Cris Carter: Both of these teams clearly have terrific defenses, but Super Bowls seldom are low-scoring affairs. The bye week – when there is one – has a lot to do with that.

The bye week takes teams out of their rhythm. Football players are creatures of habit, and the last thing they need before the biggest game of their lives is another week to get ready for it. The bye week leads to more Super Bowl blowouts; often one team handles it well and the other just doesn't. At least New England has had a bye week between the end of the regular season and its first playoff game. Carolina's bye came in Week 3!

I've often mentioned that Bill Belichick tries to take away one facet of his opponent's offense so that it's easier to handle everything else. Against Indianapolis, the New England defense made Peyton Manning throw 47 times. Knowing the Colts would have to throw, he created pressure on Manning that made him uncomfortable.

If Manning couldn't beat the Patriots, it's not likely Jake Delhomme will. But Carolina presents a different problem than Indianapolis. It can run on anybody, and it has a physical offensive line. Carolina can often rely on the play-action pass.

But can the Panthers run when Tyrone Poole and Ty Law are playing man-to-man coverage and Rodney Harrison moves up to give the Patriots eight men in the box? Carolina will have to. That's why the Panthers just cannot afford to fall behind early. They need a situation like the NFC championship game, when Delhomme throws only 14 times and they dictate the flow of the game.

Tom Brady and the Patriots have been in this position before. While people marvel at his game maturity (and rightly so), don't forget that Brady also has the arm to make all the throws. He can throw the ball through the cold and wind. His accurate short passes supplement a running game that doesn't dominate people.

Will New England underestimate Carolina? Doubtful. The Panthers have proven plenty. They've got 14 wins and know how to win close games. They held the Colts to 20 points in a win at Indianapolis; the Patriots will dissect that film.

I expect a close game for a quarter, maybe a quarter and a half. But when New England finds out how to make Carolina throw the football, the Panthers are in trouble. They're not going to beat New England the way they beat St. Louis.

Experience matters. The only people who say otherwise always are the ones without experience! The Patriots can deal with the pressure, the interviews, the restrictions, the family asking for things and all that (although there was no bye week two years ago) and the lengthy halftime. The Panthers will have to learn all those things as they go. They're fast learners; going from 1-15 to the Super Bowl in two years proves that. But they're playing a team that has not lost since September.

The Patriots have a chance to establish themselves as the blueprint for success in today's NFL. The front office hired a great coach and got a new stadium built. The coach has made tough personnel decisions (Lawyer Milloy, for example) and earned the players' respect. They've stockpiled medium-priced free agents so they aren't fighting a salary-cap war every year (and drafting the starting QB in the sixth round a few years back doesn't hurt).

Winning two Super Bowls in three years in this day and age would count as a dynasty.

Pick: Patriots

• Patriots favored by seven in early odds
• How they were built: Panthers | Patriots
• All-time Super Bowl results
• Super Bowl composite standings
• MVPs | Top QBs | Top receivers

My Take on this Game

I won't deny that the Panthers are deserving of the underdog status.  I have supported them since day one, know every player, have suffered every loss, reveled in every victory, but this, I am stunned.  I was cocky at the beginning of the year that they would make the playoffs.  I was certain we'd win one playoff game, but beyond that, I suspected we would have to wait another year.  They are in the Super Bowl and although I am not surprised, I am Shocked beyond belief.

I have watched them grow and expand as players and a team, I have seen their will to win, and Jake's maturity on the field as the general in charge of leading their onslaughts. I knew they would take on Tampa Bay in the second game of the season, and we would show them finally how underrated we were.  Still no respect.  I predicted a 12-4 record, we went 11-5.  I was still happy.

So watching each playoff game and watching them win has not been surprising. But to say we are in the Super Bowl is shocking. And this game is gonna be a corker.  I was saddened to hear that they expect very low ratings for this game.  How is that possible.  Brady electrified us two years ago, the Panthers have played exciting, tough football.  For the first time in awhile we have a match up as close as you can find in football.  Two hard hitting defenses, fun to watch offenses, and great quarterbacks. Oh well, guess the quality of football doesn't count, who else would be playing a better game???

Cris Carter says experience counts.  How funny that is when you are talking about a Pats team that two years ago was lead by a fiery young quarterback with NO experience named Tom Brady.  Experience is not all it is cracked up to be.  Heart, talent, coaching, determination, a solid game plan, and the ability to find a way to win.  New England has it all, but the finish is a little dull.  You can't tell me that they don't fully expect to win. But do they still have the deep fire in the belly that gave them that win in 2001?  I think that fire is in Carolina's belly. 

Delhomme has that fire and more. He knows how to get the best out of his team, he knows how to keep the confidence rolling, and how to make an important play. Carolina knows they are underdogs, don't have the experience the Pats do, but like Brady and his cohorts two years ago, they don't care.  They have belief.  And that may be the difference between winning and losing for the Panthers.

I think they will win, the hard way, the ugly way, but they will come out a few points ahead of the Pats.  Even if they don't win, my love for the Panthers; Delhomme, Minter, Rucker, Gross, Peppers, Sauerbrun, Steussie, Jenkins, Buckner, Donnally, Mitchell, James, Grant, Howard, Smith, Davis, Foster, Muhammed, Wiggins, Goings, Hoover, Manning and all the rest of the guys, will resonate from my chest area.  Love and pride, win or loose.  These are my guys and I appreciate the ride.  I look forward to more.

My Pick:  Panthers 23-21