from NFL.com

The backstory

The shame is that this matchup isn't taking place under the bright lights of the Super Bowl. The combined 28 regular-season wins of the Cardinals (13) and Panthers (15) are the most by opposing playoff teams since 2004. This will also be the first postseason game of the Super Bowl era featuring two teams that average at least 30 points per game.

These teams have been on a collision course for the NFC Championship Game all season. They rank first and second in total points, point differential, takeaways and points off of takeaways. Carolina boasts the NFL's best home record (8-0) while tying Arizona for the best road record (7-1).

Beyond the impressive statistics, the conference title showdown also showcases two of the league's most aggressive coaches, collectively nabbing the last three NFL Coach of the Year awards. Living and dying by the "No risk it, no biscuit" mantra, Bruce Arians is a fearless play-caller with little regard for coaching by the book.

"I play to win," Arians explained after taking criticism for throwing on second down ahead of the two-minute warning and sending an all-out blitz on Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary in last week's overtime victory.

Ron Rivera now embraces his own "Riverboat Ron" moniker after experiencing a mid-career epiphany that enabled an expanded understanding of probability in determining the outcome of football games. Armed with the understanding that field goals don't win games in a touchdown league, Rivera takes a backseat to no one in key fourth-down decisions.

Arians' squad is coming off its two most sluggish performances of the season. Rivera is still learning "how to kill a gnat with a sledgehammer," as NFL Media's Deion Sanders put it after the Panthers nearly blew a 31-0 halftime lead last week.

Matchup to watch

Cardinals wideouts versus Panthers secondary:
The most useless storyline of the week is the hype over a potential Larry Fitzgerald vs. Josh Norman matchup. Fitzgerald plays primarily in the slot, which Norman covers on just 1.4 percent of his snaps.

The real matchup is Palmer's embarrassment of riches aiming to exploit Carolina's soft zone coverage missing second and third cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Bene' Benwikere.

Fitzgerald has already built a strong case as the preeminent wide receiver in postseason history. He's the only player ever to average at least 100 yards and one touchdown per game in the playoffs.

"Any time we need a lift," Arians said this week, "I'm going to find some play on that sheet and get the ball to Larry."

While that's a testament to Fitzgerald's leadership and dependability in key situations, it should not overshadow the threat provided by Michael Floyd and John Brown.

Outplaying Fitzgerald since midseason, Floyd has generated at least 100 yards in five of his last nine games after managing the feat just six times in his previous 55 games. One of the most dangerous deep threats in the league, Brown went over 1,000 yards and drew another 136 yards in pass interference penalties -- second only to Antonio Brown.

"The ball can be distributed any way. You never know who's going to have a breakout game," Floyd explained. "It could be Fitz one day. It could be John in the back field, making plays. It could be anyone."

Over the past six weeks, the Panthers defense has surrendered 22 (Saints), 28 (Giants) and 24 (Seahawks) points in the second half, as issues in the secondary surfaced. Cortland Finnegan has been a liability in the slot. Fourth cornerback Robert McClain is playing every snap. Playing through injury, safety Kurt Coleman is coming off his worst two-game stretch of the season.

While this matchup swings heavily in Arizona's favor, Carolina has a monumental advantage of their own ...

Panthers ground attack vs. Cardinals front seven:

The Panthers' streak of 30 consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards is the longest since the mid-1970s Steelers dynasty. It begins with Cam Newton, the most unstoppable dual-threat quarterback in history.

"I don't think any coach has crafted an offense around one player as well as Mike Shula has crafted his around Cam Newton," NFL Media analyst Brian Baldinger exclaimed this week.

Newton's unique ground attack is the most difficult in the league to defend because of his deceptiveness. He's a magician at the mesh point, freezing defenders who remain unsure for a split second whether it's a quarterback keeper, a power run to Jonathan Stewart or gadget play. That run game feeds into Newton's burgeoning aerial attack, which capitalizes on misdirection and play action.

If the Cardinals defense is going to keep Newton under 30 points, they must set a hard edge, keep him inside and stay disciplined in short-yardage situations

None of the last eight teams to finish with the league's best record outright has gone on to win the Super Bowl. The last team to do so was the 2003 Patriots.

mind blowing indeed

Seahawks got one last week. Here's yours Arizona.

Beginning of story = end of story.

Mismatch.

Arizona Cardinals only slightly > Detroit Lions

Okay, everyone will talk about the Carolina Panthers, or the missing Cardinal report (NOTE: Cardinals are the state bird in North Carolina, they are rare to be found on any given Sunday!)

But can we bring up how the Panthers, yet however good they may be, are one of the more immature teams in the NFL? Up 34-15 in the 4th quarter, six minutes to go on 3rd and goal, they throw the ball and score a touchdown... Cool with that, but whatever.... AND THEN TO GO FOR 2 POINTS?!?!?!?!? Like, does this team have no sportsmanship?!

Honestly, nobody's talking about it, but they should. We have the unsportsmanlike Carolina Panthers who loves to dance, run up the score, and pour salt on the wound..... And then we have the classy Denver Broncos with Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware, two of the most hard-working players in this league's history, and two nearing the end of their careers.






The Cardinals were outplayed on Sunday, yes, and it was horrible to watch. Carson Palmer was made out to be Brian Hoyer, and they didn't deserve to win... But Carolina? Horrible sportsmanship displayed, and that's why I hope it comes back to bite them on the rears in 2 weeks.

Yeah, 40-15 with less than 6 minutes to go, if you kick the PAT, it's still impossible for the Cardinals to come back, who had like 5 turnovers up to that point.

Like, I'm fine with them kicking the PAT and I wouldn't say anything. But going for 2? What does 42-15 do that 41-15 doesn't? Like... They can get blown out 50-0 in two weeks for all I care. I hope it happens!

Well, all I was saying about the Broncos was Peyton Manning's hard working and is in the film room trying to get better, and that's how he's lasted this long, even when his body's fallen apart (not falling, but fallen)... Cam Newton teaches his teammates how to dab.