(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Experts are asking, "Can the Cardinals repeat last year's success?"
My short answer: Yes.
My long answer: See below.
The 2008 Arizona Cardinals football team answered the 2007 Colorado Rockies', and 2008 Tampa Bay Rays' magic with a little of their own. The underdogs who had never claimed birth to a Super Bowl appearance proved every single critic in America wrong when the team out of Glendale made the Big Game.
The Arizona Cardinals started off last year's NFL season with a record of 7-3, and took claim to an NFC West title. The Cardinals finished the regular season just 2-4, but were the second NFL team ever to finish the season with a 9-7 record and make the Super Bowl.
The Arizona Cardinals played the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC bracket of the playoffs, in that order. The Cardinals won by a combined 32 points.
The Cardinals lost the Super Bowl to the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. However, they put up one of the hardest fought games in recent memory, and participated in one of the greatest games I've ever witnessed. A 16-point comeback in the fourth quarter led by Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner kept us all on the edge of our seats.
However, the seven-point favor Steelers team prevailed, and won by just four points, thanks to a late Santonio Holmes touchdown to seal the victory.
Led by veteran and ex-Super Bowl winning quarterback Kurt Warner, as well as two Pro-Bowl wide receivers, the Arizona Cardinals hit their opponents hard in the mouth, as the offensive-based team was second in the NFL in yards per game, with 373.2.
Three of the five starting offensive "skill" positions in the 2009 NFC Pro Bowl were Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals also had a 12,000 yard rusher in Edgerrin James, and a goal-line threat with Tim Hightower.
The Cardinals didn't make the Super Bowl solely around a good offense. They had two time All-Pro safety Adrian Wilson, 2007 Pro Bowl defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, and 2005 Pro Bowl defensive end Bertrand Berry, just to name a few notables.
The team was filled with stars, but received no credit.
One setback the team had was Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, who had only coached in one season prior to the 2008 season. Whisenhunt led the team to an 8-8 record in 2007, and made his first postseason birth with the Cardinals last year.
Needless to say, he didn't disappoint.
Now, all the players I noted are returning to the Cardinals for this upcoming season. However, the Cardinals lost Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Cardinals also lost Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, who will join Pendergast, but this time Haley will be the Chiefs' Head Coach. Quite the promotion.
Kurt Warner, the two time NFL MVP will look to finish business the Cardinals left behind in Super Bowl XLIII. Warner, who will be 38 in June, and coming off of hip surgery. However, he is expected to be ready for the start of the season.
Larry Fitzgerald, 25, and Anquan Boldin, 28, are both in the primes of their careers. One can expect at least 1200 yards and 10 touchdowns from both of them.
NFL Sophomore Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie can expect a much better season than he posted while playing as a rookie. Rodgers-Cromartie had 42 tackles, as well as four interceptions last year.
The Cardinals also signed ex-Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden to their squad. McFadden, who was on the team who beat the Cardinals in last year's Super Bowl, is a two time world champion and will certainly add stability to the Cardinals' secondary.
Safety Adrian Wilson is back as well. Wilson is 29, and also in the prime of his career. The two time All-Pro safety will certainly lead a strong defense under the new Defensive Coordinator.
The Cardinals have a mix of easy and hard games in their upcoming schedule. They face the Indianapolis Colts in week three, at the New York Giants in week seven, the Carolina Panthers in week eight, and the Vikings in Week 13. At least three out of those four games are in Glendale, AZ.
The Cardinals also face the winless Detroit Lions in Detroit in Week 15, and host the St. Louis Rams the following week, who held the number two pick in the draft. Should be two easy wins for Arizona.
Overall I see the same success the Cardinals had last year. Maybe not another Super Bowl birth, but I can see them winning 10 games this year, another NFC West title, and making a strong case for an NFC Championship game.
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