Arizona Cardinals Stun Philadelphia In The Desert, 32-25 Super Bowl Bound!

PRE-GAME I have picked the Arizona Cardinals to stay hot and make it to the Super Bowl and play the Steelers in my second pick today, to be played later.

A big game starts in a little while for Arizona and Philadelphia as the winner moves on to the Super Bowl.  

Arizona hosts this game under a closed roof, and will have to start fast to have a chance of victory. They play out in front very well, but are not so great making comebacks.

Kurt Warner will look to fire up this offense with Boldin, and Fitzgerald, and add on steady running by Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower.

The defense will need to play with the intensity of the last two games to slow down the Eagles.

The Eagles need to have a balanced attack.  McNabb must find a way to free up Brian Westbrook in the open field, and execute pin point passing to his receivers, plus try to get Buckhalter involved as well.

The defense must be wary, as Warner is a good quarterback against blitzing situations.

Maybe more coverage would help today, but pressure still must be applied to keep Warner in check.

Larry Fitzgerald cannot be allowed to roam the field at will, getting open in key spots during the game.

I will enjoy a pre-game meal of a grilled rib-eye steak, some maple cured Bushes baked beans, and a small fruit salad. 

I will re-cap the action of this game as it occurs in real time.

Good luck to both teams and their fans. This should be a good one.

Game Time

Jordin Sparks absolutely kicks ass on the Star Spangled Banner. That was one of the best renditions ever. Another product of American Idol, and a good one.

3:08 pm  Arizona starts on offense getting the ball at the 20 yard line on a touch back.

They start with a hand off to James for two yards. A quick pass to Boldin gets seven yards. Larry Fitzgerald catches a quick slant and races to mid field. That was 19 yards and a first down.

Boldin catches another pass for nine yards. It's second and one. James keeps the pile moving forward for a first down.

James runs for 16 more yards and another first down on a draw play.

James gets it again for 11 more yards to the left side.

Hightower picks up four as James get a breather. It's second and six to go. Touchdown, Larry Fitzgerald on a 12 yard pass. 7-0 Arizona over Philadelphia.

Arizona came out smoking on a perfect drive. Let's see if Philadelphia has any early answers to that big opening drive.

The Eagles start on their own 40 yard line as the kick off goes out of bounds.

McNabb on the first play,runs for 22 yards. Westbrook gets the ball on the next play, and adds on five yards. A short pass gains only one yard, and here's a third and five.

Westbrook catches the pass for a six yard gain and a first down.

A toss to Westbrook for one yard. LJ Smith catches a short one for five yards. Movement by the Eagles makes it third and nine. The crowd is loud as the pass is batted down incomplete.

Akers will try a 45 yard field goal and it's good. 7-3 Arizona over Philadelphia.

Now it's up to the Eagles defense to slow down Warner. Another drive like the last one by the Cardinals will give them a big confidence boost.

Arizona starts at the 25 yard line this time. Warner is four for four so far. James gets outside for just a yard,Warner throws his first in completion. Third and nine. Fitzgerald is brought down a yard short of a first down.

Arizona punts back to the Eagles. They take over at their own 33 yard line. That was good defense by the Eagles on that Arizona possession.

Jackson misses a pass behind him, incomplete. Westbrook is stopped for no gain, and it;s third and 10 , quickly. A deflected pass is intercepted, then fumbled and the Eagles get it back.

Wow, and it's first down for the Eagles as DeSean Jackson makes a great play to cause the fumble, so Runyun can fall on it.

McNabb makes a long throw and it's barely incomplete.  First down on a pass to Hank Baskett for 14 yards. Westbrook goes up the middle for 14 yards. Another first down.

Buckhalter gets the ball and races for nine more yards. Buckhalter gets the first down at the Arizona 35 yard line as the quarter ends 7-3 Arizona over Philadelphia, but the Eagles are driving.

