Cards/Panthers Game Report

Andrew Zwarych
January 11, 2009

Cardinals vs Panthers Game Report

The Arizona Cardinals entered Saturday's match-up with the Carolina Panthers with an 0-5 record in the Eastern time zone, only three prior playoff wins in team history and according to Vegas a 10-point underdog. All that didn't matter when it came down to it, the Cardinals ran away with a 33-13 stunner and are one game away from a birth in the Superbowl.

Kurt Warner's performance seemed reminiscent of 1999, hooking up with Larry Fitzgerald like he was Issac Bruce. Fitzgerald finished with 166 and one touchdown.

The true story of the game was the performance by Warner's adversary, Jake Delhomme. He completed 17 of 34 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown, but the stat that jumps out at you is the five interceptions and 2 fumbles. Delhomme was just one interception short of the NFL playoff record, he became the first player to have five picks in the playoffs since Oakland’s Rich Gannon in the 2003 Super Bowl against Tampa Bay.

Delhomme's struggles started when Antonio Smith stripped and recovered the ball on Carolina's 13 late in the first quarter. That led to Edgerrin James running in 4-yard touchdown giving the Cards a 14-7 lead.

On Carolina's next possession, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie picked off Delhomme on the goal line.

Then again mid-way through the second quarter Gerald Hayes picked off Delhomme. Warner turned that interception into another touchdown, hooking up with Larry Fitzgerald for a 27-7 halftime shellacking.

The Cards will host the Eagles next week in a battle of the birds to see who gets to flock to the Superbowl.