Alright, I'm already getting sick of it.

[Proteus]

I keep hearing how much better the Packers are than the Cardinals.

If that were actually true - wouldn't the Packers have beaten Minnesota at least once in the two times they played them?

We beat Minnesota handily.

Wouldn't the Pack have won their division if they were the most awesome thing since sliced cheese?

Matchups.

We lost to the 49ers twice including a blowout but the Packers beat the 49ers.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Matchups.

We lost to the 49ers twice including a blowout but the Packers beat the 49ers.

So...we need to watch tape of the Vikings/Packers games and they need to study the Cards/49ers tapes?

 

[Duckjake]

Team that wins the ground battle...


Last season the Card gave up 590 rushing yards in the last 4 regular season games. In the four playoffs they gave up 290. They have basically the same players as last year so you really don't know who is going to win the ground battle.

 

[PJ1]

Team that wins the ground battle...


Last season the Card gave up 590 rushing yards in the last 4 regular season games. In the four playoffs they gave up 290. They have basically the same players as last year so you really don't know who is going to win the ground battle.

Agreed and I believe the biggest factor will be the play of Hayes and Dansby.

Just how healthy they are will be a big factor.

 

[OmeneX]

Card's were #1 Ranked Rushing Defense at a point this year too. We know all about that.

 

[DanThePackerFan]

Card's were #1 Ranked Rushing Defense at a point this year too. We know all about that.

So then the questions are... what happened, and what should make anyone expect to revert back to that form, outside of blind faith?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Blah, blah,blah, dan. Stats mean jack when the playoffs start.

I'd be curious to see c.h.f's asessments of last seasons cards playoff matchups.

Stats also said the following would prevent the cards from another playoff performance:

Superbowl loss
0-4 preseason
1-2 start.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

So then the questions are... what happened, and what should make anyone expect to revert back to that form, outside of blind faith?

It would be blind faith if we hadn't see the Super ride in the postseason last year/this past February.

 

[OmeneX]

So then the questions are... what happened, and what should make anyone expect to revert back to that form, outside of blind faith?

The point was, just as the Pack says "#1 rushing Defense" it doesn't say much except as a current stat. Just as much as we once were is just how you would say the Pack currently is now. Each game plays out a different and depending on the game at hand and the team facing against it is just a statistical point to make a homer fan feel a sense of comfort.

When we had that #1 Rush Def stat I didn't feel all warm and fuzzy inside. More like. "Oh that's nice", hope we can keep it and not have some RBs break a few 100 yard games on us from a few nice handoffs. Hey it happens. And for the most part we kept our opponents under. But again, it happens sometimes.

Dockett said about the upcomming game best when considering our 2 losses against GB.

"“Speed of the game’s going to change,” he said. “Personality’s going to change. Energy’s going to change. It’ll be totally different anyway. "

 

[DanThePackerFan]

The point was, just as the Pack says "#1 rushing Defense" it doesn't say much except as a current stat. Just as much as we once were is just how you would say the Pack currently is now. Each game plays out a different and depending on the game at hand and the team facing against it is just a statistical point to make a homer fan feel a sense of comfort.

When we had that #1 Rush Def stat I didn't feel all warm and fuzzy inside. More like. "Oh that's nice", hope we can keep it and not have some RBs break a few 100 yard games on us from a few nice handoffs. Hey it happens. And for the most part we kept our opponents under. But again, it happens sometimes.

Dockett said about the upcomming game best when considering our 2 losses against GB.

"“Speed of the game’s going to change,” he said. “Personality’s going to change. Energy’s going to change. It’ll be totally different anyway. "

It's a current stat based on sixteen games of the regular season (or, apparently, just fifteen as I've been reminded a bunch this week). It's wise to not get excited about much in the first six or eight games. Just ask the Broncos. But at this point, you are what you are. There's no hiding it.

