January 13, 2006
By Brett Borden
Panthers.com
Experience counts in the playoffs. Thirty-three players on the Panthers roster had played in a combined 136 postseason games prior to this season. That experience was evident as the Panthers sacked second-year quarterback Eli Manning four times and forced him into three interceptions in a 23-0 victory last week over the New York Giants.
"We've been in situations like this before," said defensive end Mike Rucker. "We know how to handle ourselves. "We feel like the best defense will show itself in the big game. It's not a secret that they (Chicago) have a good defense and that we have a good defense."
The Bears and Panthers had the second and third-ranked defenses in the NFL this year. Chicago allowed 4,509 yards, while Carolina allowed 4,522, a mere 13-yard difference. Chicago surrendered a League-low 202 points, while the Panthers posted the first shut out of a home team in the playoffs since 1980. Carolina produced 42 take-aways to Chicago's 34. A strong case can be made for both defenses.
"It's probably going to be a low-scoring game like it was last time," said Rucker, referring to Chicago's 13-3 victory over Carolina on November 20. "It's going to be a field position game. Special teams are going to be big. It's going to be a big game in all phases. The first group that capitalizes on the other's mistake could be dangerous."
The Panthers were victimized by two interceptions in that first meeting and found themselves facing a 10-0 first quarter deficit. Partially because of that game, the Panthers were forced to play an extra game while the Bears earned a first-round bye. But the good news for Carolina is that the game gave them something game film can't, game experience against an opponent.
"It's good if you've seen a team before, win or lose," said Rucker. "You've gone to battle with them and you know what they're about and what they tried against you the first time. They didn't know that they were going to see you in the playoffs, so you've seen many of their tendencies in that area. So I think it's good that we've seen those guys, just like we had seen Dallas and Philadelphia before in '03 (Carolina won both rematches during the playoffs).
"I feel great about the game plan that's being put together so far. If somebody hurts you in the running game on something in particular, you're going to take steps to correct that. The coaches have done a good job of pointing out how they beat us and how they hurt us. Dallas beat us in some areas three weeks ago, and we corrected those. The team that beats you is going to try you in those same areas it beat you in the first time."
Experience counts. Always.