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Furthermore, Carolina was previously undefeated in Divisional Playoff games (3-0),
Jake Delhomme had never lost to the Arizona Cardinals (4-0) and Delhomme was the better
quarterback compiling a 122.3 rating in their win against the Cardinals earlier in the season. Plus
the Panthers played against stronger NFC South competition while the Cardinals played against the anemic
NFC West.
Even before it was known that Pro Bowl WR Anquan Boldin would miss the game with a hamstring injury, few if
any gave the Cards a chance against 2-seed Carolina (We predicted a Cardinals victory, although not by that score).
But as the game progressed, it was all Arizona as the Panthers scored TDs on their first drive of
the game and their last. In between, the Cardinals scored 33 unanswered points.
The Cardinals defense forced Jake Delhomme into 6 turnovers (5 INTs and a fumble)
off which the Cardinals scored 23 of their 33 points.
WR Larry Fitzgerald was again spectacular, finishing with a team playoff record 166 yards on 8 catches
with a TD while the Cardinals defense held his Panther all-pro counterpart, Steve Smith, without a catch until
the final minute of the third quarter.
The Panthers took the opening kickoff to midfield and a 31-yard DeAngelo Williams run
took it to the 9 before Jonathan Stewart scored. Later in the quarter, Fitzgerald’s 41-
yard catch gained 41 yards on 3rd-and-2 and that led to a 3-yard Tim Hightower TD catch from
Kurt Warner that tied the score 7-7.
On the next play from scrimmage, DE Antonio Smith stripped Delhomme on a sack and recovered the fumble
at the Carolina 13. The fumble recovery led to a 4-yard Edgerrin James TD run and a 14-7 Cardinals lead.
The Panthers moved to the Arizona 15 on the next drive thanks to a 45-yard pass interference call
but CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Delhomme at the goal line. Neil Rackers then extended
the lead to 20-7 with FGs on the next two Cardinals drives.
A Gerald Hayes interception halted Carolina’s following drive on the first play. It was
followed by Fitzgerald’s 29-yard catch and dive to the pylon that extended the lead to 27-7 at the half.
The only points of the 3rd quarter came when Antrel Rolle gathered in a Delhomme pass
tipped by Rodgers-Cromartie and WR Steve Smith and returned the interception to the Carolina 26. That
set up Rackers’ 33-yard FG that made it 30-7.
Arizona then ended the first two Panther drives of the 4th quarter with interceptions by Ralph Brown and
Rod Hood. Rackers fourth field goal of the game made it 33-7 with 3:10 to go and only an 8-yard TD catch by
Smith in the final minute made it 33-13.
Five different Cardinals players intercepted Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme: Antrel Rolle, Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie, Gerald Hayes, Ralph Brown and Rod Hood. The Cardinals forced Delhomme into one of the worst passing
performances of his career as a starter. Delhomme finished the day completing 17-of-34 passes for 205 yards, a TD, five
INTs and a QB rating of 39.1.
Panthers Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith totaled 1,421 receiving yards in 14 games during the regular season. While
being covered by Cardinals rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Smith didn’t record his first reception
of the game until there was less than a minute left in the third quarter. Smith finished the game with two receptions
for 43 yards and a TD, which came with 0:50 seconds left in the fourth quarter, long after the game had been decided.
DeAngelo Williams, the NFL’s third-best rusher who ran for 1,515 yards during the regular season, was held to
just 63 yards rushing. In the last eight games of the regular season, Williams scored 15 rushing TDs and averaged
6.5 yards per carry and 124.1 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Cardinals rushed 43 times, the highest single game
total this season. Their 43 rushes netted them 145 yards on the ground, the second-highest total they have
accumulated all season.
Rodgers-Cromartie had twice as many passes defensed (4) as Smith had
receptions (2) in the game, including his INT. The rookie also tipped a Delhomme pass intended for Smith in the third quarter
that was intercepted by Antrel Rolle.
Julius Peppers, Panthers Pro Bowl defensive end, was held in check all day. Peppers, who finished the regular season
tied for third in the NFC and fifth in the NFL with 14.5 sacks on the season, was held without a sack and recorded
just two tackles against the Cardinals.
With the Cardinals 33-13 win over the Carolina Panthers, Arizona advances to the NFC Championship and faces
the Philadelphia Eagles who defeated the New York Giants. As host of the NFC Championship at University of Phoenix
Stadium, the Cardinals are the first 4-seed since 1990, when the NFL expanded the playoff field to six teams, to
host a Conference Championship.
The win over the Panthers was the franchise’s first win in a Divisional Playoff Game. Coming into the game, the
Cardinals were 0-3 in Divisional Games.
