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PANTHERS REPORT

CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-8) at N.Y. Giants (8-6)

1 p.m. today, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV: WGHP-8 Radio: WZTK-101.1 Weather: Partly Cloudy, high of 44

THE STORY LINE

Carolina, off the playoff pace but coming off a battering of playoff-contender Minnesota, faces the Giants, who need two wins and a little help to reach the postseason. This is the Giants' final game at Giants Stadium.

THREE TO WATCH

PANTHERS

WR Steve Smith: His hands -- and mouth -- are back in effect. His yardage numbers are on the rise in each of QB Matt Moore's starts. He ripped Minnesota for 157, a score, and a talking-to throughout after afterward.

LB Jon Beason: Big Blue's running game is looking kinda green. RB Brandon Jacobs (tooth) and Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles/foot) are hobbled, and Beason helped hold Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to 35 yards last week.

DE Julius Peppers: In prime time, he played like a beast. What will you get in a 1 p.m. game out of the league's limelight? His dominance sent Vikings T Bryant McKenzie -- and nearly QB Brett Favre -- to the bench last week.

GIANTS

QB Eli Manning: In the "what gives" department: Manning, he of six TD passes and no interceptions in two games (and 114 points in three games) faces a defense credited with 13 turnovers in its past four games.

WR Hakeem Nicks: Get this: Since Donovan McNabb and Matt Ryan racked up five TD passes against Carolina in Weeks 1-2, Panthers opponents have seven in the past 11 games. The Giants will need Hicks' help today.

CB Terrell Thomas: Only six teams have surrendered more points than the Giants, but the pass defense is ranked 10th. Thomas has two picks in his past four games, but the Eagles passed for 379 against New York two weeks ago.

BY THE NUMBERS

PANTHERS Att. Yds. Avg. TD

D. Williams 216 1,117 35.2 7

Stewart 177 802 4.5 8

TOTAL 442 2,073 4.7 15

GIANTS Att. Yds. Avg. TD

Jacobs 218 834 3.8 5

Bradshaw 145 712 4.9 7

TOTAL 412 1,742 4.2 13

PANTHERS Comp.-Att. Yds. TD Int.

Moore 56-95 720 4 2

GIANTS Comp.-Att. Yds. TD Int.

Manning 271-443 3,584 26 11

THREE KEY INJURIES

PANTHERS: RBs DeAngelo Williams (ankle) and Tyrell Sutton (calf) missed time this week. CB Richard Marshall (ankle) was limited, but is likely to play.

GIANTS: RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle) looks iffy, as does T Kareem McKenzie (knee). CB Aaron Ross (hamstring) is likely to miss his second straight game.

THREE TRENDS

1. Carolina has missed the playoffs in five of coach John Fox's eight seasons.

2. Manning has distributed the ball well: WRs Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith and TE Kevin Boss each have at least five TD catches.

3. In the five weeks before holding Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to 35 yards, Carolina surrendered an average of 161.5 yards rushing.

ANALYSIS

Panthers win if ... they continue to trust Moore with more of the playbook, their pass defense continues its dominance and intercepts Manning at least once.

Giants win if ... WR Steve Smith finds the seams in Carolina's tight pass defense, Boss finds his mismatches and spots over the middle, and the revamped defensive line corrals Carolina's run game (4.7 yards per carry).

Outcome: The Giants need help -- and not just to find Brandon Jacobs' 100-yard shoes (missing all season) or DE Osi Umenyora's lucky sack socks. They'll need two wins in two weeks (Minnesota's next), and a loss in that stretch for Dallas or Green Bay. Expect the if/then scenarios to end for New York, packaged in some tight Panthers pass coverage, well-timed strikes from Moore, and a heavy dose of RB Jonathan Stewart. Panthers 23, Giants 13

-- Eli Pacheco, Special to the News & Record

PANTHERS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD

S. Smith 60 922 15.4 6

Muhammad 43 440 10.2 0

Rosario 26 313 12.0 2

TOTAL 235 2,737 11.6 12

GIANTS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD

S. Smith 90 1,093 12.1 6

Nicks 40 751 18.8 6

Manningham 51 735 14.4 5

TOTAL 289 3,783 13.1 27

PANTHERS (6-8)

Sept. 13 Philadelphia L, 38-10

Sept. 20 at Atlanta L, 28-20

Sept. 28 at Dallas L, 21-7

Oct. 11 Washington W, 20-17

Oct. 18 at Tampa Bay W, 28-21

Oct. 25 Buffalo L, 20-9

Nov. 1 at Arizona W, 34-21

Nov. 8 at New Orleans L, 30-20

Nov. 15 Atlanta W, 28-19

Nov. 19 Miami L, 24-17

Nov. 29 at N.Y. Jets L, 17-6

Dec. 6 Tampa Bay W, 16-6

Dec. 13 at New England L, 20-10

Dec. 20 Minnesota W, 26-7

Today at N.Y. Giants 1

Jan. 3 New Orleans 1

GIANTS (8-6)

Sept. 13 Washington W, 23-17

Sept. 20 at Dallas W, 33-31

Sept. 27 at Tampa Bay W, 24-0

Oct. 4 at Kansas City W, 27-16

Oct. 11 Oakland W, 44-7

Oct. 18 at New Orleans L, 48-27

Oct. 25 Arizona L, 24-17

Nov. 1 at Philadelphia L, 40-17

Nov. 8 San Diego L, 21-20

Nov. 22 Atlanta W, 34-31, OT

Nov. 26 at Denver L, 26-6

Dec. 6 Dallas W, 31-24

Dec. 13 Philadelphia L, 45-38

Dec. 21 at Washington W, 45-12

Today Carolina 1

Jan. 3 at Minnesota 1