As far as Dockett's comments.. of course the game speed will move up a notch. Players are more amped. There's a bit more on the line. It's true for BOTH sides. But that angle is overplayed every year, too. There's still twenty two guys on the field, and eleven of them are trying to out-execute the other eleven. That never changes. There's no magical gear the Cardinals can kick it into that the Packers (or any other team who has displayed the ability to make the playoffs) can't match.

 

[OmeneX]

As far as Dockett's comments.. of course the game speed will move up a notch. Players are more amped. There's a bit more on the line. It's true for BOTH sides. But that angle is overplayed every year, too. There's still twenty two guys on the field, and eleven of them are trying to out-execute the other eleven. That never changes. There's no magical gear the Cardinals can kick it into that the Packers (or any other team who has displayed the ability to make the playoffs) can't match.

Here's an honest question for a green a yellow fan you seem to be. Do you honestly feel that you've played the "Cardinals team" in the two wins over them this year? If you answer in the negative, doesn't it give you a moment of pause to consider what team you'll be actually playing Sunday?

I mean it is the team that beat the Vikings. If our rolls were reversed I know I wouldn't put a lick of stock into those two games and would be very critical of facing the team who handily beat our conference champions in a game that actually meant something. That's one of the most surprising things about this match up and the various fans reactions. You guys don't really know who we are. Highly unpredictable to national pundits and even serious Cardinal fans like us here. One thing I do know though is. We definitely play our best when it counts, as non-favorite/underdog, and when our opponent expects the least out of us.

We are great at surprises. And yes almost magical. For bad and for good.

 

[O]

Take your stat's and pack en away, They mean absolutely nothing at this point!
You will see a Cardinals team that you haven't seen before. New stats will be written!

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Dan enough with the passive- agressive nonsense about fifteengames. Who said that bit you. We know why your coach kept the pedal to metal as to not lose the teams' percieved edge.

But you also have to acknowledge that the cards team clearly took that game off and basing the expected outcome of the playoff game is misguided. The cards at just as capable of beating your team as the other way around.

 

[DanThePackerFan]

Here's an honest question for a green a yellow fan you seem to be. Do you honestly feel that you've played the "Cardinals team" in the two wins over them this year? If you answer in the negative, doesn't it give you a moment of pause to consider what team you'll be actually playing Sunday?

I mean it is the team that beat the Vikings. If our rolls were reversed I know I wouldn't put a lick of stock into those two games and would be very critical of facing the team who handily beat our conference champions in a game that actually meant something. That's one of the most surprising things about this match up and the various fans reactions. You guys don't really know who we are. Highly unpredictable to national pundits and even serious Cardinal fans like us here. One thing I do know though is. We definitely play our best when it counts, as non-favorite/underdog, and when our opponent expects the least out of us.

We are great at surprises. For bad and good.

Of course not. But to this point I've now watched ten other Cardinals games, including the Vikings game, and I don't feel like this team can hang with a Packers team that has been as hot as any team in the NFL.

There's something to be said for the run the Cardinals made last year, but it's being drawn on way too much. What does it say about a team that is great at "surprises" when you're resorting to expecting or counting on a surprise?

I need to stress that I'm not utilizing last week's game, or God forbid, the preseason game to learn a whole lot about this matchup. I'm using sixteen games worth of accumulated Packers knowledge, and about ten of Cardinals knowledge as of tonight.

I'll fully acknowledge that the Cards completed a logic defying run after getting hot at the right time last season. But that's exactly what it was. Logic defying. And I appreciate the fact that there's a belief that since it happened last year, it's bound to happen again. As a fan, I would expect it of each of you. But I'm saying to expect logic defying performances every year in the playoffs following last year's magical run can't go forever. Eventually that logic thing catches up again.

As a response to "O"... statistics DO mean something. Quite a bit can be learned from them.

