If you're worried about the Cardinals

[uncfan888]

I want homefield. Period. I don't care about Arizona, but them losing a game would take a lot of pressure off of us. So, yes, I hope they lose tomorrow or next week or the week after 

[UKPanther94]

Playing the Cardinals in the championship game would be one of those weird quirks, would mean that from 2008 to 15 we woulda played them at all three levels of the NFC Play offs

[d-dave]

3 minutes ago, UKPanther94 said:

Playing the Cardinals in the championship game would be one of those weird quirks, would mean that from 2008 to 15 we woulda played them at all three levels of the NFC Play offs

Man, wouldn't that be interesting!  

As far as fearing the Cards, I worry as much about them as anyone else in the playoffs.  The playoffs are a different season from the regular season.  No protecting anything, it's just attack the other team.  AZ has a quality defense, and a TON of speed at the WR position, and Palmer is playing great football.  We just showed that we can go tit for tat with a great QB, even with our questionable WRs.  

I feel the same about AZ as I do any playoff team we face: they could beat us.  Ultimately it's up to the Panthers if they win or lose.  If we play our game, make some turn overs, we can beat anyone.  If we drop too many passes, miss tackles, or turn the ball over, forget about it!  And those are how anyone wins in the playoffs. 

[Neylus]

Cards are media darlings, so be sure to discount their propaganda to a degree. Most Panthers fans fears are likely leftover from 2008 playoffs. 

[CoastalCat]

1 hour ago, Omega Atrocity said:

I keep seeing Panthers fans on twitter and on here (and even sports writers I like) worrying about either playing the Cardinals in the playoffs or losing the number one seed to them. So here a few points to keep in mind:

• Arizona has a tough schedule left: Vikings, @Eagles, Packers, Seahawks
• One of their 2 loses came to Landry freaking Jones, and their offense put up 13 on the Steelers defense
• Carson Palmer is in year 13 and Cam Newton already has more playoff appearances and wins. Seriously, I keep seeing people (other fans) saying Newton will choke in the playoffs, but they have faith in Palmer? Guy has never been out of the wild card round of the playoffs and he was drafted in 2003.
• Carson Palmer (0-2) playoff stats (2005 and 2009): 19/37, 212 yds, 1 td, 1 int
• Cam Newton (1-2) playoff stats (2013 and 2014): 57/93, 711 yds, 5 tds, 5 ints

Can the Cardinals beat us? Of course they could, but so can anyone in the playoffs. We are really good, I don't really think we should especially worry about any team, I trust our guys to beat anyone right now.

Edit: As SCMunnerlyn1 pointed out below Palmer's horrible knee injury was very early in his second start, my bad on that oversight. He really only has one true playoff appearance.

All that is true, but...

They do score more points than anyone is the league

Their defense is really good

We embarrassed them BADLY last year. 

[Fox007]

1 hour ago, teeray said:

 The only team that can beat the Panthers is the Panthers

Well.....

This year we haven't yet but historically...

We beat AZ with the Saints performance?

I know we will hopefully be at home but we certainly can't give up blocked kicks/other STs disasters and multiple fumbles against that team.(or any playoff team really) It was 27-17 last year with Lindley at QB....we aren't the same team as last year but they aren't either.

I think there's a big difference between being scared and realizing a legitimate threat.

 

[raleigh-panther]

The Cardnals are a very good and dangerous team

the bottom line about this veteran team is the Panthers can have zero turnovers and no sloppy special teams or defensive breakdowns 

our team that has not yet played a perfect game will need one in all three phases 

miss a tackle on special teams and Peterson will be in the end zone.

leave an extra point or a field goal instead of TDs and we will pay 

defensive break downs won't be missed 

just saying out loud what we all know 

playoff football is unforgiving  one and done

lets hope the done is the other team

 

 

[teeray]

36 minutes ago, Fox007 said:

Well.....

This year we haven't yet but historically...

We beat AZ with the Saints performance?

I know we will hopefully be at home but we certainly can't give up blocked kicks/other STs disasters and multiple fumbles against that team.(or any playoff team really) It was 27-17 last year with Lindley at QB....we aren't the same team as last year but they aren't either.

I think there's a big difference between being scared and realizing a legitimate threat.

 

You are kind of making my point. If we are disciplined and take care of the ball we will beat anyone we face.  The only team that can beat the Panthers is the Panthers

But any playoff team will be a legitimate threat.

 

 

[Cyberjag]

I rarely worry about a team based on a high ESPN rating

[AceBoogie]

Actually I'm more afraid of the Seahawks, if we finish 16-0 our first playoff game will come against the last team to beat us. I'm pretty sure they're beating whatever team they get matched up against in the wildcard round. Yes it will be at home, but they'll have Wagner back who didn't play the first game. 

[shaka]

2 hours ago, Omega Atrocity said:

• Arizona has a tough schedule left: Vikings, @Eagles, Packers, Seahawks
• One of their 2 loses came to Landry freaking Jones, and their offense put up 13 on the Steelers defense
• Carson Palmer is in year 13 and Cam Newton already has more playoff appearances and wins. Seriously, I keep seeing people (other fans) saying Newton will choke in the playoffs, but they have faith in Palmer? Guy has never been out of the wild card round of the playoffs and he was drafted in 2003.
• Carson Palmer (0-2) playoff stats (2005 and 2009): 19/37, 212 yds, 1 td, 1 int
• Cam Newton (1-2) playoff stats (2013 and 2014): 57/93, 711 yds, 5 tds, 5 ints

Can the Cardinals beat us? Of course they could, but so can anyone in the playoffs.

Well said.  I just wanted to add a point to strengthen your case.  

Quarterbacks defeated:

Drew Brees, Joe Flacco, Russel Wilson, Andy Dalton.  

Hey nice job, these guys are good.  

 

Jay Cutler and Jimmy Claussen, Colin Kaepernick, Nick Foles (1W 1L), Matthew Stafford and Dan Orlovsky, Landry Jones (Loss), Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel, Blaine Gabbert

I get it, I understand why the Cardinals are considered elite now.  They've beat the best of the best.  

 

Upcoming games:

Vikings, Eagles, Seahawks, Packers

 

The takeaway here is we're going to learn if the Cardinals are for real in the next four games.  2-2 or worse wouldn't surprise me.  4-0 would be impressive.  

[The Lobo]

My thing is, it's playoffs. By that I mean, once you get in, anything can happen. Records are 0-0. If your the hot team right now, watch out. If your healthy, watch out. No matter who we play it will be tough. 

[MadHatter]

2 hours ago, raleigh-panther said:

The Cardnals are a very good and dangerous team

the bottom line about this veteran team is the Panthers can have zero turnovers and no sloppy special teams or defensive breakdowns 

our team that has not yet played a perfect game will need one in all three phases 

miss a tackle on special teams and Peterson will be in the end zone.

leave an extra point or a field goal instead of TDs and we will pay 

defensive break downs won't be missed 

just saying out loud what we all know 

playoff football is unforgiving  one and done

lets hope the done is the other team

 

 

Sorry dude...but we will NOT need to play a perfect game to beat the Cards.  We are the better and more complete team...plain and simple.

the cards will need to play a nearly perfect game and hope we are off to beat us.

[cardiackat88.]

Media and reporters are willing to say any team is a better team than the Panthers. The Cardinals are the popular choice for that, seeing as we have beat the Seahawks and Packers.