honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 10, 2009

Cardinals hope to buck East hex

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Larry Fitzgerald

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kerry Collins

spacer spacer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Arizona Cardinals spent the week devising ways to slow dynamic running back DeAngelo Williams, speedy receiver Steve Smith and disruptive defensive end Julius Peppers.

But perhaps the biggest obstacle the Cardinals face in today's NFC divisional playoff game against the Carolina Panthers is not player matchups, but location.

They're returning to that dreaded place on the map, the abyss of the franchise for years: the Eastern time zone.

The Cardinals are 0-5 in the East this year and 2-19 since 2003. It's where their defense turns to mush, mistakes pile up and they play the role of homecoming opponent.

A week after winning their first home playoff game in 61 years, the Cardinals venture to Bank of America Stadium — where Carolina went 8-0 during the regular season — to try to end their road hex and win consecutive playoff games for the first time in franchise history.

"That jubilation that you felt after that win last week, I mean it's indescribable — and that was only a first-round win," Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said of the 30-24 victory over the Falcons in front of the Arizona fans. "I can't imagine winning this game or to win the Super Bowl, I just can't imagine how intense that would feel."

Despite their West Coast bias, the Cardinals (10-7) say they're confident heading to Charlotte. Unlike that ugly 56-35 loss at the New York Jets, the 48-20 meltdown at Philadelphia and the 47-7 embarrassment in the snow at New England, the Cardinals came close to winning here in October.

Behind Kurt Warner and his band of dominant receivers, Arizona led 17-3 in the third quarter. But then came the miscues. Turnovers, missed tackles and Smith's 65-yard touchdown catch put Carolina ahead to stay in a 27-23 win despite Warner's 381 yards passing.

"We were able to move the ball up and down the field, kind of shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers in the red zone," said receiver Anquan Boldin, who had two touchdown catches. "But other than that, I think we did what we wanted to."

Arizona won't know if Boldin will play until he tests his strained left hamstring before the game today, where rain is in the forecast and the Panthers (12-4) enter as a 10-point favorite in their first home playoff game in five years.

"Guys are focused, and they realize what's at stake," Panthers safety Chris Harris said. "We've got enough older guys who know they might not ever get this opportunity again."

RAVENS AT TITANS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The answer is no. Kerry Collins has not watched the 2001 Super Bowl in a long time.

Really, there's no reason for the quarterback to relive the most miserable 60 minutes on a football field at the worst possible time. The Baltimore Ravens ripped him apart in winning that Super Bowl, sacking him four times and coming up with four interceptions.

Now eight years later, Collins finds himself two wins away from another chance at a Super Bowl title with the Tennessee Titans, and guess who's in his way once again? The Ravens.

The perfect chance at redemption, right?

"I'm not really thinking too much about the personal side of things," Collins said. "It's a big game for us. I want to win it. That's the bottom line."

Collins is a big reason the Titans (13-3) are hosting today's AFC divisional playoff as the No. 1 seed. He entered the season opener when Vince Young sprained his knee, then went 12-3 as a starter. Collins exorcised some of his demons with Baltimore on Oct. 5 when he led the Titans to 10 fourth-quarter points in beating the Ravens 13-10.

"Kerry did a great job coming in managing a lot of football games, winning a lot by passing the ball or whatever he had to do, doing the things people said we couldn't do as an offense ..." Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said.

Collins threw for 2,676 yards with 12 touchdowns and only seven interceptions this season with an 80.2 passer rating that is the third highest of his career. He's looked nothing like the quarterback the Ravens harassed into a measly 7.1 passer rating in winning that Super Bowl 34-7.

"I didn't play very well," Collins said of that game. "Obviously, it was a tough day."

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis isn't looking back either. He's more interested in being a step away from his second AFC title game with a team that has won 10 of its last 12 and three straight.

"This defense is totally different. We've got a totally different mind-set. We're a totally different team than we were in 2000, and (there are) totally different people on their side, as well. Our job is to stay focused on the now," Lewis said.