 

[DevilDon]

A couple of points, someone asked how I could say flatly the Packers were a better team, easy...better record.
As for how hard it is to beat a team twice in a season much less three times, let's be honest, we never played your team per you. So it's a new game.
How is it Packers fans can think they'll manhandle Arizona? I don't, I'll be biting my nails until the Packers go up by three touchdowns.
Your perceived ability to sack at will and our inability to? We also intercepted 30 passes, I'll take a turnover over sacks anyday, our pressure is intended to force the QB to throw, if not, we'll sack you. Seems a decided edge to GB.
Let's see, what else am I missing? Oh yea, you had a miracle season last year and haven't lost back to back games this season. Well, I don't know why the Packers are going to show up, it seems to be proof positive we can't win. Except you really didn't lose last week so it doesn't count right?
You beat our division champ, we did yours too, we also beat every other team in your division, did you?
You have playoff experience the Packers don't. I already posted this. Packers have 30 players with play off playing experience, not just cleanup like Rogers, Cards have 34, don't believe me? Look it up.
Battle tested Warner against the young pup Rodgers who will fold in playoffs. Hahahaha, we'll see about that, Rodgers is poised beyond his years, he makes QBing look easy.
What else, I'll tie it up in a nice little knot for you.
Now, I am not here to try to dimish your hope, I'm only spelling out why Packers fans are optimistic. I have loved the Cardinals since you beat Minnesota in the last game and took them out of playoffs and put us in. Your team is fun to watch, everyone who is an NFL fan likes to watch them. Last year made the playoffs worth watching for all of us.
Whoever wins will have a good shot at a ring, but all signs point to the Packers this year guys. I'm sure it's gonna be a hard battle and if a Packer fan thinks the Cards have no chance, well....he just doesn't know much about professional football.

 

[O]

As a response to "O"... statistics DO mean something. Quite a bit can be learned from them.

It's a new season! New stats.
You think you know, but you don't!
Where is the stat for heart?
You come in here and think you know everything because "stats" back you up?
Let me introduce you to the ARIZONA CARDINALS!
They love to prove the stats wrong! They thrive on it!
THAT IS THEIR MOTIVATION!

Welcome to the playoffs, Arizona style!

 

[DanThePackerFan]

Well of course they have a chance. If they didn't they wouldn't be here. It's rare that a that a team makes it this far by chance. But I am honestly convinced, top to bottom, that the Packers have less holes as a team than the Cardinals do and have executed much better down the stretch. I can't stop anyone from believing what they want, but I'm not willing to accept "we turned it on last year when we were underdogs so the Packers are toast" as a viable reason to think the Cardinals will beat the Packers tomorrow. There's also the added downside of being defending NFC champs. No one is going to take you lightly.

I suppose to support O's point from earlier, statistics are always subject to the "Any Given Sunday" factor. I think this Packers team is good enough to win 7 of 10 games against this Cardinals team, based on what I've watched and observed. But that leaves three to go the other way. If the Packers commit uncharacteristic turnovers, things can go downhill fast. The thing this Packers team does best is NOT help other teams out. And if we continue THAT trend, which is what got us here, I think we're more solid on both sides of the ball.

 

[DanThePackerFan]

It's a new season! New stats.
You think you know, but you don't!
Where is the stat for heart?
You come in here and think you know everything because "stats" back you up?
Let me introduce you to the ARIZONA CARDINALS!
They love to prove the stats wrong! They thrive on it!
THAT IS THEIR MOTIVATION!

Welcome to the playoffs, Arizona style!

That's awesome. Really.

But it's a hollow argument. Teams are what they are. They are what their record is. They are how they come together to execute at this time of year.

This team has the benefit of a great leader in Kurt Warner, and the team seems to draw from his extended focus around this time of year. That allowed the team to operate at optimum performance in the playoffs last season, but there's no magic elixir the Cards discovered last season that allows them to play beyond their capability.

