Mattie T’s In-game blog: (Divisional Playoffs: Cardinals vs. Panthers)

Looks like Anquan Boldin won’t be able to go on his injured hamstring, so Steve Breaston will have to provide a big effort tonight in order to lift Arizona to their first NFC Championship Game apperance in franchise history.

Happy birthday to Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, as he hopes to deliver himself a good present by winning tonight & advancing to the NFC Championship Game.

1st quarter:

Carolina wins the coin toss & starts out with a great kickoff return from Sam Jones, who returns it to midfield.

Nice 3rd down effort by Brad Hoover, who fights for extra yardage & gets the 1st down.

Guess who? DeAngelooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (Williams) with a 31 yard-burst all the way down to Arizona’s 9-yard line to set up 1st & Goal.

On the very next play, rookie Jonathan Stewart runs it in 9 yards for the touchdown.

John Kasay’s extra point is good, which gives Carolina a 7-0 lead with 11: 56 left in the 1st quarter.

Panthers make a special teams mistake, as Kasay’s kick sails out of bounds before hitting the end zone, which gives Arizona 1st & 10 at their own 40-yard line.

Kurt Warner overthrows Larry Fitzgerald on 1st down..Fitzgerald figures to see some doubleteams tonight since Anquan Boldin is out.

On 3rd down though, Warner does connect with Fitzgerald on a 31-yard gain down to Carolina’s 26-yard line. Most of Fitzgerald’s damage was done after the catch, so that’s something the Panthers need to be very careful of.

Warner then pump fakes, but is sacked for the first time tonight by Damione Lewis.

On 3rd & 16, Warner throws a screen pass to J.J. Arrington, which is broken up for a 7-yard loss by Julius Peppers. Two great defensive plays by Carolina has forced Arizona to punt.

Cardinals once again receive good field position, as their defense forces a 3 & out by the Panthers & will start on their own 43 yard line.

So far Arizona’s run offense is sputtering, as Edgerrin James has just 3 yards on 3 carries.

On 3rd & 1 near midfield, Kurt Warner fakes a toss to Arrington & fires it downfield to Larry Fitzgerald, who makes a great catch inbetween two Carolina defenders. It was very similiar to Fitzgerald’s touchdown he scored last week off the flea-flicker play in the 1st quarter.

Fitzgerald so far has 80 yards on just 3 receptions. I’m sure Steve Smith isn’t too happy with this as he watches from the Panthers sideline.

3rd & goal from the Carolina 3-yard line. Warner hits Tim Hightower for a 3-yard touchdown catch. So far, Arizona is moving the ball good downfield against a great Panthers secondary.

Rackers’ extra point is good, which ties it 7-7 with 2:43 left in the 1st quarter.

On 1st down, Jake Delhomme has the ball stripped by Antonio Smith for a fumble, which is recovered by Arizona. The Cardinals so far are hardly looking like the team that has struggled all season long playing on the East Coast.

On 1st & 10, Warner delivers a screen pass to Edgerrin James, who takes it 9 yards down to the Panthers’ 4-yard line.

On the very next play, James runs it in 4 yards for the touchdown. It’s safe to say that tonight has been one of Arizona’s biggest scoring 1st quarters all season long.

Rackers’ extra point is good, which gives the Cardinals a 14-7 lead with 1:47 left in the 1st quarter. This looks like it might turn into a crazy shootout!

Jake Delhomme hits an open Muhsin Muhammad for a 15 yard gain, which prompts chants of “Mooooooooooooooooose” from the crowd at Bank of America stadium.

Delhomme pump fakes & fires downfield to Steve Smith, who doesn’t make the catch BUT does draw a pass interference flag against Arizona’s Antrell Rolle.

Jonathan Stewart’s 1st & 10 carry only goes from 1 yard, which ends the 1st quarter with Arizona leading 14-7.

2nd quarter:

The first play of the 2nd quarter winds up being a turnover, as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie picks off Jake Delhomme in the end zone & returns it 19 yards. This start by the Cardinals is shocking many of us around the country, as very few people outside the state of Arizona picked this team to win tonight.

