SIZING UP THE OTHER GUY

In the AFC championship game, the Patriots' secondary harassed -- some would say mugged -- Indianapolis' smallish receivers, and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw four interceptions. Ty Law had three of those, but he and the New England secondary will have a tougher time pushing around the Panthers' 6-foot-2, 217-pound Muhsin Muhammad.

TY LAW

PATRIOTS CORNERBACK

'We have a couple of things we're going to do. We're going to give them a couple different looks. Muhsin Muhammad is a big guy. He loves contact. Those are the type of guys that you love to play. Like I said, this is football. It's made for guys like Muhsin Muhammad to go out there and play physical, hit you in the mouth and get down and dirty. That's the type of game it's going to be. He fits right into it. There is no way you can intimidate that guy by being physical. It's just a matter of who is going to be more physical or who can be the most physical during the game. Muhsin Muhammad -- I'd put him and Hines Ward [of Pittsburgh] as the two most physical receivers in the league by far. It's not even close."

MUHSIN MUHAMMAD

PANTHERS WIDE RECEIVER

'I like press coverage. I don't mind it at all. If they press-cover me, that means I'm one-on-one and I can make big plays. If a team is playing a lot of zone, we'll run the football. I don't care what they do. I was a physical receiver when I first came into the league. I have been my whole career. I don't think the years have made me any less physical. The most physical [cornerback]? I don't think there are any corners who stand above everyone else, where you say, 'Man, this guy is way more physical than that guy.' But from what I've seen on film, they play pretty physical. Ty is a big, smart player. I think he has very good anticipation as far as covering receivers. I think he disguises things pretty well. He knows how to bait a quarterback."

Noah Brindise, East Carolina's new offensive coordinator, had to face both the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers this season as the quarterbacks coach on Steve Spurrier's staff with the Washington Redskins. Brindise talked about the offenses and defenses of both Super Bowl teams with staff writer Al Myatt. The Redskins defeated the Patriots 20-17 Sept. 28 at home and lost at Carolina by the same score Nov. 16. Monte Kiffin, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive coordinator and former N.C. State football coach, talked with staff writer Chip Alexander about the two starting quarterbacks, Carolina's Jake Delhomme and New England's Tom Brady.

ON PATRIOT'S OFFENSE

"It's really kind of unique. They don't really have any superstars. Tom Brady is a functional quarterback. He doesn't make a lot of plays with his legs. [Offensive coordinator] Charlie Weis does a good job with smoke and mirrors.

"They'll give you an empty backfield, split everybody out, and a light bulb goes off in every defensive coordinator's head to blitz. But Brady does a great job of getting rid of the ball quickly. He doesn't take sacks.

"They create mismatches and get a lot of 5- or 6-yard gains. They're smart with the ball. They're not that exciting. Neither team is. They just get it done."

ON PATRIOT'S DEFENSE

"The big thing about New England is that you work all week to prepare for them, and you don't know what to expect. They totally change from one week to another. ... They try to find a protection flaw and your favorite routes, and they work all week putting a plan together to deal with those elements. You're going to see blitzes and coverages that you haven't ever seen. ...

"You have to have a sound protection plan. You kind of have to show up and see what they're doing because it's almost like a sandlot defense. It's going to be interesting early in the game because there will be a lot of adjustments."

ON PANTHER'S OFFENSE

"They do a really good job of making you think they're smash-mouth. They'll give you two tight ends and one wide receiver. Obviously, [Stephen] Davis is a good back. But Jake Delhomme can beat you deep with Steve Smith, and Muhsin Muhammad is a good receiver.

"They do it the old way -- run, run and then they'll hit deep on play-action. The reason they can do that is that their defense is so good that they're able to stick to their plan. It's a classic throwback offense.

"They don't disguise much. ... It's tough from a defensive standpoint because you gear up so much to stop the run, and that leaves you in man coverage on the outside."

ON PANTHER'S DEFENSE

"Carolina's defense is probably the best we played in terms of personnel. They're different from New England in that they're pretty basic and don't change up a lot. They've got a great front, Kris Jenkins, Mike Rucker, Julius Peppers. You can't single-block those guys. Kris Jenkins is the best defensive tackle in the league. He's a beast.

