NFL Wildcard Weekend: Arizona and Carolina kick-off post-season in contrasting form

The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers scraped into the post-season in contrasting fashion but, as 2015 arrives and most teams hang up their boots for the winter, they at least still have the Super Bowl on their minds.

Carolina’s 7-8-1 regular season record was particularly disappointing, yet on Saturday - live on Sky Sports 2 from 9.30pm - they host a struggling Arizona to kick-start what should be an exciting Wildcard Weekend.

The Panthers reeled off four consecutive wins to sneak into the play-offs on the final day and the Cardinals, who once boasted a league-leading 9-1 record, lost four of their last six heading into Saturday and have plenty of questions to answer.

Black Monday saw four NFL head coaches fired and the Panthers and Cardinals find themselves coached by two desirable candidates for other jobs.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who could have been under pressure himself had they lost to Atlanta on Sunday and missed the play-offs, has sought to end speculation linking him with vacancies in San Francisco, New York, Atlanta and Chicago, but it hardly represents the ideal preparation for another huge match.

Opposite number Bruce Arians has only just completed his first regular season as a head coach, and although their form over the last six weeks has been up and down, making it to the postseason has to be seen as a big achievement, especially given their serious list of injuries.

Vulnerable

The Cardinals have plenty to concern themselves about on the field without worrying about Arians.

Their stingy defence, bar a dreadful day against Super Bowl champions Seattle in week, has continued not to give up too many points, but a big concern has to be their sudden vulnerability to the running game and struggles against scrambling quarterbacks.

Frank Gore ran wild against the Cardinals last weekend, rushing for 144 yards, and Seattle put up nearly 300 yards against them on the ground with opposing quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson also finding plenty of space to run in those games.

Now they face a Panthers offense boasting an in-form rusher in Jonathan Stewart and another quarterback with wheels, Cam Newton, who is back in action and looking solid in the pocket less than a month after a nasty car smash.

Stewart could split time with DeAngelo Williams, who missed out injured against Atlanta last weekend, but he has more than taken a grasp of the starting role in recent weeks with 100-yard games against New Orleans and Cleveland.

The hosts will also be looking to exploit tight end Greg Olsen and rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who both surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for the season last weekend.

Despite concerns over Benjamin’s handling of important plays, the pair have become Carolina’s second duo to reach the landmark. Their hopes on Saturday will largely centre around Olsen and Benjamin should the Cardinals prove able to stop Stewart and Newton on the ground.

The Cardinals have their own quarterback concerns; Drew Stanton is likely to remain on the sidelines with a knee injury so Ryan Lindley should keep his place. Lindley did calm fears about his ability in the pro game with his best performance against the 49ers last weekend but he was still intercepted three times.

Quarterback play will be vital, with the Cardinals running game having stalled since Andre Ellington went down injured. They will need a big performance from unheralded rookie Kerwynn Williams, who rushed for 67 yards last weekend, against a Panthers defense that has really come good over the second half of the season.

Cardinals inside linebacker Larry Foote should return after a one-game absence but guard Jonathan Cooper and safety Tyrann Mathieu are touch-and-go with wrist and hand injuries, respectively.

Watch the Arizona Cardinals at the Carolina Panthers on Saturday on Sky Sports 2 HD - coverage of the first game of Wildcard Weekend starts at 9:30pm.