NFC Wildcard Game: Cowboys v Panthers (R)

[Chizzy]

http://www.panthers.com/photos/perm/main/GAGFEAMANIHL/playoffs-cowboys-hp.gif

Story line: Bill Parcells coached the Cowboys to their first playoff appearance since 1999, becoming the first NFL coach to lead four teams into postseason play. Carolina's John Fox is making his playoff head-coaching debut. The Panthers lost in Dallas in November, 24-20.

Key matchups: Dallas' Dat Nguyen vs. Carolina's Stephen Davis: Nguyen is the top tackler for the NFL's No. 1 defense; Davis' 1,444 yards rushing is a team record. Dallas' offensive line vs. Carolina's Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers: Dallas needs to protect Carter against Rucker and Peppers, who have combined for 19 sacks.

When the Cowboys have the ball: RB Troy Hambrick had his best season as a pro with 972 yards but averaged only 3.5 yards a carry. Dallas has talented receivers in Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn and Antonio Bryant, but QB Quincy Carter doesn't always get them the ball.

When the Panthers have the ball: QB Jake Delhomme may not have eye-opening statistics, but he gets the job done. Delhomme, who has passed for 3,219 yards and 19 touchdowns, has thrown seven fourth-quarter touchdown passes this season, second-most in the NFL. Davis has been in and out of the lineup recently because of a nagging ankle injury but will play.

Bottom line: Expect Dallas to do a decent job slowing down Davis and then win the game on Carter's big-play passing against the Panthers' average secondary.

[skipshady]

Let's see if Carolina can maintain its perfect post-season home record. Woo Panthers!

[MikeLastort2]

I hate the Cowboys more than any other team in football.

Go Panthers!

[Chizzy]

Great playoff atmosphere at Ericsson Stadium

[Chizzy]

I'm a 49ers fanatic and I hate the Cowboys after that 1992 NFC championship game

[Chizzy]

Good goal line stand by the Cowboys defense


3-1 Panthers

1st/8:40

[billyireland]

Huge play from Steve Smith, he's tripped and goes down on the Dallas 2, and they fail to pound it in! that's a kick in the ass...

[MikeLastort2]

Damn, should be 7-0 instead of 3-0 right now.

C'mon Panthers.

[Chizzy]

End of 1st Quarter


6-0 Panthers

[Chizzy]

Fumble!

Carolina takes the football!

[Chizzy]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040104/capt.che10101040152.cowboys_panthers_che101.jpg

[Chizzy]

Game Over





Dallas 10 - 29 Carolina

[billyireland]

Panthers win quite easily... looking convincing, and I am happy. This victory means if/when the Pack beat Seattle tomorrow, they play the Eagles next week (who I favour them to beat with the run). The Panthers then have a shout at beating the Rams (pressuring Bulger to make mistakes and hoping their offense can get enough on the board). Then the Pack's opffensive line is good enough to contain Carolina's D-line, imo, to allow Favre get some off and Green pick up good yardage. Plus it'd be in Lambeau. I'm pulling for the Panthers & Packers!!

[WarrenWallace]

Originally posted by billyireland
Panthers win quite easily... looking convincing, and I am happy. This victory means if/when the Pack beat Seattle tomorrow, they play the Eagles next week (who I favour them to beat with the run). The Panthers then have a shout at beating the Rams (pressuring Bulger to make mistakes and hoping their offense can get enough on the board). Then the Pack's opffensive line is good enough to contain Carolina's D-line, imo, to allow Favre get some off and Green pick up good yardage. Plus it'd be in Lambeau. I'm pulling for the Panthers & Packers!!

If Green Bay and Carolina meet, it will be in Carolina since they are the 3 seed while Green Bay is the 4 seed.

[Chizzy]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040104/capt.che11601040415.cowboys_panthers_che116.jpg

As a 49ers fan, I hate the Rams!


Go Panthers!

[skipshady]

No turnovers, no penalties (excluding the offsetting interference calls in the 1st half). Gotta love it.

It's a long shot and the Rams offense are much more potent than the Cowboys, but if the Panthers can maintain their level of play, who knows?

[MikeLastort2]

I've been hoping to see the Panthers make it to the Superbowl. I'd love to see McNair get a ring.

[superdave]

Originally posted by skipshady
No turnovers, no penalties (excluding the offsetting interference calls in the 1st half). Gotta love it.

It's a long shot and the Rams offense are much more potent than the Cowboys, but if the Panthers can maintain their level of play, who knows?
The Panthers can win if they do both of two things. First, pressure/knock out Bulger. How bad was his injury? Second, even if they do that, the Rams are gonna score some points. The Panthers have got to play better in the red zone. They've been bad this year. They were even worse the first time they were good. The only time they've had a good red zone offense was when they were a 8-8, 7-9 team with Buerlein throwing to Wesley Walls.

It's possible. I think they've got a good shot at accomplishing the first task. I don't like their chances of accomplishing the 2nd.

I think the time off for Stephen Davis (he sat out their last game) was important. He was visibly running harder than he had been. Because of that, I think the Panthers have a shot. But my most likely scenario is that they get field goals instead of touchdowns, and lose, say, 27-16.