"They don't have to blitz that much because their defensive front is so good. If you don't get some help blocking that front, guys are going to get manhandled.

"New England beats you with scheme. Carolina beats you with out-and-out physicalness up front."

ON JAKE DELHOMME

Was he a surprise this year? No doubt about it. He was a backup and didn't play much for the Saints. But he proved he's a winner. He got better as the year went along. He's working with a very good coordinator [Dan Henning].

"Some quarterbacks, you know, just move the chains. Some go out, seven-on-seven against air, or at the combine workouts, and maybe out of 10 they rank him ninth. But then you go out 11-against-11, and he's moving the chains and getting the ball in the end zone, then suddenly he's right up there near the top."

ON TOM BRADY

"We've never faced Brady, but I've watched him. You know he has more experience than Delhomme, and that's important. He's been there before and all that. He's one of those gamer types, too. He's like [former Patriots quarterback Drew] Bledsoe, with that big, strong arm. All Pro-type quarterback, a drop-back, pocket passer. Brady sees the field so well. He can find that second and third receiver with the rush right on top of him. That separates quarterbacks."

POSITION-BY-POSITION BREAKDOWN

QBS

New England's Tom Brady has got basically everything a team wants in a quarterback: size, arm strength, accuracy and leadership. The Patriots' backfield is weak, and their receivers are ordinary at best. But Brady makes them go. Carolina's Jake Delhomme is being compared to Brady, but the real one has already been to the Super Bowl.

ADVANTAGE: PATRIOTS

RBS

Yardage-wise, Carolina's Stephen Davis has it all over New England's Antowain Smith. The Patriots use their backs effectively en masse, going with Mike Cloud or Kevin Faulk for a change of pace. And fullback Larry Centers is one of the best pass-receiving running backs ever. But the Panthers have Davis and DeShaun Foster, and that should be plenty.

ADVANTAGE: PANTHERS

OL

With both lines, the whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts. New England, however, has lost its best blocker, left guard Damien Woody, to injury, and he would have been blocking Kris Jenkins. The Panthers' line should no longer be overlooked. Jeff Mitchell has been an animal inside, and Jordan Gross is going to be a star.

ADVANTAGE: PANTHERS

REC

The Patriots come at you in waves. None had 60 catches during the regular season, an indication of how effectively Brady spreads the ball. Troy Brown may be the toughest to handle. He's able to make a big play at any moment. After his breakout season, the Panthers' Steve Smith should get a big contract extension. Muhsin Muhammad has also shined in the playoffs.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

DL

Yes, the Panthers do have the best defensive line in football. Mike Rucker was added to the Pro Bowl last week; Julius Peppers seems more comfortable now; Brentson Buckner had his best game in months against the Eagles two weeks ago; and Kris Jenkins is a "planet player" -- practically no one on the planet can do what he does. The Pats' line is solid.

ADVANTAGE: PANTHERS

LBS

Healthy again, Dan Morgan has proven that he's an impact player. Greg Favors and Will Witherspoon look better playing with Morgan. New England uses its linebackers in multiple formations and will send them from everywhere. Willie McGinest is a pass-rushing freak, and Mike Vrabel doesn't get enough credit. Tedy Bruschi and Roman Phifer are tough inside.

ADVANTAGE: PATRIOTS

SECONDARY

Is there a Panther who is more fun to watch than Ricky Manning Jr.? He has lit up the playoffs with his interceptions. But the difference is New England's depth. Ty Law is what Manning aspires to be. Tyrone Poole, once a stiff with the Panthers, has played well. Safety Rodney Harrison made Pats fans forget about Lawyer Milloy, and Eugene Wilson covers lots of ground.

ADVANTAGE: PATRIOTS

KICKING GAME

Carolina's John Kasay and New England's Adam Vinatieri are close in terms of career accuracy. Kasay has more range, but Vinatieri has made more clutch kicks than anyone in recent years, often in awful conditions. Panthers punter Todd Sauerbrun has a big edge over the Pats' Ken Walter, and Carolina is more explosive in the return game.

ADVANTAGE: PANTHERS