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The Cardinals have had two straight ‘statement’ games, and came through with increasing volume with each.
Their slapping around of former perennial division champ Seattle said in no uncertain terms, that the Cardinals WILL defend their division title.
They did so in a 27-3 shellacking up in the great Northwest, where the 12th man was used to going home happy as the Big Dread suffered another painfully long plane-ride home, drove the message home clearly.
Last Sunday night in the Meadowlands, they screamed it in the ears of all that yes, they DO plan on being around in the fight for the conference crown, too!
Their drubbing of the Giants, at home and when their 5-1 team was supposed to be ‘focused’ and (presumably) pissed after suffering their first loss the week before, put the Cards back in almost everyone's ‘weekly top 10, and made even the most cynical take notice.
But as fellow blogger Chris Farmer points out, this has always been a ‘trap game’ for the Cards. They play and beat someone who gets the fans all in a tizzy, only to get rolled at home like a rich, drunken tourist (My words, not Chris’s) the following weekend.
But I believe this is a different Cardinals team than we’ve seen in the past. This isn’t a pretender. This is actually a team worthy of going to last year's Super Bowl, and talent-wise, matches up with anyone in the NFL.
I know.. I know. Fan bias and all that.
But I don’t think so. Those that know me, know my work and know my history regarding my Cardinals prognostication, know that I'm more cynical, if anything.
In fact, since their playoff win in Dallas following the 1998 season, I’ve picked the Cardinals to have a winning record only twice. In 1999, and this year.
That said, this is every bit a "statement" game as the last one. This is another hurdle the Cardinals need to get over to continue they assent-ion upward among the NFL elite.
And I believe that they’ll do it. Trap game, to be sure. But this...THIS Cardinals team is just a good, quality football team. And I firmly believe they’ll come in and do what needs to be done. I don’t think it’ll even be very close.
When the Cardinals Have the Ball
Who can forget last years ‘turning point’ Divisional Playoff game in Carolina? The 10-point underdog Cardinals rode into Bank of America Stadium, and rolled out with a shot at a Conference Title by pasting 33 points in a 20 point win on the previously unbeaten-at-home Panthers.
WR Larry Fitzgerald was a human highlight film, and became a household name when he put up 166 yards and a ridiculous acrobatic touchdown while hauling in eight Kurt Warner passes.
The Panthers haven’t played very well this year, but they have been quite successful in pass defense. They will bring the leagues top rated pass D into UoP Stadium on Sunday, giving up a stingy 149 YPG, almost 20 less than Fitz alone snagged that fateful day.
But (yes, there’s always a ‘but’) they have played a very soft schedule, at least from an offensive standpoint. They beat Washington and Tampa Bay, and have lost and/or gotten drilled by Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, and most recently Buffalo.
The Eagles' Donovan McNabb needed only 79 yards passing for Philly to put up 38 points. So pure numbers, as you know, can be deceiving.
The Cardinals have an opportunity to beat a good team and do so by utilizing what could be a major team strength at some point.
Get a ground game going against Carolina’s 20th ranked rushing defense to set up play action against that lofty No. 1 rated passing defense.
Panthers coach John Fox said Wednesday that starting FS Charles Godfrey wouldn’t play, which can only help provide opportunities over the middle for the likes of Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.
Cards DE Mike Gandy gets no breaks this week either. After lining up opposite the likes of Dwight Freeney, Mario Williams, and Osi Umenyiora in recent weeks, he gets a rejuvenated Julius Peppers Sunday. Peppers has been on a bit of a tear, and keeping him off Warner’s back is key.
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