First big penalty of the night goes against Carolina, as Richard Marshall is called for unnecessary roughness.

Nice hit by Terrelle Smith on Julius Peppers at the end of Kurt Warner’s 4-yard scramble following the personal foul.

Big 3rd & 4 for Arizona from Carolina’s 31-yard line, but a Panther blitz forces Warner to unload early for an incomplete pass.

Neil Rackers is on for a 49-yard field goal attempt, which is good.

Arizona now leads 17-7 with 10:16 left before halftime.

Nice sign by a Cardinals fan in attendance tonight. It reads “We used our college savings to come see the Cardinals beat the Panthers”. Priceless, but only if Arizona does win this game tonight.

Arizona’s defense has been the story so far in the 1st half, as they have been lights out ever since Carolina struck quickly to take a 7-0 lead. Jake Delhomme’s 3rd down pass is tipped at the line of scrimmage, which is starting to draw boos from the home crowd. Don’t look now, but the Panthers’ 8-0 home record is now in jeopardy!

Larry Fitzgerald is having a monster game so far…Warner pump fakes, before connecting with Fitzgerald on a 25-yard gain.

To this point, Fitzgerald has 105 yards on just 4 catches…this is very impressive, as he does not have Anquan Boldin lined up with him tonight.

Fitzgerald AGAIN!!! When will Carolina start double-teaming this guy? That’s 5 catches so far for 122 yards…with SEVEN minutes left before halftime!

Warner connects with Steve Breaston, which sets up a key 3rd & 1 from the Panthers’ 13-yard line.

Carolina finally steps up on defense & stops Terrelle Smith from converting on 3rd down.

On 4th & inches, Ken Whisenhunt decides to go with a field goal try. Neil Rackers’ 30-yard attempt is good, which gives Arizona a 20-7 lead with 5:28 left in the 2nd quarter.

Jake Delhomme again makes another bad read, as his pass is intercepted by Gerald Hayes. I am absolutely stunned as to what’s taking place in this 1st half .

Tim Hightower then bursts 14 yards down to the Carolina 30 yard line.

Larry Fitzgerald continues his incredible 1st half, as Warner finds him in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown. The Cardinals have now scored 27 unanswered points & now lead 27-7 with 3:32 left before halftime.

Carolina has to make some type of adjustment on Fitzgerald before this thing gets out of hand. Fitz has 6 catches for 151 yards & 1 receiving touchdown, which is definitely going to go down as one of the best single-game performances in playoff history before this one is over.

More erractic play by Delhomme, who is sacked & ALMOST threw his 3rd interception of the game, which is just out of the hands of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Kurt Warner is able to complete a 3rd & 5 pass off his back foot to J.J. Arrington, who takes it 7 yards for an Arizona first down.

FOX just showed a shot of Julius Peppers’ helmet, which appears to have some blood on the side of it….maybe an appropriate setting, as Carolina has been punched in the mouth over & over again ever since the 11:56 mark of the 1st quarter.

Scary moment here, as Landon Johnson has been on the ground on several minutes & will be put on a stretcher. You never want to see this happen no matter what the score is.

Arrington is able to pick up a 1st down near midfield, as Arizona calls timeout with 29 seconds remaining before halftime.

Arrington again makes a 9-yard catch before Neil Rackers misses on a 52-yard field goal attempt.

That puts an end to a 1st half dominated by Arizona, as they will go into the locker room with a 27-7 lead & will receive the ball to begin the 3rd quarter.

If this score stands, it will be the FOURTH straight Divisional Playoff Game in which the home team has lost.

3rd quarter:

Kurt Warner continues his big game, as he completes a 3rd down slant pass to Jereme Urban, good for 8 yards & and an Arizona first down.

Carolina delivers a rare blitz on Warner, as Chris Harris comes charging in from his safety position & knocks the two-time MVP to the ground..haven’t seen a lot of that tonight.

DeAngelo Williams gives Panther fans a rare chance to cheer tonight, with a 15-yard run. This guy has breakaway speed & can explode at any time in the game, which Carolina will need plenty of in order to comeback & win.