The fumbled interception is a big turning point already in this game. It could have been 14-3 but now the Eagles are building momentum on this drive.

Westbrook is stopped for no gain to open the second quarter. McNabb, being chased dumps it off incomplete. Arizona stops the Eagles after a six yard gain.

Akers comes in for another field goal and he misses from 47 yards. His streak ends at 19 in a row in post season play.

James gets the ball on a pitch, throws it back to Warner, who throws long to Fitzgerald for a touchdown. What a play, and it 14-3 , the Cardinals over Philadelphia.

Buckhalter gets three yards on the next series. False start on the next play makes it second and 12 in a noisy domed field. Curtis picks up 11 yards catching a bullet from McNabb and it;s third and one.

McNabb is sacked on a big defensive stand, but defensive holding gives them a first down. Kevin Curtis gains 37 yards on a big pass play. Buckhalter picks up seven yards.

Anther field goal attempt by Akers is good from 33 yards. 14-6 ,as Arizona stays ahead of the Eagles.

A run by James and Hightower starts Arizona's next drive. Then JJ Arrington takes off on a shovel pass for 14 more yards.

Hightower is stopped after a four yard gain. Another 12 yard catch and run, gets a first down.

James gets stopped for no gain. Second and 10. Breaston gets the first down. It's first and goal.   Arrington takes it down to the three. Second and goal. Incomplete, and an interference call goes against the Eagles.

On first and goal touchdown , Larry Fitzgerald from Warner. 21-6 the Cardinals over the Eagles.

The ball does not go out of bounds after the receiver of the punt touches the ball, and the Eagles get a huge break. There's a gift to Philadelphia.

The Eagles pick up a first down in the next couple of plays.

Intentional grounding on McNabb takes it to the two minute warning. The Cardinals are dominating this first half of play. It's third and 14 for the Eagles. Incomplete and the Eagles punt.

1:31 left and Arizona takes over a t the 15 yard line. Larry Fitzgerald has three touchdowns in the first half.

Boldin catches one for five yards, and  The Eagles get a roughness call.  1st down on the 35 yard line of the Cardinals. Boldin catches a deflected pass  for 32 yards, but the ball hit the ground and will come back.

Arizona takes it across midfield on a quick pass from Warner to Irvin on a blitz.

Fitzgerald gets 14 more and another first down. Where is the Philadelphia defense? Warner throws incomplete, and it's second down. There's the defense as they sack Warner.

Third and 17 for Arizona. Boldin catches a pass  and scrambles forward to get the Cardinals a field goal attempt. Rackers trys a 49 yard field goal and it's good!!!

Arizona leads at halftime 24-6 over Philadelphia.

Arizona is hard to come back on with a big lead. Philadelphia faces their biggest test of the season, in this second half of football.

The Cardinals did everything right in that first half.

The second half begins with Philadelphia trying to get the offense going! McNabb is almost sacked and there is a holding call. Already, it is 2nd and 20 to go.   Avant catches a pass and gets 14 yards back.

DeSean Jackson makes the catch for the first down. Westbrook picks up two yards on the ground. McNabb misses Curtis down the field, and it;s third and eight to go.

McNabb is slammed in the backfield, the ball comes out, and Arizona recovers.

McNabb got clobbered and never saw the rush coming.

If Arizona scores here, it's officially a rout! At 31-6 it will be all but over for the Eagles.

Philadelphia must stop them here to survive Desert Storm III.   Edgerrin James gains four yards. James gains two more on the ground. Warner gets hit on the release and overthrows  Boldin.

Arizona punts as the Eagles hold, and take over on the 10. They really need to make something happen in this quarter to get back in this game. The first step was to hold off Arizona, but now they must get some points.

Westbrook gains seven on first down. On second down, McNabb throws down the field , in complete. McNabb completes another one for a first down.

Westbrook gets eight more on the ground and it's third and one. Cellek catches one for a first down.

