16-0

[Cbus cardsfan]

Maybe the Cards need to go 16-0 and be the perfect, elite team people seem to be craving. I'll be the first to admit that I'm usually a darksider but the hand-wringing and nitpicking over these 2 losses has me flabbergasted. All I know is that this a damn good, and vey talented, football team that I'll take my chances with against anybody.

Sure, they have some flaws as does every other team in the league. They've had 2 bizzare, poorly officiated(not an excuse but reality), self-induced losses. I'd be concerned if they were getting beat and not beating themselves.

They're very likely going to be 6-2 going into their bye week even though the Cleveland game probably won't be as easy as some might think. And that's with playing 4 of their last 5 on the road. They've got the number 1 scoring differential in the league and have as good of offensive skill people as anybody.

It's not like it's college and Ohio State where they can sleep walk to 12-0 this year. They're going to lose some games.

Relax and enjoy it. This is as talented a team that has been in Arizona and, barring injury, will continue to be one of the upper echelon teams in the league

 

[BillsCarnage]

No doubt.

This was a bad loss; probably the worst in BA's tenure here, but hey it happens. All that matters is they make the PO's and are playing their best ball in Jan.

I don't like how the offense repeatedly shot itself in the foot. At least against STL they moved the ball up and down the field.

Still 10gms left... Still possible to go 12-4... Still possible to get one of the bye spots... Still a lot possible.

 

[kerouac9]

This is a good team, but it doesn't deserve to be placed on the same tier as:

1. Green Bay
2. New England
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver

Denver has had terrible offensive performances basically all season, and they're still 6-0. They have nowhere to go but up on that side of the ball, but they're still undefeated.

This team struggles on offense and there's no way to get untracked. You could make the argument that Carolina is clearly better than us, not only by record but by being able to win on the road against a good opponent.

Yes, I'm enjoying watching this team, but it's not an "upper echelon team." We're more comperable to the Atlanta Falcons than we are the New England Patriots.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

This is a good team, but it doesn't deserve to be placed on the same tier as:

1. Green Bay
2. New England
3. Cincinnati

No. The Cardinals are a good, but not great team. Bowles made up for a lot when he was hear. If the Cardinals defensive backfield wasn't as ridiculously talented as it is, this team would not be where it is right now.

 

[nashman]

You could easily make the case the undefeated teams haven't played a tough schedule either honestly. Yeah we have two losses but like op said more self induced and badly officiated. NE could have easily lost to a average colts team last night if not for some weird calls. I see GB as the best team in the league right now and that's based on the best QB operating it.

 

[splitsecond]

Just remember the bad losses we had in 2008. Jets, Giants, Eagles, Vikings, Patriots - thoe were all much uglier than yesterday.

It may sound ridiculous, but do we want this team to be at it's hottest now or at the end of the year? Teams peaking at the beginning of the season rarely, if ever, win it all.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This is a good team, but it doesn't deserve to be placed on the same tier as:

1. Green Bay
2. New England
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver

Denver has had terrible offensive performances basically all season, and they're still 6-0. They have nowhere to go but up on that side of the ball, but they're still undefeated.

This team struggles on offense and there's no way to get untracked. You could make the argument that Carolina is clearly better than us, not only by record but by being able to win on the road against a good opponent.

Yes, I'm enjoying watching this team, but it's not an "upper echelon team." We're more comperable to the Atlanta Falcons than we are the New England Patriots.

Bingo.

And no one expects this team not to lose games. But I did expect them to beat bad teams, which the Steelerd with their 3rd string QB is absolutely is.

Honestly, you're acting like this team is 10-2 and people are bashing it. It's 4-2 and has yet to play anyone good. I'm glad that makes you feel like we're an upper echelon team, but I don't know how you come to that conclusion or bash others for not thinking the same.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

This is a good team, but it doesn't deserve to be placed on the same tier as:

1. Green Bay
2. New England
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver

Denver has had terrible offensive performances basically all season, and they're still 6-0. They have nowhere to go but up on that side of the ball, but they're still undefeated.

This team struggles on offense and there's no way to get untracked. You could make the argument that Carolina is clearly better than us, not only by record but by being able to win on the road against a good opponent.

Yes, I'm enjoying watching this team, but it's not an "upper echelon team." We're more comperable to the Atlanta Falcons than we are the New England Patriots.

That's fair right now. I may be wrong but I think this team is going to continue to get better and really take off after the bye week. Reason(s) being are I think the offense will become more cohesive as they have battled through some injuries and suspensions, the DC will improve over the course of the year, and, after the ridiculous stretch of 6 road games in 8 weeks, they'll finish with 3 of 4 at home and be on a roll.

Whereas, I think Atlanta has already very likely peaked for the year, Carolina is getting it done with smoke and mirrors, and I disagree about Denver. They are winning with defense as you said, but Manning hasn't been awful. He's just been bad compared to his past standards. In the last few years he has gotten worse as the year moved forward. If he does that again, I think they'll be in trouble.

Like I said in another post, I put the Cards in the top 4 with NE, Cincy, and GB.

 

[Buckybird]

This is a good team, but it doesn't deserve to be placed on the same tier as:

1. Green Bay
2. New England
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver

Denver has had terrible offensive performances basically all season, and they're still 6-0. They have nowhere to go but up on that side of the ball, but they're still undefeated.

This team struggles on offense and there's no way to get untracked. You could make the argument that Carolina is clearly better than us, not only by record but by being able to win on the road against a good opponent.

Yes, I'm enjoying watching this team, but it's not an "upper echelon team." We're more comperable to the Atlanta Falcons than we are the New England Patriots.

