Real-Deal Panthers Set to Expose Broncos at Home

Jake Delhomme, John Fox & Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers NFL 2008 Week 15 Denver Broncos (8-5) at Carolina Panthers (10-3) | NFL 2008 Week 15 Analysis, Preview & Prediction

The AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (8-5) face the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers (10-3) on Sunday.

The Broncos head to Carolina sporting a 3-game road winning streak and winners of four of their last 5 games.

The Panthers, meanwhile, come off their most impressive victory of the season and have won 6 of their last 7 games.

The Denver Broncos, coincidentally, are 3-0 against the Panthers' NFC South rivals this NFL 2008 season.

Denver Broncos (8-5) at Carolina Panthers (10-3)

The Broncos have been good on the road, while the Panthers remain unbeaten at home.

The Broncos have won three in a row on the road (and are 3-0 vs. the NFC South this year). The Panthers, coming off their impressive 38-23 Monday night win over Tampa Bay at home, remain undefeated at home this season (7-0).

"We're protecting our home," says Carolina DE JULIUS PEPPERS. "That's what we need to continue to do."

It will be a battle of offensive approaches.

The Denver Broncos with Jay Cutler at quarterback favor their passing attack. As a result, the Broncos have the NFL's No. 3 pass offense. Cutler has been quite the phenom, but credit the Broncos offensive line as well. Cutler has not been sacked in his past three games.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers invested in rebuilding their offensive line this past offseason. That investment plus the coupling of rookie RB JONATHAN STEWART with DE ANGELO WILLIAMS has yielded quite the dividend. Case in point, the Panthers rushing onslaught against the Buccaneers this past Monday Night. Stewart and Williams are the first teammates in NFL history to each rush for 100 yards, score two rushing touchdowns and average 7.0 yards per carry.

The Panthers possess the NFL's 4th-best rushing attack and the only team with two rushers in the NFL's top-20 rushers in Williams (1,141 yards) and Stewart (699 yards).

Broncos hold a three-game lead atop the AFC West over the Chargers (5-8)

Denver, one of just two teams (Tennessee) in the NFL to hold sole possession of first place in their division after every game this year, can clinch its 11th division title with a win or tie against the Carolina Panthers or a San Diego Chargers loss / tie in their road game against Kansas City on Sunday.

Broncos - Panthers Series

The Broncos and Panthers have only met twice in the regular season with Denver winning both contests at home (1997, 2004)

The two teams last met on October 10, 2004, with Denver earning a 20-17 win. In that game, then Denver QB Jake Plummer threw 2 TDs, including a 5-yarder to RB Reuben Droughns.

Reuben Droughns amassed for 193 rushing yards to help the Broncos start 4-1 for the third consecutive year over the NFC defending champion Carolina Panthers in Denver.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Denver Broncos 24, Kansas City Chiefs 17

The Broncos are coming off a 24-17 win at home against the Chiefs in a game in which they allowed a season-low 260 yards of offense.

Trailing 17-7 in the second quarter, the Broncos converted eight of their next 10 third-down attempts to overcome the deficit en route to posting their AFC-best sixth 400+yard game (425) this season.

The Denver Broncos posted their highest time-of-possession total (36:38) of the season to snapped their three-game home losing streak. Denver converted a season-best 64.3 percent (9-of-14) of their third-down attempts and compiled 425 yards of offense and scoring touchdowns on three drives of at least 80 yards.

Behind an offensive line that did not allow a sack for the third consecutive game, quarterback Jay Cutler completed a career-best 80 percent (32-of-40) of his passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and one interception (102.7 passer rating).

The Kansas City Chiefs took an early 10-0 lead after a 26-yard field goal by Connor Barth plus a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Maurice Leggitt.

The Broncos countered with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive that ended in a Hillis 18-yard rushing touchdown to trim the Chiefs lead to 10-7.

In the seond quarter, the two teams exchanged touchdowns to end the first half with Kansas City ahead 17-14.

A 33-yard field goal by kicker Matt Prater on the Broncos opening drive of the third quarter tied the game at 17 before Marshall's second touchdown of the day gave Denver a 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Denver Broncos defense forced a turnover on downs when it stopped the Chiefs on a fourth-and-goal from its 5-yard line with 4:44 left in the game to ensure the win.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Carolina Panthers 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23

The Carolina Panthers earned a 38-23 home win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38-23 on Monday Night Football. The Panthers were spectacular in playing arguably their best game of the season in primetime. The Panthers compiled a franchise-record 299 rushing yards on 37 carries (8.1 avg.) against the Buccaneers, who entered the game ninth in the NFL in run defense. It marked the Panthers sixth victory in their last seven games. More importantly, this signature game convinced many (including myself) that the Panthers are as good, if not better than, as their 10-3 record indicates.

(See: NFL 2008 Week 14: Bucs & Panthers to Break NFC South Deadlock on MNF )

The Panthers ended the Bucanners four-game winning streak.

Carolina established an early 3-0 lead when CB Ronde Barber intercepted Jake Delhomme in Buccaneers territory. Tampa Bay drove to the Panthers one-yard line, but had to settle for a K Matt Bryant field goal to tie the score at 3-3.

