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

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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Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) and Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) react against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Arizona’s secondary is equipped to blanket the Panthers’ receivers

One of the keys to an Arizona victory will be condensing the Panthers’ field of play. Not literally. Obviously Cards defensive coordinator James Bettcher has neither the scheme nor the technology that will allow the defense to shrink the size of the field while the Panthers have the ball, but the Cardinals have the advantage in limiting big plays and forcing the Panthers to operate within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage.

Both the Cardinals secondary and the Panthers receiving corps enter into this game with key injuries. Carolina wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has missed the entire season with a torn ACL, while Arizona free safety Tyrann Mathieu tore his ACL in Week 15, leaving both teams without their most dynamic weapons. The Cardinals appear more ready to cope with the loss.

While Mathieu is the secondary’s most important playmaker, he’s not their best coverage defensive back. That would be Patrick Peterson, who has quietly enjoyed a glorious season limiting opposing yards and completion rates. Placing Peterson in man coverage against any opponent’s primary receiver frees up the Cardinals secondary for zone coverages and blitzes.

Throw in Rashad Johnson who is the secondary’s on-field leader organizing coverages, and safeties Tony Jefferson and Deone Bucannon who add versatility with blitz packages, and the Cardinals are very capable of withstanding the loss of Tyrann Mathieu.

For the Cardinals, it will be simple: the key will be to concentrate on limiting Greg Olsen in the seam. When Olsen runs those routes, he either exposes an opening in the center of the secondary or he frees wide receivers Ted Ginn and Philly Brown with thinner coverage. The Cardinals can live with this thinner coverage with the skill of their defensive backs, especially if it means taking away the security blanket that is Greg Olsen.

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