The Broncos aren't that good IMO. They got a darn good D & a offense that reeks stinkage like a city dump. Plus they've played nobody like everyone says about us, so IMO they aren't any better than our Redbirds. Hell, I'd luv to take this Cards team against them in the playoffs & would like our chances.

Winning & losing in the NFL is a fine line for about 1/2 the teams. the Pats & Pack I'll give ya, but nobody else

 

[MadCardDisease]

I think the Cardinals are a top 10 team. But I wouldn't list them as anywher near elite.

If they had a stud pass rusher then they might be closer to the top. Losing Okafor hurts even though he is only a slightly above average pass rusher. Okafor seemed like the only guy who could at least make the opposing QB uncomfortable an a fairly consistant basis. At least he will be back later in the season.

 

[TigToad]

I guess I'm just so used to 4-12 that 4-2 seems ok. Yeah, I'm disappointed at our losses, but I'm not losing my mind over them. Long way to go, a division that is helping us out. My job is to stand and yell on defense. Their job is to play their heart out.

I'll trust we'll improve and play hard. I'll trust that 4-12 isn't likely and worry about things as they come up.

 

[kerouac9]

That's fair right now. I may be wrong but I think this team is going to continue to get better and really take off after the bye week. Reason(s) being are I think the offense will become more cohesive as they have battled through some injuries and suspensions, the DC will improve over the course of the year, and, after the ridiculous stretch of 6 road games in 8 weeks, they'll finish with 3 of 4 at home and be on a roll.

Whereas, I think Atlanta has already very likely peaked for the year, Carolina is getting it done with smoke and mirrors, and I disagree about Denver. They are winning with defense as you said, but Manning hasn't been awful. He's just been bad compared to his past standards. In the last few years he has gotten worse as the year moved forward. If he does that again, I think they'll be in trouble.

Like I said in another post, I put the Cards in the top 4 with NE, Cincy, and GB.

It's pretty funny to me that you started out agreeing, and then you talked yourself back into the Cards belonging in elite company.

Manning is 35th in DVOA (Below Jameis Winston) and 24th in QBR (Below Colin Kaepernick) through five weeks. He's thrown 7 TDs against 10 INTs in 6 games. His YPA is as low as its been since his rookie season. If he gets much worse than this, they'll likely sit him down for a spell.

I'd anticipate that the inevitable injuries that occur over the course of the season are likely to offset whatever modest improvements you get through cohesion or whatever.

 

[Big D]

The two loses have showed me that this is a team that will play well most weeks but will also drop in an absolute stinker when you least expect it. I'm thinking we will probably see 2-3 more of these type of performances at various points this season.

I just hope we don't have more than a game ot two where we play well but still lose on top of them.

 

[MadCardDisease]

It's pretty funny to me that you started out agreeing, and then you talked yourself back into the Cards belonging in elite company.

Manning is 35th in DVOA (Below Jameis Winston) and 24th in QBR (Below Colin Kaepernick) through five weeks. He's thrown 7 TDs against 10 INTs in 6 games. His YPA is as low as its been since his rookie season. If he gets much worse than this, they'll likely sit him down for a spell.

I'd anticipate that the inevitable injuries that occur over the course of the season are likely to offset whatever modest improvements you get through cohesion or whatever.

Yep.

Manning is a shell of his former self. Just wait for the weather to start getting cold and see how bad he throws the ball then. It's only going to get worse for the Bronco's offense IMO.

 

[TruColor]

What worries me is the collapse after facing adversity. They've been great when getting out to fast starts, but after a couple of breakdowns, things start to snowball.

 

[Iceman]

Yep.

Manning is a shell of his former self. Just wait for the weather to start getting cold and see how bad he throws the ball then. It's only going to get worse for the Bronco's offense IMO.

May be seeing Brock playing sometime this year. And not just in blow out situations. The cold weather is going to take it toll on Manning

 

[Darkside]

This is a good team, but it doesn't deserve to be placed on the same tier as:

1. Green Bay
2. New England
3. Cincinnati
4. Denver

Denver has had terrible offensive performances basically all season, and they're still 6-0. They have nowhere to go but up on that side of the ball, but they're still undefeated.

This team struggles on offense and there's no way to get untracked. You could make the argument that Carolina is clearly better than us, not only by record but by being able to win on the road against a good opponent.

Yes, I'm enjoying watching this team, but it's not an "upper echelon team." We're more comperable to the Atlanta Falcons than we are the New England Patriots.

That's part of what kills me about Sunday's loss. Elite teams win those tough games. Denver overcame three Manning INT's, one of them in OT! Their defense buckled down every time and got the ball back. When we've had a chance to do that, in our two losses, we've given up gigantic plays on defense and completely folded up the tents.

 

[kerouac9]

Yep.

Manning is a shell of his former self. Just wait for the weather to start getting cold and see how bad he throws the ball then. It's only going to get worse for the Bronco's offense IMO.

I don't know. They really can't get much worse, can they? Get much worse and they're going to look like the Cards offense under Ryan Lindley.

I think if they lose a couple games in a row or Manning starts preventing them from winning, they'll sit him down and run Kubiak's offense with the former Sun Devil. I think they have that in their back pocket like the Packers did when they made the hard transition from Favre to Rodgers.

What worries me is the collapse after facing adversity. They've been great when getting out to fast starts, but after a couple of breakdowns, things start to snowball.

Yup. You can see the defense start pressing when the offense can't score or move the ball for a couple drives.

 

[ajcardfan]

Recent history is filled with teams that didn't get a first round bye winning it all. Even three in a row on the road in the playoffs. What really matters is who gets hot after getting in. Hell, think of our own team in 08, how many times that team got DESTROYED in games that season, and we still got hot and came within a couple of inches of winning it all.


Focus on the division. Win the division, and then look at where you stand in the conference.