The Panthers ended the half leading 10-3 thanks to a Jonathan Stewart two-yard touchdown run. The key play of the drive was a 40-yard DeAngelo Williams run.

Back-and-forth 3rd Quarter

On the first drive of the second half, Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips intercepted Delhomme at midfield and two plays later, QB Jeff Garcia hit WR Antonio Bryant for a 50-yard score and a 10-10 tie.

The Carolina Panthers responded with a long touchdown pass of its own as Delhomme found WR Steve Smith for a 38-yard score. Set up by a 39-yard pass to Bryant, RB Carnell Williams tied the score at 17-17 with a four-yard touchdown run on the next possession,

Panther pull away in the 4th Quarter

But the Panthers again responded as Stewart ran in from four yards out to give Carolina a 24-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defense forced the Buccaneers to punt on their next possession and Carolina followed with another touchdown run as Williams scampered for a 16-yard score and a 31-17 lead.

With less than three minutes remaining in the game, Garcia found Bryant in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown, but the extra point was blocked and Carolina held a 31-23 advantage. The Bucs onside kick attempt failed and the Panthers secured the victory as Williams scored his second touchdown of the evening on a 36-yard run with 2:07 left in the contest.

Wasted in the Bucs loss was WR Antonio Bryant's record-setting performance (9 receptions for a career-high 200 yards and 2 TDs) and a spectacular one-handed grab for a touchdown in the back of the end-zone.

DENVER BRONCOS (8-5)

  • - The Broncos aim for their 5th consecutive win against an NFC South opponents
  • - In 3 games vs. an NFC South opponent in 2008, QB JAY CUTLER has completed 63 of 95 passes (66.3 pct.) for 707 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT & 98.0 passer rating. Cutler (23) needs 4 TDs to tie JAKE PLUMMER (27 in 2004) & JOHN ELWAY (27 in '97) for most TDs in season in Denver Broncos history. The Broncos are undefeated (10-0) when Cutler has 100 or better passer rating
  • - RB TATUM BELL averages 5.3 rush yards per carry against NFC (140 attempts, 741 yards). For his career, RB SELVIN YOUNG averages 5.3 yards per carry (188 attempts, 997 yards)
  • - WR BRANDON MARSHALL averages 89.6 receiving yards per game (269 total) against NFC in 2008. Rookie WR EDDIE ROYAL (2nd round, No. 42) leads NFL rookies with 69 catches. WRs Marshall (83 receiving, 1,033 yards) & Royal (69 receiving, 799 yards) have totaled 152 receptions for 1,832 yards
  • - TE TONY SCHEFFLER has 12 receptions for 151 receiving yards in past 2
  • - CBs CHAMP BAILEY (43) & DRE' BLY (40) rank 1st & 2nd among CBs for most INTs since 1999

CAROLINA PANTHERS (10-3)

  • - Panthers QB JAKE DELHOMME completed 13 of 20 (65.0 pct.) for 173 yards with 1 TD vs. 0 INTs for 109.0 passer rating & added TD run in only start vs. Denver Broncos Delhomme aims for 4th win in row vs. an AFC opponent. As starter, when Delhomme has 110.0 or better rating, the Broncos sport an undefeated record (15-0).
  • - The Panthers rushed for team-record 299 yards last week against the Bucs. RBs DE ANGELO WILLIAMS (team-record 186 yards, 2 TDs, 9.8 avg.) & rookie JONATHAN STEWART (115, 2, 7.7) became the first teammates to rush for 100 or more yards, 2 TDs & 7.0 or more avg. in the same game. Williams aims for 7th in row with TD. De Angelo Williams has 727 yards (121.2 per game) & 11 TDs in past 6. The Panthers are 12-1 when Hall rushes for 80 or more yards. Aims for 3rd in row vs. AFC with 120 or more rush yards & TD. Has 263 yards (131.5 per game) & 3 TDs in past 2 vs. AFC. Stewart has 8 rush TDs & ties for 2nd among NFL rookies
  • - WR STEVE SMITH aims for 4th in row with 100 or more yards. Has 21 catches for 390 yards (130.0 per game) in past 3. Became 1st Panther with 50 career TDs (42 receiving, 4 PR, 2 KR, 2 rush) last week
  • - DE JULIUS PEPPERS ranks 1st in team history with 68.5 sacks & 25 FFs. Peppers has 12.5 sacks over the past 11 games. Peppers has 1.5 or more sacks in 4 of past 5. In only meeting, had franchise-long 97-yard INT return.

PREDICTION: Carolina Panthers 38, Denver Broncos 21

Yes, the Broncos have a three game winning streak. And yes, the Broncos are 3-0 against the rest of the NFC South.

But these Panthers are for real and after last week's impressive win against the Buccaneers, these previously perceived sleeping-giants of the NFC are not about to give up the momentum and respect they earned on Monday night. Yes, the Panthers are on the road next week against the Giants, but don't expect them to be looking ahead.

It's the Broncos with the record that is much better than the actual team. The Broncos high-powered offense will keep in them the game for a while, but the Panthers will wear down this Broncos defense which is one of the weakest in the NFL ranking near the bottom in all the major defensive categories.

Denver Broncos (8-5) Carolina Panthers (10-3) - NFL 2008 Week 15