Panthers finally force a turnover, as Kurt Warner is intercepted by Jon Beason. Let’s see if Carolina can now put together a good drive here & score to make this a competitive game.

I don’t think Jake Delhomme will be having any birthday cake tonight…just committed his fourth turnover of the game, a tipped ball that ends up as an  interception to Antrell Rolle who returns it 37 yards down to Carolina’s 26-yard line.

Nice screen to Larry Fitzgerald, who continues to dominate this game & picks up an Arizona 1st down. That’s 8 grabs tonight for 166 yards & a touchdown…simply incredible stuff!

Warner’s 3rd down pass is incomplete, which brings out Neil Rackers for a 33-yard field goal try..which is good.

Arizona now leads 30-7 with 4:40 remaining in the 3rd quarter & barring a 4th quarter collapse, they will either travel to the Meadowlands for the NFC Championship Game or back to Arizona if Philadelphia wins tomorrow.

Carolina is finally going to a no-huddle offense in hopes of scoring their first touchdown since the 11:56 mark of the 1st quarter.

On 4th & 4 from the Cardinals’ 42 yard line, the Panthers are going for it. Doesn’t work, as the pass sails over the head of Muhsin Muhammad. What a terrible game tonight from this Carolina offense, who has looked so dominant at home all season long.

I have to give Arizona tons of credit for shutting down Steve Smith, who is one of the NFL’s most explosive receivers. But on this night, Smith has yet to haul in a reception with a little over 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter & his team down big.

Right on cue, Smith finally catches his 1st pass of the night, avoids a hit & completes a 35-yard reception.

Delhomme’s 14-yard completion to Dante Rosario is the final play of the 3rd quarter, with Carolina down big 30-7 & needing a miraculous comeback to keep their season alive.

4th quarter:

Delhomme again hooks up with Rosario, this time an 11-yard completion for a Carolina 1st down.

The turnover problems continue, as Delhomme throws his fourth interception of the game to Ralph Brown in the end zone.

I love the veteran leadership of Kurt Warner, who is still jawing at his guys even with a 23-point lead in the 4th quarter.

Cardinals wide receiver Stephen Spach is being carted off into the locker room, so Arizona might have more injuries to worry out with their wideouts as they will now prepare for next week’s NFC Championship Game.

Delhomme almost threws his 5th pick of the game, which is almost intercepted by Dominique Rodgers-Cromatie.

One play later, Delhomme does indeed throw interception #5…this one to Roderick Hood.

It’s time for John Fox to seriously consider benching Delhomme at this point..for former Cardinal quarterback Josh McCown.

Arizona is just about ready to officially put this game away for good, as Tim Hightower runs for 17 yards on 3rd & 9, which now sets up 1st & Goal.

Hightower gets it to the 3-yard line before Neil Rackers hit a 20-yard field goal to make it a 33-7 Arizona lead.  Kurt Warner is 3:09 away from making his 3rd NFC Championship Game appearance. (Warner won both of his previous Championship Games with the Rams)

2 minutes left in this one until Carolina suffers their first Divisional Playoff loss in franchise history. Their last home loss before tonight was on December 22nd, 2007 against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. (Dallas won 20-13)

Here’s a shocking stat: Arizona rushed for 147 yards tonight & held Carolina’s 2-headed rushing attack to just 75 yards.

Steve Smith hauls in a meaning less 10-yard touchdown reception, as he throws the ball into the stands afterwards. Panthers 2′ point conversion is incomplete, as the pass was intended for DeAngelo Williams.

Arizona recovers the onside kick, which ends the game & will send them to their 1st NFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history. Now they will sit & watch tomorrow’s game to see if they have to travel to the Meadowlands to play the Giants, or go back home to host the Eagles.

Game ball goes to Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who dominated Carolina’s secondary all night & wound up with 8 receptions for 166 yards & 1 touchdown.

That will wrap it up, be back tomorrow with an Eagles/Giants in-game blog starting at noon!