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Cardinals at Panthers

Coach John Fox built a powerful running game this year with RB DeAngelo Williams powering for 100 yard games as a hobby. The stat contributing most points to Carolina's playoff appearance is TDs Rushing. Moving up the ladder from 29th to 1st the Panthers added 10.3 points per game to their scoring differential. This stat graphic pictures the Panthers' head-and-shoulders improvement over the league.

Touchdowns Rushing

Percentile Chart

100=Stongest 50=Average 0=Weakest
Lines: Playoff Avg=34 SuperBowl Avg=27

Win Mrg Points Change

Winning Margin Points Change
Sorted by Points Change, 2007 to 2008

Rank	Team	Pctl	Stat Value	Points behind Leader	Win Mrg Pts Chg vs 2007	Games Won
1	CAR	100	1.88	0.00	10.25	12
2	TEN	75	1.50	2.67	3.12	13
3	ATL	71	1.44	3.12	7.13	11
4	N E	63	1.31	4.01	1.78	11
5	BAL	58	1.25	4.46	4.01	11
6	NYJ	58	1.25	4.46	6.24	9
7	N O	58	1.25	4.46	2.67	8
8	NYG	54	1.19	4.90	1.78	12
9	MIA	50	1.13	5.35	1.78	11
10	JAX	46	1.06	5.79	-0.45	5
11	PIT	42	1.00	6.24	3.12	12
12	BUF	42	1.00	6.24	3.57	7
13	HOU	42	1.00	6.24	1.78	8
14	PHI	38	0.94	6.68	1.34	9
15	CHI	38	0.94	6.68	3.12	9
16	DEN	38	0.94	6.68	2.23	8
17	MIN	38	0.94	6.68	-3.12	10
18	ARI	33	0.88	7.13	2.23	9
19	T B	29	0.81	7.58	-0.89	9
20	IND	29	0.81	7.58	-2.67	12
21	S D	29	0.81	7.58	-2.67	8
22	WAS	25	0.75	8.02	-1.34	8
23	DAL	25	0.75	8.02	-0.89	9
24	G B	21	0.69	8.47	-0.89	6
25	SEA	17	0.63	8.91	0.45	4
26	S F	17	0.63	8.91	0.89	7
27	DET	17	0.63	8.91	-1.34	0
28	OAK	13	0.56	9.36	-0.89	5
29	K C	13	0.56	9.36	1.34	2
30	STL	8	0.50	9.80	1.34	2
31	CIN	0	0.38	10.70	-1.78	4
32	CLE	0	0.38	10.70	-3.12	4

2008 Season, YTD through Week 17

In season 2007 Panthers ranked 28th on Touchdowns Rushing at 0.44.
In season 2008 they ranked 1st at 1.88, up 10.3 points per game on this one stat.
From 2007 to 2008 Panthers improved by 10.3 points per game on Winning Margin.

Several head coaches have been tinkering with the philosophy of he game. Our stat research group shows the Clock Control/Rushing stats taking a big bite out of he importance of the group of Passing Efficiency measures (which typically are the most reliable stats separating winners from losers).
The IMPORTANCE of the rushing stat which boosted the Carolina Panthers is pictured in the graphic below. Note the close relationship Rushing TDs have on a team's scoring differential. Years the Rush TDs stat improves the Winning Margin improves. This season, for the Carolina Panthers, the two stats moved from 2007 to 2008 hand-in-glove (note the caption, the Rush TDs stats contributed 10.3 PPG and the scorng differential improved an equal 10.3 PPG).

Touchdowns Rushing with Winning Margin
Yearly 2004 to 2008
Carolina Panthers

In season 2007 Panthers ranked 28th on Touchdowns Rushing at 0.44.
In season 2008 they ranked 1st at 1.88, up 10.27 points per game on this one stat.
From 2007 to 2008 Panthers improved by 10.3 points per game on Winning Margin.

On Goode's Winning Index both he Cardinals and Panthers lead their divisions. But the gap between the Cardinals and the Panthers is wide (Cards ranked 20th and the Panthers 9th). If the teams play to statistical form the Panthers should be favored by 9.
Bud Goode
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