McNabb is sacked by Adrian Wilson for the second time in this series.  Third and 19, now, as Baskett drops one.  Kevin Curtis catches a big pass from McNabb for a huge gain of 50 yards.

That was a big, big play. McNabb keeps it and goes down to the five, for a first and goal.

Westbrook is stopped for no gain. Second and goal.Touchdown , Eagles, and we got a game again, folks. 24-13 Arizona still leads.

Warner is blitzed twice in a row, and it's third and 10 quickly for Warner. No where to go for Arizona , they go three and out  and must punt.

The Cardinals started on the 40 yard line because the kick off went out of bounds and they did nothing. The defense of Philadelphia is now more intense, and pressuring Warner.

The Eagles start with good field position on their own 40 yard line. Curtis catches on for 13 yards. McNabb throws the next one away. Second and 10. Westbrook gets four and it's third down.

Jackson catches the 10 yard completion for a first down. Westbrook picks up three more yards. The Eagles score again and now it's 24-19 Arizona.They miss the extra point.

Arizona takes over and James gains 3 yards. My, has this game changed quickly! The Third quarter ends with Arizona leading 24-19 over Philadelphia.

Warner has a pass batted back to him and runs for three more yards. This is a big third down play now, as all the momentum has shifted to the Eagles favor. I would say the next team that scores will win this game.

James catches a big completion for the first down. James gets five more yards on the next play. Dawkins makes a stop for the Eagles and it's third and five. Warner throws incomplete and the Cardinals must punt again.

The Eagles have nine first downs in this half to Arizona's one. Philadelphia starts on their own 14 yard line.

Buckhalter gets 12 yards on a screen pass. Avant catches a pass for nine yards. First down for Westbrook and the Eagles. McNabb has all day, and airs it out long, Jackson juggles the ball, sucks it in , and high steps into the end zone.

10:45 left and it's now 25-24 Eagles. Two very  different football teams in the second half, as the Eagles have dominated this  half completely.

Arizona must answer now, to stay in this game. Janesis stopped for a yard loss. Fitzgerald makes his first catch of the second half for a first down.

Warner completes another pass for nine yards. Third and one , now for Arizona. Hightower is stopped, and it's fourth and six inches.

 Arizona goes for it. Hightower gets the first down on a big run.

James runs for two more yards. Second and eight as Arizona desperately tries to get in field goal range. Larry Fitzgerald on a big gain to the Eagles 23 yard line.

James runs for two more yards. Fitzgerald catches another one just short of a first down. Third and one. Hightower slams his way for a first down, and it's first and goal on the nine.

James gets zero on the next running play. Second and goal at the nine. Hightower gets only one and it's third and goal at the eight.Arizona has responded well on this drive and Philadelphia will have limited time to score again.

Hightower goes in for the touchdown on a screen pass from Warner. Arizona will go for two to try and make it a seven point game.  They convert and it's 32-25 Arizona leads over Philadelphia.

What a game!!  There are two minutes and 53 seconds left in Philadelphia's season now. They have to score a touchdown. Can McNabb win the big one, or go down in failure once more?

The Eagles start on their 20 yard line. 80 yards to glory. Westbrook drops one  and it's second and 10. Jackson catches a nine yard pass.

Cellek catches his tenth pass of the game. First down. Westbrook makes a great catch and run for 19 yards.

McNabb throws incomplete and it's second down. Over the middle too high, and it's third down. The two minute warning hits, as McNabb throws behind the receiver in complete again.

This is for the NFC Championship on the next play. The ball is dropped and Arizona is going to the Super Bowl.

The receiver had some contact, but no call! Interference could have been called on that play,but wasn't. It's seldom that one play makes a difference, though.

Arizona scored when they had to, and hats off to Kurt Warner, who responded under pressure.

Congratulations to the Arizona Cardinals as they move on to play in the Super Bowl.

Thanks for reading, and good luck against, hopefully, the Steelers.

Thomas[ NFL Mikee ]Moreland