Sunday’s Carolina at Arizona matchup might look like one of the NFL’s
dog games of Week 1. After all, these teams combined for a 7-25 record in 2010
and were most offensively inept clubs in the league in terms of quarterback
play. But it’s for that reason that Sunday’s game is rather interesting as No. 1
overall pick Cam Newton makes his debut for the Panthers and
Kevin Kolb makes his first start as a Cardinal. Arizona is a
7-point favorite on Bodog’s NFL odds. Of course Newton had one epic season as a major college QB, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Auburn to the national title. But is he ready with just one season of Division I ball and a shortened NFL offseason? Probably not, but the Panthers really have no other choice. In four preseason games, Newton passed for 300 yards and a TD, completing just 42.1% of his passes, though he didn't throw an interception; he rushed for 86 yards and a score on nine carries. Newton and Bengals QB Andy
Dalton are the only rookies set to start under center Week 1. Look for Carolina to give the Cardinals a heavy, heavy dose of running backs
DeAngelo Williams (re-signed in the offseason) and
Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers also appear to have gotten good
news on defense. All-Pro linebacker Jon Beason was expected to
miss the opener after foot surgery but it now looks like he will play. Meanwhile, the Cards got Kolb from Philly right after the lockout ended for a
steep price of Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
and a 2012 second-round pick. Kolb was the Eagles’ starter to open last
season but was injured in Week 1 and replaced by Michael Vick.
That was the end of the story. The Cardinals have been looking for an answer at
quarterback since Kurt Warner retired following the 2009
season; they tried several options last year and none were any good. Kolb became
the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in his first two NFL
starts when he filled in for an injured Donovan McNabb in
Philly in Weeks 2 and 3 in 2009. Newton isn’t the only star rookie on display in this one. Arizona cornerback
Patrick Peterson was the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s
draft and is the Bodog preseason odds-on favorite for Defensive Rookie of the
Year. Peterson will start Sunday alongside second-year pro A.J.
Jefferson, who was on Arizona's practice squad last year, giving the
Cardinals an exceedingly young pair of cornerbacks. Cards coach Ken
Whisenhunt likes to bring rookies along more slowly but a season-ending
knee injury to starter Greg Toler forced his hand on
Peterson. These two played in Week 15 last year in Carolina and the Panthers got one of
their two wins, beating Arizona 19-12. Get the best NFL team and player props all season at the Web’s gaming
leader!
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