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Panthers host Giants in critical NFC matchup

Dec 5, 2006 - 9:58 PM NY Giants (6-6) at Carolina (6-6) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Panthers ended the New York Giants' season last January in the NFC wild card round.

Both the Panthers and Giants are fighting for their playoff lives heading into Sunday's critical game that could determine if either team makes it back to the postseason.

The Panthers and Giants are among four teams in the conference with 6-6 records, along with Philadelphia and Atlanta. Carolina trails New Orleans by two games in the South, while the Giants are two back of Dallas in the East.

On January 8, the Panthers posted a convincing 23-0 victory at Giants Stadium. They became the first team to register a shutout on the road since 1980.

Panthers coach John Fox, the Giants' defensive coordinator from 1997-2001, watched his team limit New York to nine first downs and 132 yards.

It was an especially long day for Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who was intercepted three times and fumbled once - all in the second half - in his first career playoff start. He completed just 10-of-18 passes for 113 yards.

The Panthers also limited Tiki Barber to just 41 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Running back DeShaun Foster and wide receiver Steve Smith gave the Giants' defense fits. Foster rushed for 151 yards on 27 carries, while Smith had a 22-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and scored on a 12-yard end around in the third quarter.

Carolina will be looking for another big performance against New York after it squandered its fifth fourth-quarter lead of the season in Monday night's 27-24 loss at Philadelphia.

"It's going to be a test of our character," Panthers coach John Fox said. "We have four games left and a lot can happen in those four games. Time will tell."

Jake Delhomme's season-high three touchdowns were overshadowed by a pair of costly fourth-quarter interceptions, the final one coming in the end zone with 25 seconds remaining.

Delhomme is questionable for this contest with a right thumb injury.

Things also have unraveled for the Giants, who have lost four straight games following a 6-2 start. New York is on its longest losing streak since dropping its final games in 2003, leading to the firing of coach Jim Fassel.

Manning completed 24-of-36 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants' 23-20 home loss to Dallas last Sunday.