The Cardinals will be making their first ever appearance in an NFC Championship game. Before this
season, the Cardinals were the only team not to reach the NFC Championship Game since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
NFC 2008 Divisional Playoffs - Arizona Cardinals 33 Carolina Panthers 13
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Arizona Cardinals | 14 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 33 | |
Carolina Panthers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 | |
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Team | Qtr. | Time | Scoring Play | Drive | Score | |
Panthers | 1 | 11:56 | Stewart 9-yard run (Kasay kick) | 5-50, 3:04 | 0-7 | |
Cardinals | 1 | 2:43 | Hightower 3-yard pass from Warner (Rackers kick) | 6-60, 3:39 | 7-7 | |
Cardinals | 1 | 1:47 | James 4-yard run (Rackers kick) | 2-13, 0:50 | 14-7 | |
Cardinals | 2 | 10:16 | Rackers 49-yard FG | 9-49, 4:32 | 17-7 | |
Cardinals | 2 | 5:28 | Rackers 30-yard FG | 8-49, 3:39 | 20-7 | |
Cardinals | 2 | 3:32 | Fitzgerald 29-yard pass from Warner (Rackers kick) | 3-44, 1:39 | 27-7 | |
Cardinals | 3 | 4:40 | Rackers 32-yard FG | 6-11, 3:12 | 30-7 | |
Cardinals | 4 | 3:10 | Rackers 20-yard FG | 13-48, 7:37 | 33-7 | |
Panthers | 4 | 0:50 | Smith 8-yard pass from Delhomme (pass failed) | 10-79, 2:20 | 33-13 | |
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STATISTICS | Cardinals | Panthers | |
First Downs | 21 | 16 | |
Rushes-Yards | 43-145 | 15-75 | |
Net Passing Yards | 215 | 194 | |
Total Net Yards | 360 | 269 | |
Passing (A-C-I) | 32-21-1 | 34-17-5 | |
Sacked by Opp. | 1-5 | 2-11 | |
Punts-Average | 4-43.5 | 4-48.0 | |
Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 1-1 | |
Penalties | 5-65 | 6-40 | |
Time of Possession | 38:49 | 20:11 | |
RUSHING
Cardinals: Hightower 17-76; James 20-57, TD; Arrington 2-11; Warner 3-1; Smith 1-0.
Panthers: Williams 12-63; Stewart 3-12, TD.
PASSING
Cardinals: Warner 21-32, 220 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT.
Panthers: Delhomme 17-34, 205 yds, 1 TD, 5 INT.
RECEIVING
Cardinals: Fitzgerald 8-166, TD; Breaston 4-28; Arrington 3-10; Urban 2-5; James 1-9; Castille 1-3; Hightower 1-3, TD; Doucet 1-(-4).
Panthers: Muhammad 5-55; Stewart 3-39; Rosario 3-28; S. Smith 2-43, TD; Jarrett 2-27; Hoover 1-7; Williams 1-6.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE – JANUARY 18
(All times Eastern)
Sunday, January 18
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals, 3:00 PM (FOX)
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 6:30 PM (CBS)
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND RESULTS – JANUARY 10-11
(Home team in CAPS)
Saturday, January 10
Baltimore Ravens 13, TENNESSEE TITANS 10
Arizona Cardinals 33, CAROLINA PANTHERS 13
Sunday, January 11
Philadelphia Eagles 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 11
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 35, San Diego Chargers 24
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND RESULTS – JANUARY 3-4
(Home team in CAPS)
Saturday, January 3
ARIZONA 30, Atlanta 24
SAN DIEGO 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT)
Sunday, January 4
Baltimore 27, MIAMI 9
Philadelphia 26, MINNESOTA 14
RELATED NFL 2008 Playoffs
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Ravens at Steelers Statistics & Game Notes
Eagles at Cardinals Statistics & Game Notes
AFC Divisional: Ravens 13 Titans 10
AFC Divisional: Steelers 35 Chargers 24
NFC Divisional: Cardinals 33 Panthers 13
Pittsburgh Steelers Sweep Baltimore Ravens
Eagles Feast on Cardinals, 48-20
First Time Top Seeds Eliminated in NFL Divisional Round
Titans & Giants Lose at Home in NFL Divisional Playoff Round
This weekend's losses by the Titans (Ravens 13-10) and Giants (Eagles 23-11) marks the first time
that both conference top-seeds have been eliminated in the divisional round playoffs. The elimination of
the Titans and Giants also marks the third time that no top conference seed will advance to the Super Bowl (1992 &
1997).
Cards Came Close Last Time
Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4) - Saturday, FOX, 8:15 PM ET
Given the choice, the Cardinals would rather throw the ball. However, in last week's 30-24 Wild Card win over the Falcons
it was their defense and running attack which advanced them to the next round. The Panthers love running the ball,
but Panthers QB Jake Delhomme was 20-of-28 for 248 yards, 2 TDs with 0 INTs for a 122.3 QB rating against the Cards in the
regular season. How will it all play out, especially in Carolina where the Panthers are undefeated this season?
Pass-Happy Cards Win with Defense & Running Game
Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
The Cardinals defense was sensational, limiting Michael Turner to 42 rushing yards,
harassing Matt Ryan and scoring points on its own with a TD and safety. The offense was also strong as Edgerrin James
led a revitalized Cardinals ground game while Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald made big plays in the passing game.
On Wild Card Weekend Everybody Starts on Equal Ground
In one of the most unpredictable and story-filled NFL regular seasons in memory, the road to Tampa Bay, Florida and Super
Bowl XLIII on February 1 begins this Saturday and Sunday with the NFL 2008 Playoffs and Wild Card Weekend. How each of
the NFL Playoff teams got here doesn't matter. Nor does it matter who got in first or who got in last. All that matters
is that they're here and ready to go.
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NFL 2008 PLAYOFFS RANKINGS
Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not change:
American Football Conference
1. Tennessee Titans (AFC South Division champion)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North Division champion)
3. Miami Dolphins (AFC East Division champion)
4. San Diego Chargers (AFC West Division champion)
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Baltimore Ravens
National Football Conference
1. New York Giants (NFC East Division champion)
2. Carolina Panthers (NFC South Division champion)
3. Minnesota Vikings (NFC North Division champion)
4. Arizona Cardinals (NFC West Division champion)
5. Atlanta Falcons
6. Philadelphia Eagles
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