And those arguments are never contextual. What has you so convinced that the Cardinals have any more of this "heart" than the Packers do? What if the Packers can out-"heart" the Cardinals? You don't know. Neither do I. But I know that we've developed a front seven based on our personnel and play calls that can't be run on effectively. We have the best defensive player in all of football. We have a quarterback that has yet to truly look rattled through 32 career starts, and has the NFL's highest career passer rating (though he is still a few hundred attempts, about 3/4 a season short of qualifying for the official NFL record books).

These are things I know. If you want to fall back on your conviction that the Cardinals possess more of this heart than the Packers, be my guest.

 

[OmeneX]

You beat our division champ, we did yours too, we also beat every other team in your division, did you?

That's the hitch. You didn't beat "The Champion Cardinals" right? We've supposedly come to agreement that those games didn't count as far as match ups are concerned. So that shouldn't be in play here. On the other hand we did beat your real division champs, quite well to. In a game that mattered.

As it were, if you guys had manhandled the 49ers (who were let's say NFC West champs) instead of winning by 6, and we had beaten GB in preseason and a last regular season game. I would, as a football fan really put emphasis on that 49er game over all the other hubub.

Good responses though guys. Good vibes all around.

 

[Goober Man]

A couple of points, someone asked how I could say flatly the Packers were a better team, easy...better record.

I'd hate to punch a hole in your "better record" theory there but how'd that fair in the Giants vs Patriots superbowl?

Cardinals were a 4th seeded team last year and made it to the superbowl beating teams like the Eagles, Falcons and Panthers who were/are considered to be pretty good teams.

Now to base regular seasons stats in the playoffs...It means nothing. Do you think we were going ape **** over having 3 WR's with 1,000 yards or how we had a below average defense in the regular season...Hell no..Atleast I wasn't. It's elimination football not a beauty contest of who has the better stats in the regular season.

 

[OmeneX]

I suppose to support O's point from earlier, statistics are always subject to the "Any Given Sunday" factor.

This any given Sunday factor is strong with this team. Been a fan a long time, and it really amps up on games that matter. It's real for the Cardinals. Don't expect you to know since this isn't your team, but expect a completely different team on Sunday. And a team that no matter how much you've seen of their games this year will indeed play a different game just for GB. They play to their competition so it's never ever quite the same.

 

[OmeneX]

Do you think we were going ape **** over having 3 WR's with 1,000 yards or how we had a below average defense in the regular season...Hell no..Atleast I wasn't. It's elimination football not a beauty contest of who has the better stats in the regular season.

Quoted for truth. I remember thinking. "We have 3 1,000 yard receivers?" "Wow, that's nifty, those WR's of ours are definitely skilled it could help." All the time heart racing a million miles an hour because being a Cardinal's fan any advantage even being 3-4 touchdowns up just really isn't an advantage till that clock reads 00:00. It's hard for fans of teams that haven't suffered 60 yrs or some record breaking gut wrenching losses can understand I suppose. That's why the overall stat's be damned attitude lol.

 

[O]

Here's the thing "danthepackerman"!

We deal with a different you every week of every year.
You are not going to convince us of anything.
Your presence here is tolerated and frankly you are nothing more then a troll.
You came here in the last ten days or so.
We should give you credence or respect because you spout stats?
You are talking to the Diehards of the Diehards here!
We have lived through hell and so have some of the players!
As I said before; You don't know and you don't get it!
You can take your stats and your cheesehead attitude and shove it!

 

[DanThePackerFan]

Here's the thing "danthepackerman"!

We deal with a different you every week of every year.
You are not going to convince us of anything.
Your presence here is tolerated and frankly you are nothing more then a troll.
You came here in the last ten days or so.
We should give you credence or respect because you spout stats?
You are talking to the Diehards of the Diehards here!
We have lived through hell and so have some of the players!
As I said before; You don't know and you don't get it!
You can take your stats and your cheesehead attitude and shove it!

I welcome your insults. Enjoy the game tomorrow.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

That's why we all love O