Panthers Use Defense To Stifle Cardinals in NFL Wild Card Game

The smothering Panthers defense held the Arizona Cardinals to 78 total yards on 47 offensive plays to defeat the Cardinals 27-16 in the first of the four wild card games this weekend.

Although Ryan Lindley completed 16 of 28 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, he was intercepted twice and sacked 4 times for 31 yards.

Cam Newton threw 2 TDs on an 18 for 32 day passing and 198 yards. Newton was intercepted once.

Jonathan Stewart carried the ball 24 times for the Panthers and racked up 122 yards and a touchdown.

Read the entire ESPN recap here.

NFL Picks Week 17

After an 8-8 week I've decided on a new strategy for picking the winners. This new plan will only work for the last week of games because I need 15 weeks of data.

I took an average of the scores by every team to pick my winners. 3 games should be toss ups, SD @ KC, CHI @ Minn and ARI @ SF.

I went against the scores in one contest, PHIL @ NYG because the Eagles will be down after elimination and Mark Sanchez is their QB.

Here Goes:

(W)Cleveland @ Baltimore     Ravens 26-19     Back to the drawing board at QB for Browns
(W)Dallas @ Washington     Cowboys 28-19     How bout them Cowboys
(W)Indianapolis @ Tennessee     Colts 29-16     Unless all the Colts rest
(W)Jacksonville @ Houston     Texans 23-15     JJ Watt sets record for TDs by DL
(L)San Diego @ Kansas City     Chargers 23-22     Go Bolts, make me a winner
(L)NY Jets @ Miami     Dolphins 24-16     Sad goodbye to Rex Ryan
(L)Chicago @ Minnesota     Bears 21-20     This is a hard one to pick
(L)Buffalo @ New England     Patriots 31-24     Patriots rest but still win
(L)Philadelphia @ NY Giants     Giants 24-17     Eagles are just bad the last 4 weeks
(W)New Orleans @ Tampa Bay     Saints 25-17     There must be a passing record for Brees to get
(L)Carolina @ Atlanta     Falcons 25-20     Falcons can win NFC South...Yes a team will be in
(W)Detroit @ Green Bay     Packers 30-20     Rodgers just getting warmed up,,,again
(W)Oakland @ Denver     Broncos 29-19     Offense starts with Peyton...he said so!
(L)Arizona @ San Francisco     Cardinals 19-18     Lindley, Lindley, he's our man!
(W)St. Louis @ Seattle     Seahawks 25-21     No trick plays this time Fisher
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh     Steelers 25-21     "No Bengals victory in Pittsburgh" says Ben

NFL Game Picks Week 16

After an 11-5 week last week, thank you Aaron Rogers and Chip Kelly, I'm sure to knock 'em dead this week.

(L) Tennessee @ Jacksonville     Titans 20-17     Tossup. Titans defense wins
(L)Philadelphia @ Washington     Eagles 28-24     Eagles O too fast
(W)San Diego @ San Francisco     Chargers 30-21     Harbaugh looking East
(W)Minnesota @ Miami     Dolphins 20-17     Tossup. Going with the home team
(L)Baltimore @ Houston     Ravens 20-13  Defensive struggle...Ravens with too much O
(W)Detroit @ Chicago     Lions 28-13     Cutler out...Goodbye Bears
(L)Cleveland @ Carolina     Browns 20-10     Why...I don't know
(L)Atlanta @ New Orleans     Saints 30-24     Brees wants to get to 8-8
(W)Green Bay @ Tampa Bay     Packers 35-13     It was too cold in Buffalo
(W)Kansas City @ Pittsburgh     Steelers 17-13     Good D by both teams
(W)New England @ NY Jets     Patriots 30-13     Brady or Smith...Brady
(L)NY Giants @ St. Louis     Rams 20-10     Not much O but good D in STL
(W)Buffalo @ Oakland     Raiders 17-12     I don't know...Raiders D
(L)Indianapolis @ Dallas     Colts 20-17     No Murray...No win!
(W)Seattle @  Arizona     Seahawks 22-9     Lindley v. Seahawks secondary...no way!
Denver @ Cincinnati     Broncos 28-13     Manning all better this week

Arizona Cardinals Over Rams 12-6

The Arizona Cardinals rode the toe of Chandler Catanzaro to victory last night, 12-6, over the St. Louis Rams. The two teams combined for 6 field goals and 0 touchdowns.

The Cardinals became the first team this year to win a game without scoring a touchdown while the Rams have not allowed a touchdown in their last three games.

Drew Stanton, who left the field in the 3rd quarter with an injury, and Ryan Lindley were a combined 16 of 30 passing for 139 yards and no touchdowns for the Cardinals while Shaun Hill was 20 of 39 for 229 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for the Rams.

Arizona rushed for 143 yards on 33 carries, led by Kerwynn Williams' 75 yards and the Rams were held to 69 yards on the ground with Tre Mason running for 33 yards on 13 carries.

Read the ESPN recap here.