst in overtime, coming up with a 75-yard catch and run on the first play from scrimmage, before taking a shovel pass five yards for the winning score.
Arizona will need improved play out of Carson Palmer against the Panthers this weekend, as the Cardinals’ quarterback was lucky not to throw the game away against the Packers.
All eyes will be on Cam Newton in this one. The MVP comes into this match off a fairly ordinary performance in the divisional round, and he’ll be looking for a huge game to push his side into their second Super Bowl.
While extremely efficient last week (16-22), he only gained 161 yards through the air, and couldn’t get anything going on the ground (3 yards). However, if Jonathan Stewart can repeat his performance from last weekend (106 Yards, two touchdowns), that will just about seal a Panthers victory.
As mentioned before, Carson Palmer will need to improve if the Cardinals’ stand any chance. While the stats looked okay last weekend (25-41, 349 Yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions), they don’t tell the entire story. Palmer was extremely inaccurate, and was quite lucky not to have thrown a couple more interceptions.
The Cardinals will also need more out of the running game, as they only managed 40 yards on the ground against the Packers.
Prediction
This is a tough one to predict. Both sides would be worthy representatives in the Super Bowl, and both sides would have a very good chance of winning it all. As it stands, I think the home crowd will be enough to get the Panthers over the line.
Panthers by 3
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 10:40am AEDT.
AZ_RBB
Guest
What a stunning masterclass. Incredible. You have to give them the edge over the Broncos. Best defence v best offence but Panther's defence does look superior to the Broncos offence. So on that balance it's hard to look past Carolina lifting the Lombardi. I know the MVP award is just for regular season but I can just imagine the scenes if Palmers edges out Newton for the award. What a great story Newton is as well. Career seemed ruined after his early indiscretions. He has more than redeemed himself.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FINAL Carolina Panthers 49 Arizona Cardinals 15
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
The Panthers are celebrating on the sideline, as they will head to just their second Super Bowl in franchise history! Carolina 49 Arizona 15
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
ARI 1st & 10 ARI 20 4' Palmer looks over the middle, but he's picked off again!!! That's two straight interceptions for Palmer, and this may be one of the worst QB performances in a Conference Championship Game. A 15 C 49
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
KICKOFF CAR 35 5' Nelson will run this one out, but he only gets to the 20. A 15 C 49
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
ARI 1st & 10 ARI 12 5' Carson Palmer is picked off by Luke Kuechly, and he takes it back for the TOUCHDOWN!!!!! It's officially ugly folks!!! A 15 C 49
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 3rd & Goal ARI 5 5' Newton out of the gun, and he'll throw. Funchess ran a perfect slant route, and he hauls it in for the TOUCHDOWN!!! Carolina will go for 2 (for some reason), and they'll draw a flag out of the defence. Newton throws out of the play action, and Tolbert converts for two!! A 15 C 42
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 2nd & Goal ARI 6 6' Stewart gets another handoff, and he gains another 2 yards up the middle. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 1st & Goal ARI 9 7' Newton hands it off to Stewart, and he works hard for 3 yards. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Flag on the play here, as the offence went a little early. CAR 3rd & 10 ARI 23 7' Newton out of the gun, and he'll keep it himself. He gets some room, and he'll slide down inside the 10!! A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 2nd & 9 ARI 22 8' Tolbert gets another handoff, and he gains 5 yards over the left tackle. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 1st & 10 ARI 23 9' Tolbert takes the delayed handoff, and he gets a yard. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 3rd & 4 CAR 22 10' Newton will throw, and he has Olsen wide open down the seam!!! He gets all the way to the Cardinals' 25 Yard Line!! A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 2nd & 4 CAR 22 11' Stewart gets the handoff, but he's stopped for no gain. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CAR 1st & 10 CAR 16 11' Quick screen to Brown, and he gains 7 yards. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
ARI 1st & 10 CAR 44 11' Palmer will throw again, and he takes a shot to the End Zone. This one's into double coverage, and this time it's picked off!!! A flag comes in late, but it'll be against the Cardinals. That's Game Over!!! A 15 C 34
Craig Tinney
Roar Rookie
I hate to say this but go Panthers! Good blog Joel
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
ARI 3rd & 10 CAR 49 11' Another incomplete pass, but the flag comes out, as Finnegan pretty much tackled Fitzgerald before the ball arrived. It's called holding, so a five yard penalty. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
ARI 2nd & 10 CAR 49 11' Palmer throws down the seam looking for Fitzgerald, and he has another potential interception dropped. The Panthers wasting some opportunities here. A 15 C 34
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
ARI 2nd & 5 ARI 41 12' Michael Floyd makes a catch on the sideline for a first down. The Cardinals' O looking good all of a sudden. ARI 1st & 10 CAR 49 11' Carson Palmer airs it out, and Josh Norman almost has that one. Lucky break. A 15 C 34