The Arizona Cardinals will take on the Carolina Panthers in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game on Aug. 6 as part of enshrinement week. The Hall announced the matchup on Wednesday between two of the teams that have former stars set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next summer.
It's rare for a Super Bowl matchup to feature two teams who were not expected to make the playoffs ahead of the season. For that to happen should inspire hope for many teams that are either rebuilding or at a crossroads as an organization. The Falcons don't fall into either category, yet they can learn from how the Patriots went from rebuild mode to beating the AFC's top teams.
Los Angeles: A solid 12-5 record, losing only one game by more than three points (33-26 at Philadelphia in Week 3). A first-round playoff win in a shootout against Carolina, 34-31. Then last week's wild game against Chicago in which the defense let up just long enough to allow Caleb Williams to complete a miraculous game-tying pass, only to tighten the screws and win in overtime.