New England's winning streak unlikely to be halted

Carolina's solid run game not enough to defeat Patriots

Who could have predicted it? Is it possible that one person actually predicted the Carolina Panthers, two years removed from a 1-15 season, would be facing off against the Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday?

They certainly have been the surprise team in the NFL this season and post-season. Carolina was supposed to finish fourth in its own division. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense was supposed to punish the Panthers. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was supposed to run circles around them. And, the New Orleans Saints finally were supposed to put together a complete season.

But, by beating the Dallas Cowboys (with the league's top defense), the St. Louis Rams (who hadn't lost at home all season), and the Philadelphia Eagles (the team with the best record in the NFC), the Carolina Panthers proved that they are legit, and the New England Patriots should take notice.

As the Eagles found out last Sunday, the Panthers are solid on both sides of the ball. On defense, their front four is as good as any in the game. Carolina's linebackers are quick from sideline to sideline, yet are big enough to step up and stop the run. Finally, their secondary, which was supposed to be their glaring weakness, dominated the Eagles' receivers for 60 minutes Sunday, led by rookie cornerback Ricky Manning Jr., who picked off three passes.

The Panthers are capable on offense, too. Running backs Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster have been a formidable duo, with second year man Foster gaining increased playing time because of a quadriceps injury Davis has been battling. Last Sunday, Davis and Foster combined to rush for over 130 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run by Foster in which he broke several tackles, displaying the grit and determination that has been a cornerstone of the Panthers this season.

And don't forget Jake Delhomme. Who does this quarterback think he is — Green Bay Packers quarterback Bret Favre? I bet the Eagles wish he was. Just as Favre had done a week before, there was Delhomme lofting up a prayer into double coverage, with two Eagle defenders about to crush him. But, this time, instead of being picked off, the pass landed safely in the hands of wide receiver Mushin Muhmmad for a touchdown and an early lead on the favored Eagles.

Delhomme wasn't even supposed to start this year. That responsibility initially fell to age-old quarterback Rodney Peete, who was going to play this one final season before retiring and enjoying the benefits of Social Security and his AARP card.

Which brings up another point. Is this a recurring theme in the NFL these days — backup quarterback climbs off the bench to replace starter during the season and then leads his team to Super Bowl glory? We saw it with the St. Louis Rams' Kurt Warner (prior to fumblitis). We saw it with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Trent Dilfer when he was with the Baltimore Ravens. And, we last saw it with Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Yes, Tom Brady. As in the level-headed, steady-armed quarterback of the Patriots — the Panthers' opponent in the Super Bowl.

The Panthers' reward for making it this far is that they get to play the best team with the best coach in all of football this season. The Patriots have won 14 straight games heading into the Super Bowl. They last lost way back Sept. 28, 2003, the fourth week of the NFL season.

All the Patriots have done since then is run, throw, and tackle their way to the best record in football and a return to the title game. The scariest part is they are getting better.

Suddenly, Antowain Smith is running the ball like it's 2002, when he carried the Patriots on his sturdy shoulders straight to the Super Bowl title. He is averaging 4.4 yards per carry in the postseason thus far and his 100 yards on 22 carries last Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts was the most he had rushed for in a game since Week 2.

Brady wasn't getting this kind of support early in the season, and he still threw for over 3,600 yards and 23 touchdowns during the regular season. With Smith rushing the ball well again, the Panthers will have to respect the run, and this should open up some more passing lanes for Brady to throw through.

Couple that with the Patriots' proven veteran defense led by defensive mastermind Bill Belichick, and the Patriots should be heavy favorites to beat the Panthers and win their second Super Bowl in three years.

But that's just fine with Delhomme and the Panthers — they've been in this situation before. Just ask the Cowboys, Rams and Eagles. Unfortunately for Carolina though, not every prayer can be answered.