The Disrespect Card: How every team left in the playoffs has been callously disrespected by everyone and their mothers
(Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:11:18 PST)
You know what I've found strange about every team in sports that's won a championship since around 2001?

Warner, Delhomme span a continental divide
(Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:37:02 PST)
The stakes could not be much higher for quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme this weekend.

Panthers get trio of injured linemen back
(Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:27:17 PST)
The Carolina Panthers should have starting defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis back for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against Arizona. Kemoeatu, Lewis and right offensive tackle Jeff Otah practiced Wednesday after being sidelined by injuries late in the regular season. "We had a little hiatus, but we got them back.

Panthers loaded with best offense under Fox
(Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:39:00 PST)
John Fox has a unit that's even more explosive than the one that got him to Super Bowl XXXVIII five years ago.

Eight questions: Chargers aren't short on speed
(Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:45:00 PST)
Chargers RB and returner Darren Sproles is giving defenses fits with his speed and (lack of) size.

Ward's modest goal turns into much more
(Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:19:00 PST)
Derrick Ward not only stayed healthy, but the Giants RB could cash in big during the offseason.

Panthers Team Report
(Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:48:21 PST)

Steve Smith doesn't like comparing the Carolina Panthers team that went to the Super Bowl in 2003 to this year's club.

"We don't want to compare—they lost," Smith said referring to the Panthers' 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots five years ago in Super Bowl XXXVIII, a game that Smith was a part of. "You talking about 2003? We were losers. I don't want to compare to losers. We lost. You can compare yourself to a loser, but I don't compare myself to a loser."

And yet the comparisons are inevitable because this year's Panthers team is viewed as having the best chance to win the Super Bowl since that '03 team came oh-so-close to bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy to Charlotte.

Sure, the 2005 Panthers reached the NFC Championship Game, but by the time they got...

Why is the worst divisional playoff matchup on in primetime?
(Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:41:03 PST)
Of the four divisional playoff games this weekend, the Arizona Cardinals - Carolina Panthers matchup is easily...

And now, all the home teams are favored
(Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:51:14 PST)
After a wild card weekend in which all the home teams were underdogs (and went 2-2), we'll head into divisional...

Arizona makes its case: 'We ain't no pushovers'
(Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:09:16 PST)
Do the Arizona Cardinals a favor this week: Don't say a nice thing about them. Tell them they were lucky to beat...

Chargers, Cardinals win wild-card games
(Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:18:23 PST)
Neither home team was favored in Saturday's wild-card games. Both won, with San Diego stunning Indianapolis in overtime 23-17 and Arizona beating Atlanta 30-24. Speedy Darren Sproles scooted 22 yards for the winning score 6:20 into overtime for the Chargers, ending Indianapolis' nine-game winning streak a day after its quarterback, Peyton Manning, won his third Associated Press NFL MVP award.

Panthers win with Delhomme's new elbow, odd style
(Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:00:55 PST)
Jake Delhomme's critics have plenty of material to work with. His arm isn't that strong. He doesn't move well. He seemingly throws balls up for grabs and Steve Smith bails him out. He always has a mediocre passer rating. And why is he yelling at his teammates? All that, and the fiery Delhomme is 54-32 in six seasons with the Carolina Panthers, including 5-2 in the playoffs.

Panthers spending weekend in front of TV
(Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:51:33 PST)
Before the Carolina Panthers finished a leisurely workout Friday, coach John Fox handed out weekend instructions to his players: rest, stay out of trouble and watch football on TV. A key perk of being the No. 2 seed in the NFC is a first-round bye and a second-round home game. Meanwhile, their opponent on Jan.

Wild first week for Panthers' Parker ends with win
(Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:53:54 PST)
Before John Kasay lined up for a 42-yard field goal attempt Sunday that would determine if Carolina got a first-round bye in the playoffs, J'Vonne Parker nervously ran on the field to line up as the right end. Parker had been a Panther for five days. But a rash of injuries had left him the only big body to fill a hole on a play that would determine if the Panthers would be the No.

Chargers QB Rivers among Players of Month
(Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:15:01 PST)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who authored up a strong finish to lead his team to the AFC West title, was among the Players of the Month for December, the league announced Wednesday.

12 Questions: Tomlinson's redemption shot
(Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:56:00 PST)
The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson gets a chance to prove he hasn't lost a step – but he isn't healthy.

What's in a name? Plenty for Panthers' Williams
(Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:52:15 PST)
Carolina's DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have a new nickname and added some spice to their disagreement with Tennessee's running back tandem of LenDale White and Chris Johnson. After rushing for 178 yards and breaking the Panthers' single-season rushing record with 1,515 yards in a 33-31 win over New Orleans on Sunday, Williams announced he had created a Web site,...

NFC Playoff Primer: Giants head topsy-turvy group
(Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:36:54 PST)
Albert Breer sizes up the NFC playoff field.

Banged-up Panthers welcome first-round bye
(Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:34:09 PST)
Carolina Panthers coach John Fox spent last week insisting too much is made of having a bye in the playoffs, repeatedly mentioning how the New York Giants didn't have a week off last year en route to winning the Super Bowl. But a day after avoiding a monumental collapse in beating New Orleans 33-31 on John Kasay's last-second field goal, Fox had a different message.

NFC playoffs: Giants repeat? Cards exposed?
(Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:13:00 PST)
From a potential Giants repeat to Philly's threat level, there's plenty of intrigue entering the NFL postseason.

Winners and losers: McNabb, Reid stay alive
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:57:00 PST)
Written off after a blowout loss to the Ravens, Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid aren't quite done in Philly.

Dolphins, Vikings, Panthers clinch divisions
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:31:41 PST)
From the ugliness of 1-15 to the beauty of an AFC East title. That's the Miami Dolphins' story this season. The tale was nearly as good for the Atlanta Falcons, who went from 4-12 to an NFC wild-card berth. And for the NFC South-winning Carolina Panthers, who surged from 7-9 to 12-4. Minnesota improved by two games to 10-6 and that was good enough for the NFC North crown.

Brees, Peterson, Johnson lead NFL in major stats
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:52:08 PST)
Drew Brees was comfortable with falling just short of breaking the NFL single-season passing record. The New Orleans Saints quarterback finished 15 yards shy of Dan Marino's mark, but still led the league in passing for the second time in three years. "When I sit back and look at it, that record's stood for a long time.

Thomas inactive, McAllister starts
(Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:07:42 PST)
The Saints deactivated Pierre Thomas and inserted Deuce McAllister as the starting running back against Carolina on Sunday in what could be McAllister's final game with the Saints. Thomas emerged with a sore wrist and back from the Saints' 42-7 victory in Detroit last weekend and did not practice this week.