In the initial release of the betting lines in Las Vegas, the odds makers favor the Carolina Panthers over the Arizona Cardinals by a massive 10 points.  Granted the Arizona Cardinals had not hosted a home playoff game since 1947 and had not won a game in the playoffs since defeating Dallas in 1999 with Jake “The Snake” Plummer at QB. However, this is not the same bumbling Cardinals team that we have seen in the past. In Week 8, the Cardinals went to the east coast and were narrowly defeated by Panthers 27-23. The difference in the game was a missed extra point and a botched fake field goal by the Cardinals. In this game, Kurt Warner was able to complete 35 passes for 381 yards. In reality, the Cardinals dominated the game and still came away the loser because of costly turnovers (one of which cost Edgerin James his job).

The distractions are certainly there for the Cardinals as well; Edgerin James stating this will be his last season with the team regardless of the additional year that is left on his contract. In addition, Russ Grimm will be interviewed for the vacant Head Coaching job with the New York Jets on Thursday as well. In the past, these would destroy a team in the locker room. However, with Ken Whisenhunt at the helm distractions have not meant much all season. In the pre-season alone, there was the Quarterback controversy with Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin saying this would be his last year with the Cardinals if a deal didn’t get done before the regular season. In spite of all of this, Ken Whisenhunt kept a workmanlike focus on the business at hand and won 9 regular season games and a home playoff game thus far.

It is amazing to me that the Arizona Cardinals are such big underdogs. They proved against Atlanta in the Wild Card Round that they could stop the run and be successful running the ball with Edgerin James. Edge’s fresh legs and renewed vigor to prove that he can be a starter for another team next season allows the Cardinals to utilize play action that is deadly with their trio of receivers (Boldin, Breaston, Fitzgerald) and the accuracy of Kurt Warner. I will not go as far as saying the Cardinals will beat the Panthers, however they will keep the game competitive and will have a shot at winning if they win the turnover battle and stop the run!