There’s no way the Panthers win this game. True, they have a good-to-great running back in Stephen Davis but there is no way he runs amok on the New England defense. He may end up with a decent rushing total, something in the 70-80 yard range, but he won’t carry the Panthers to a win.
Tom Brady will make enough plays to get the Patriots ahead by 8-10 points and then that New England defense will go to work on Delhomme. I’m reading a lot of people talking about how Delhomme, like Brady 2 years ago, is an x-factor in this game. The 2001 Rams don’t remotely compare to the 2003 Patriots, defensively speaking. This Patriots team made Peyton Manning look lost 2 weeks ago and it’s foolish to think that Delhomme will excel where Manning faltered.
I think it will be a fun game to watch, but the end will only satisfy Patriots fans and gamblers who gave the points.
My pick: New England 24 Carolina 13.
