Carolina is entirely the opposite. They run the ball, with an occasional pass to keep the Defense honest, and eveyone knows it. They dare the defense to stop them. No trickery is needed... just execution. The Panthers have executed well all year. Belichick's brilliance will be a non-factor. Only the defense's pure talent will matter. There is quite a bit of talent, especially in The Pats secondary, but with a run-happy Panthers team, that advantage is also mostly neutralized.
The game will come down to the Pats Offensive line. If the Panthers Defensive line can get to Brady with any regularity, he will look like Peyton did last week: flummoxed. Panthers 20-17. If they can't get to Brady, he nickel-and-dimes them to death, and the Pats win, 27-20.