Carolina (2-2) at Arizona (1-3)
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| SCOUTING REPORT |
Ground game should power Panthers The Panthers and Cardinals are both coming off critical prime-time victories that could very well have resuscitated their respective seasons. If Carolina is to keep the momentum rolling during its road trip to Arizona this week, the team must rededicate itself to the running game. That may require giving backup RB DeShaun Foster more chances to provide the burst that starter Stephen Davis is not offering the unit right now.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, have to be encouraged by the play of fill-in QB Josh McCown, who threw for 385 yards in Sunday night's victory over the 49ers. However, if Dennis Green's team has any chance of getting back into the NFC playoff picture, McCown must cut down his mental errors and get significantly more help from a running game that essentially has become a non-factor. |
· Full Scouting Report 
|
| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| CAR | 11-5 | 391 | 259 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 4-2 | 8-4 |
| ARI | 5-11 | 311 | 387 | 3-5 | 2-6 | 3-3 | 4-8 |
| · Complete Standings |
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | CAR | 309.0 |
| ARI | 348.0 |
| Yards Passing | CAR | 204.4 |
| ARI | 277.3 |
| Yards Rushing | CAR | 104.9 |
| ARI | 71.1 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | CAR | 282.6 |
| ARI | 295.6 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | CAR | 191.1 |
| ARI | 193.6 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | CAR | 91.6 |
| ARI | 102.0 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| Carolina leads 3-2 |
| Nov 21, 2004 | CAR 35, @ARI 10 |
| Dec 14, 2003 | CAR 20, ARI 17 |
| Oct 6, 2002 | CAR 13, @ARI 16 |
| Dec 30, 2001 | CAR 7, @ARI 30 |
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Carolina (2-2) at Arizona (1-3), Sunday, 4:15 pm EDT
TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Josh McCown was expecting to face
the Carolina Panthers last season before coach Dennis Green
made a surprising decision.
McCown should get a chance to face the Panthers, who visit Sun
Devil Stadium on Sunday for a meeting against the Arizona
Cardinals.
Last season, McCown started the first nine games for the
Cardinals before Green made the move to replace him with Shaun
King as the starter prior to a November 21 contest against the
Panthers.
Green's decision to go with King quickly backfired. King, who
had not started a game since 2002, threw two interceptions and
fumble twice in the first half as the Panthers raced to a 28-0
lead in a contest they eventually won, 35-10.
Nick Goings paced the offense for the Panthers, rushing for 121
yards and three touchdowns.
Green signed veteran Kurt Warner to be his starter this season.
Warner started the first three games before suffering a groin
injury, giving McCown a chance.
McCown made the most of his opportunity last week, throwing for
a career-high 385 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals
broke into the win column with a 31-14 victory over San
Francisco in a contest played at Mexico City.
The Panthers are coming off a short week after holding on for a
32-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Jake Delhomme
completed 17-of-24 for 206 yards and two touchdowns in the
victory.
Delhomme and wide receiver Steve Smith, who has 25 catches for
354 yards and four touchdowns this season, should have plenty of
chances to make plays against the banged-up Cardinals. Rookie
Antrel Rolle is out for the season and fellow cornerback David
Macklin also is sidelined.
It also could be a big day for the Panthers' defensive line,
regarded as the NFL's best, against the Cardinals' inept
offensive line. But Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers has
yet to record a sack in four games.
Matchup to watch: Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who
had seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown last week,
against left cornerback Ken Lucas.
Series: Carolina leads, 3-2.
Next week: Carolina visits Detroit, October 16
Arizona has its bye
More From ESPN.com
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- Julius Peppers' hand is a touchy subject in the secretive world of NFL injuries. Coach John Fox would only call it a "messed-up hand."
- Cards' Warner to have tests to determine status
- Coach Ken Whisenhunt says he had a long talk with Kurt Warner on the flight home, and the quarterback was alert and upbeat following a blow to the head in Sunday's' victory over the Rams.
- Panthers' Gross has broken right leg, not ankle
- Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross broke his right leg, not his ankle, as the team first announced.
ESPN Local
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- Moore making most of shot with Panthers
- The Panthers' Kenny Moore, shown with students at First Ward Elementary School on March 10, is among the candidates to enter the season as the team's No.
- New fullback has Hoover a bit on edge
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- Brown's focus is on technique
- If the Carolina Panthers were truly worried about Everette Brown's size, they wouldn't be lining him up the way they are.
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- Sendlein played through pain in '08
- It was surprising this off-season when the Cardinals opted not to try and upgrade their center position, given the occasional struggles of starter Lyle Sendlein in 2008.
- Breaston blooms in Boldin's absence
- Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, seen here in action against the 49ers last season, is taking advantage of Anquan Boldin's absence in summer workouts.
- The Risk Remains
- Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald breaks the huddle during 11-on-11 drills Monday after coming down awkwardly on a catch earlier in the workout.
- Fitzgerald OK after awkward catch
- For a minute or two, it looked as if the first day of June would bring gloom to the Cardinals.
- Boldin hires Condon as agent
- Receiver Anquan Boldin has hired Tom Condon as his agent, replacing Drew Rosenhaus, who was fired last week.
Carolina 24, 
Arizona 20