(Photo by Jonathan Willey/Getty Images)
Looking to 2009, the Arizona Cardinals have another chance to soar, if all goes according to plan.
The defending NFC Champions have a tough season ahead of them, starting with a game against San Francisco on Sept. 13. And while the 49ers may not pose any threat to the Cards, teams like the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, and their NFC West rival the Seattle Seahawks will be out for blood during their regular season battles.
If the Cardinals hope to have the same level of success that they were able to achieve last year, they are going to have to be unrelentingly hostile towards their opponents in the regular season or face the consequences.
There's no time for slouching for the Cardinals as they set out to return to the top of the NFC, and even early games count this year as the bulls eye is put on the Cards early on.
Games in September and October that will be key to later success include an early season bout against the Colts on Sept. 27, an Oct. 18 game against the Seahawks, the October appearance of the Giants, and the Panthers on Nov.1.
There is no doubt that Jake Delhomme and company will be looking for revenge after being handed their butts on a silver platter last winter during the playoffs. This fall match up will be the right set-up for revenge as they travel to Glendale to do battle.
Other out of conference fights of note for the Cardinals include a game against the Bears at Solider Field on Nov. 8 and the Titans on Nov. 29.
As far as NFC West competition goes, it can be boiled down to the Seahawks. The birds from the Northwest are on the hunt this year for the birds of the Southwest with two bouts scheduled in October and November.
The Rams and 49ers might have new draft picks and optimistic hopes for this year, but the battle will come down to the Seahawks and the Cardinals come January. Both teams are looking for playoff berths again this year and few things will stand in their way, well, except for each other of course.
On offense, the Cardinals should be able to shut down most opponents with a strong passing game. Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner, in one of his final years as an NFL quarterback, will have to make the same kind of connections this year that they were able to in years past. If Anquan Boldin can keep the money on the sidelines and show us what he is capable of, Warner should have a renewed passing game this time around.
Matt Leinart, take notes, this is how you work a passing game.
On defense, the Cardinals have some new heavy hitters in the form of Adrian Wilson and Darnell Dockett. Few things should get past Wilson as safety and Dockett should perform well at defensive tackle as he has in the past.
With a final fight at home against Green Bay on Jan. 3, the Cardinals will have fought their way though tough opponents and rough seas. With high hopes of repeating most of last season and another run to the Super Bowl, the Cardinals of Arizona will once again have to prove they are able to play with the big teams of the east and the best that both conferences can throw at them.
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