POSITION, THE SKINNY, EDGE
Quarterback: Tom Brady has never lost a postseason game (5-0) and is making a case for recounting the MVP ballots. Jake Delhomme has never been this far before, in fact was never a starter before this year. EDGE: Patriots
Running back: Patriots’ Antowain Smith rushed for 100 yards in the AFC championship game and seems to play his best when it matters most. But Stephen Davis’ 1,444 yards are the core of the offense and with DeShaun Foster gives Carolina a genuine ground game. EDGE: Panthers
Receivers: Steve Smith gives Carolina an all-field receiving threat with 88 catches for 1,110 yards and 7 TDs. New England has 6 players between 28-57 catches, meaning a lot of decent receivers but no stars. EDGE: Panthers
Offensive line: Losing Pro Bowl C Damien Woody hurts Pats, but they do not typically control the line of scrimmage. Panthers’ Todd Steussie is a Pro Bowl LT and RT Jordan Gross has played to his first-round draft status on a line that is classic NFC smashmouth. EDGE: Panthers
Defensive line: Patriots overwhelmed a good Colts line in the AFC title game. Richard Seymour and Ted Washington are monsters against the run. Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker are rush threats on a line that ranked second in sacks for 2003, plus six of Eagles quarterbacks Sunday. EDGE: Panthers
Linebackers: Most units are happy with one or two quality LBs; the Pats have four and they all start. MLB Dan Morgan is linchpin of Panthers’ defense and his interception ended a late Eagles scoring chance. EDGE: Patriots
Defensive backs: Rodney Harrison and Ty Law victimized Peyton Manning and took the Colts’ receivers out of their games with hit after big hit. Panthers’ CB Ricky Manning’s 3 ints were the undoing of Donovan McNabb and the Eagles, and S Mike Minter is Harrison’s equal as a hitter. EDGE: Patriots
Special teams: Adam Vinatieri has kicked winning FGs in Super Bowls, playoff games and conference champion-ships for New England, But John Kasay is more accurate than Vinatieri and ex-Bear Todd Sauerbrun is punting the way the Bears always hoped he would. EDGE: Panthers
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Coaching: You want to coach against Bill Belichick in a big game? EDGE: Patriots