The Carolina Panthers took care of business last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. This week they host another great NFC West team in the Arizona Cardinals. The similarities between the Panthers' last opponent and the upcoming one go much deeper than the division they play in. This week will be another tough test for the Panthers' offense, as the Cardinals defense was a challenge for many teams this season. While the Cardinals did not rank as high as the Seahawks in the regular season, they still boast a top eight defense in most major statistical categories.

With the winner of this game representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, expect both teams to leave everything out on the field. I would not bet on a blowout either way, but after the first half against the Seahawks who knows? Without further ado, let's take a look at the potential matchups when the Panthers will have the ball this Sunday.

Panthers Passing Offense

Last week Cam Newton only passed for 161 yards, but did have a passing touchdown against the vaunted Legion of Boom. A great sign for the passing offense was Newton's efficiency, as he completed 16 of 22 passes against the Seahawks. The Panthers offensive line held up well against the aggressive pass rush of the Seahawks last week, allowing only one sack. The offensive line will be important again this week as the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme likes to bring the blitz quite a bit. Despite that, the Cardinals only managed 36 sacks during the season, only good enough for 20th in the NFL. Cam Newton's continued success against the blitz will be paramount to putting up points against the Cardinals.

Another big difference this week will be the Cardinals use of man coverage. Most teams employ a zone scheme on defense, which the Panthers were consistently able to beat this season. Canadian Panther wrote a great piece on beating man coverage, including examples from the last time these two teams met. Most of the Panthers receivers are not well equipped to beat tight man-to-man coverage. Ted Ginn Jr's breakaway speed could be an asset, but the true X factor in this facet of the game will be Devin Funchess. His combination of size and quickness make beating man coverage a little easier. If that quickness gets even a little bit of separation for him, he can use his size to be that big target for Cam Newton. Even if he's not open, he has shown flashes of being able to make contested catches.

Panthers Rushing Offense

The Carolina Panthers rushed for over 100 yards for the 27th consecutive time as they gained 144 on the ground in the win last week. While the Cardinals were sixth against the rush this season, the Panthers rushing attack is a completely different animal. The Cardinals defense can be susceptible to the power running game and no team in the NFL runs with more focus on physically punishing the other team. It all starts with Jonathan Stewart, who Ron Rivera expects to play on Sunday. Stewart adds another dimension to the rushing attack, as evidenced by the 59-yard run on the first play from scrimmage against the Seahawks. Add in Cam Newton's effectiveness in the read-option and Mike Tolbert's wrecking ball style of running and the Panthers are tough to stop on the ground.

Working against Arizona in this matchup is their size on defense at the second level. The inside linebackers in their 3-4 defense are mostly in the 230-250lb range. To put that into perspective, Jonathan Stewart is listed at 235 pounds and Cam Newton is listed at 245 pounds. The two leading rushers for the Panthers outweigh some of the Cardinals' linebackers. The Cardinals also utilize a lot of five and six defensive back sets, further giving up size and strength for smothering speed. This plays right into Jonathan Stewart's hands as he never has relied on speed to break off 80 yard runs. He is a runner who will consistently get 3-7 yards, gaining much of that after first contact. I expect Stewart to be able to drag a few defenders up field in order to keep the Panthers ahead of the sticks, so to speak.

Injury Report

Cardinals Defense

CB Justin Bethel - Ankle (Questionable)

DT Josh Mauro - Calf (Questionable)

DT Frostee Rucker - Ankle (Questionable)

LB Markus Golden - Knee (Probable)

Panthers Offense

RB Jonathan Stewart - Ankle (Questionable)

RB Fozzy Whitaker - Ankle (Probable)

Last Word

For the seventh straight time, the Panthers will face an NFC West opponent in the playoffs. After getting over the perennial hump that is the Seattle Seahawks, they turn their attention to a similar but vastly different opponent. This season has been surreal and, honestly, already has to be considered a success. When Kelvin Benjamin went down in training camp, many of us thought points would be at a premium for the Panthers. One Cam Newton MVP season later and the Panthers led the league in scoring, a feat I did not envision happening even with Kelvin. Enjoy every moment of these playoffs, Panther fans. While some may still not respect the Panthers, they are in a position that 28 other teams would love to be in. This season has been so special, and I hope with all my being we get another chance to post these game previews for the Panthers again two weeks from now. Enjoy the game Sunday, Panther faithful, and as always Keep Pounding!