Published: Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009 / Updated: Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009 12:53 AM

Panthers still recovering from Cards' Fitzgerald's big game

CHARLOTTE -- The season to date has underscored the thing people remember the most about the Carolina Panthers' playoff loss to Arizona last season.

But as much as Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme gave that game away, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald took it.

So today, when the Panthers try to get a small measure of revenge for the loss that sent their confidence and record reeling, slowing down Fitzgerald would be a good first step.

The game presents an interesting intersection of statistical lies, because the Panthers rank first in the league in pass defense, but it will take today to prove whether they're any good.

After all, the Panthers have faced the fewest pass attempts of any team in the league, so it's hard to tell if their defense is good or just the victim of circumstance (and short fields and early leads for the other teams).

But against quarterback Kurt Warner and his trio of 1,000-yard receivers (Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston), the Panthers know what's coming despite a running game that is getting better.

“Just got to try to contain him the best you can,” linebacker Thomas Davis said of Warner. “They're high-powered, they have a lot of great athletes over there, and their receivers are some of the best in the league. You see it, Kurt Warner's doing a great job of getting them the ball, and their running game is picking up.

“Whenever you have a team that's clicking on all cylinders offensively like they are, you know it's going to be tough to stop them, so we've got a big challenge this game.”

Coach John Fox conceded that the Cardinals will put up numbers; his side just has to prevent long drives and points. They've been better at that lately, especially in the passing game.

The Panthers have allowed only seven touchdown passes all year (seventh in the league). Only two of those were by wide receivers, and none 25 yards or longer.

“They are going to get yards,” Fox said. “That's what people practice and get paid to do. But they are very talented. They've got probably one of the better threesomes of receivers in the league. They've got a quarterback that's been in big spots, knows how to throw the ball, understands protection, very experienced. They've got a stable of backs (Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells) that are pretty good to run it if they want.

“It's their ball; they get to do what they want; and they've passed it more than they've run it thus far.”

So far this season, the Cardinals have gone shorter, as opponents have blitzed more to force Warner to throw quickly.

“We've got to try to affect him, get him off the spot,” defensive end Julius Peppers said.

“Try to get a little pressure on him and make him move his feet. That's about the only thing you can do to a guy who gets the ball out pretty quick.”

It was with such quick passes that the Cardinals carved up the Panthers in January, starting the ridiculous slide they've been on ever since.

No one did more damage than Fitzgerald, who packed eight catches for 166 yards and a touchdown into his suitcase as he left Bank of America Stadium en route to the Super Bowl. The Panthers stayed in a deep zone trying to keep the Cardinals in front of them, and all that did was allow Fitzgerald to get the ball on the move.

Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble said the hope is that sticking closer to Fitzgerald will help this time.

“I think we've just got to play a lot more man, get tight on them, and not play too much zone,” Gamble said. “They can just dump it off in the zone. I think a lot of close man, and then stay tight on those guys.

“I think last year when we played them we played more zone, so it hurt us then. I think we should play more man, to get closer and compete with those guys.”

That's music to Gamble's ears, as he has said since the start of training camp that matching up with guys like Fitzgerald was what he wanted. It's also what they're paying him for, as his six-year, $54.5 million deal makes Gamble one of those kind of corners by default.

Gamble wanted a chance to match up with Fitzgerald last winter, but the Panthers chose to play the straight up, with Ken Lucas and Gamble staying on their respective sides.

The decision backfired badly. Lucas looked helpless at times, seemingly resigned to the fact he would be cut weeks later. The entire defensive staff has turned over since then, and there's a sense that Gamble could get his wish today.

“Like I said last year, I want to get on Larry Fitzgerald,” Gamble said. “That's their go-to guy, and I just want to compete with that guy. I know he's one of the great receivers in the league, so I feel like I want to get my name out there and play my best against him.”

Davis grinned when he heard that.

“It's nice to hear a corner say that,” the linebacker said, nodding. “That's what they get paid the big bucks for, to go cover these receivers.”

But this isn't just any good receiver.

Fellow cornerback Richard Marshall said Fitzgerald is as difficult a matchup as any in the league because of the kinds of things Fitzgerald can do once the ball is in the air.

“He's got body control, so if the ball's just thrown up, he can go get it,” Marshall said. “You've got to time your jump, because he does and he can go get the ball. I would say he's the best I've played against. He's a big receiver, he's not slow, he's fast. He goes after it when it's in the air.

“If you don't time it right, it's a catch every time. He's so good, the quarterback throws it whether you're on him or not, because of the way he goes and gets it.”

They know that all too well, because they saw it firsthand.