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NFC Championship Game 2016: 5 reasons the Cardinals could beat the Panthers

By Luke Dahlgren

Jan 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) reacts after an interception during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) reacts after an interception during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) calls a play against the St. Louis Rams during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) calls a play against the St. Louis Rams during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cardinals have the NFL’s best passing attack

Carson Palmer – aka C-Palm, or CarP – has enjoyed the most baffling good season in recent memory. After spending most of his time in Arizona either injured (2014) or toiling behind a horrid offensive line (2013), Palmer had a career-best season at 36. He hit highs in passing yards (4,671), touchdowns (35), QB rating (104.6) and yards per attempt (8.7).

Without actually watching the Cardinals, this doesn’t make sense. A slightly above-average quarterback doesn’t suddenly become the best passer in the NFL at 36 years old. Sure, Kurt Warner had a late-career explosion in Arizona, but this was years after he led “The Greatest Show on Turf” with the St. Louis Rams. Warner was already a likely Hall of Fame quarterback before leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.

Palmer, on the other hand, represented the NFL version of middle class longing. If Palmer could stay healthy, or if Palmer had an offensive line, or if Palmer had any receiving talent, or if Palmer could get out of his apparent blood debt to Al Davis, then maybe the Cardinals/Raiders*/Bengals could be Super Bowl contenders.

Seeing the Cardinals makes it obvious how Palmer had a career year. The Cards’ offense is built to take on teams deep, and they have the personnel and scheme to do so. The Cardinals receivers stretch the field both vertically and horizontally, overtaxing opposing defensive backs and forcing them to make either/or decisions while they are in deep coverage.

Palmer’s deep ball accuracy takes advantage of these crises in the secondary, and as a result the Cardinals routinely pick up yards in chunks. They finished third in the NFL with 66 pass plays of 20 yards or more, and outpaced both teams ahead of them (New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars) in plays beyond 40.

The Panther’s first goal will be to limit the effectiveness of this Cardinals passing attack. Few have been able to accomplish this.

*Nobody with fully cognitive brain function was actually saying this about the Raiders in 2011-12.

Next: Secondary Strength

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