On any given Sunday - Colts @ Panthers
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by S4G
Carolina is 3-0 lifetime against the Indianapolis Colts. The Panthers are coming off of their bye week, while the Colts are playing after a short work week having been on the road for Monday Night Football. Coach Fox is 3-2 after the bye week. The Colts are probably looking ahead to next week's match up against the Patriots. The Panthers are over six point under dogs at home. The Panthers have lost 4 straight at home.
Hogwash! It's all hot air. These are all stats that can be plugged in where it seems appropriate to help spice up an article. What really matters is this:
The Colts have the #2 ranked offense (384.5) vs. Carolina's 29th Ranked Defense (290.6) Carolina's offense is ranked 17th (314.4) and the Colt's D is ranked 22nd (308.3) This clearly gives the edge to Indy.
The Panthers having beaten teams like St Louis (0-7), Atlanta (1-6), New Orleans (2-4), and Arizona (3-3), while the Colts have not lost a single game yet.
Steve Smith might have a very tough time catching passes from David Carr (and probably even Vinny Testaverde), especially because the Colts currently have the #1 ranked rushing defense (154 ypg). With DeAngelo Williams and DeShaun Foster contained the secondary can afford to be patient and focus on #89 - especially if the Panthers have to play from more than 7 points behind.
Is it impossible for the Panthers to win this Sunday? I don't think so, but it will have to be a pretty special game for them - in my opinion. Steve Smith is going to have to make that special connection with whoever is under center. Mr Williams and Foster are going to have to break it into the secondary on more than a handful of plays. And the Defense is going to need to hear #90's number called with the secondary smothering the Colts receivers.
"Bend but don't break"? Against the Colts? I don't like those odds. Ken Lucas has said he is looking forward to the challange of playing against the Colts (and Payton manning). I should hope so, because this is going to be a test.
