Catfish
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- Aug 14, 2006
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For some time now, Mitch has been writing about whether our Cardinals are tough enough to take that next step towards getting into, and going deep in the play offs and compete for a Super Bowl.
Sunday night in Seattle, the Red Birds produced a pretty definitive answer. In a knock down, drag out kind of game, the Cardinals showed that they are tough enough to overcome just about every and any type of adversity that a team can face in one game, and WIN. In the face of a sound football team that had controlled direction that the road took for the past three years concerning which city held the keys to the gate to the playoffs, our Cardinals answered the call, and closed the gate on the Sea Hawks, and took the keys with them to the Valley of the Sun telling the rest of the NFC West that the road to the playoffs now goes through the Valley.
It was not easy, and it was apparent that the Cards were prepared for that. Each time adversity set them back, either by a mistake they made, or by great play from Seattle, or even when the officials didn't get it right, the Red Birds from the Desert managed to pick themselves up and slug it out, until they gradually turned a scoreless first quarter slug fest into a carefully and hard fought battle gradually building a lead that they took into the half time with them.
With the loss of Mike Iupati, their most formidable run blocking offensive lineman, late in the 2nd quarter, the Cards discovered that Seattle came back from the half with a set of adjustments that had them not only stymie the Cards running game, but they also loosed a fearsome pass rush which caused Cards QB Carson Palmer to fumble on consecutive possessions as he was sacked. with each one leading to a Seattle touchdown. That was when head coach Bruce Arians and QB Carson Palmer absorbed the blows and came back like prize fighters with blows of their own and gradually stopped the onslaught by Seattle and re-built the lead that they had lost. Arians adjusted the use of his tight ends to help with the blocking, and with determined running by Chris Johnson, they were able to run just enough to loosen up the passing lanes, (though after an injury to Michael Floyd), they needed considerable help from Juron Brown. Some fresh receiving legs, from Brown and even from Golden, helped to give the Cards a ten point lead again with about 7 minutes left in the game.
It was then, that Marshawn Lynch and QB Wilson for Seattle began a long and clock eating march which the Cards defense was able to mitigate into a three point field goal conversion. On the ensuing on-side kick attempt, Larry Fitzgerald was able to secure the ball after it travelled the necessary ten yards, and the Red Birds were able to get through the two minute warning and cause Seattle to use up their remaining time outs. Then with time winding down, Palmer was able to take a knee to kill of the remaining clock to secure a 7 point victory.
The entire game was brutally tough. Time after time the Cards absorbed a beating and then dished out more. In the end, it was clear that they would not be denied leaving the Great North West without carrying a three game lead with them back to the Valley. The Cards were "Cardinal Tough". They were tough enough mentally and emotionally to keep digging down deeper. They were tough enough physically to give Seattle more than it had bargained for. Mitch, and the whole world got their answer, and the road to the NFC Championship now goes through the Valley of the Sun.
Sunday night in Seattle, the Red Birds produced a pretty definitive answer. In a knock down, drag out kind of game, the Cardinals showed that they are tough enough to overcome just about every and any type of adversity that a team can face in one game, and WIN. In the face of a sound football team that had controlled direction that the road took for the past three years concerning which city held the keys to the gate to the playoffs, our Cardinals answered the call, and closed the gate on the Sea Hawks, and took the keys with them to the Valley of the Sun telling the rest of the NFC West that the road to the playoffs now goes through the Valley.
It was not easy, and it was apparent that the Cards were prepared for that. Each time adversity set them back, either by a mistake they made, or by great play from Seattle, or even when the officials didn't get it right, the Red Birds from the Desert managed to pick themselves up and slug it out, until they gradually turned a scoreless first quarter slug fest into a carefully and hard fought battle gradually building a lead that they took into the half time with them.
With the loss of Mike Iupati, their most formidable run blocking offensive lineman, late in the 2nd quarter, the Cards discovered that Seattle came back from the half with a set of adjustments that had them not only stymie the Cards running game, but they also loosed a fearsome pass rush which caused Cards QB Carson Palmer to fumble on consecutive possessions as he was sacked. with each one leading to a Seattle touchdown. That was when head coach Bruce Arians and QB Carson Palmer absorbed the blows and came back like prize fighters with blows of their own and gradually stopped the onslaught by Seattle and re-built the lead that they had lost. Arians adjusted the use of his tight ends to help with the blocking, and with determined running by Chris Johnson, they were able to run just enough to loosen up the passing lanes, (though after an injury to Michael Floyd), they needed considerable help from Juron Brown. Some fresh receiving legs, from Brown and even from Golden, helped to give the Cards a ten point lead again with about 7 minutes left in the game.
It was then, that Marshawn Lynch and QB Wilson for Seattle began a long and clock eating march which the Cards defense was able to mitigate into a three point field goal conversion. On the ensuing on-side kick attempt, Larry Fitzgerald was able to secure the ball after it travelled the necessary ten yards, and the Red Birds were able to get through the two minute warning and cause Seattle to use up their remaining time outs. Then with time winding down, Palmer was able to take a knee to kill of the remaining clock to secure a 7 point victory.
The entire game was brutally tough. Time after time the Cards absorbed a beating and then dished out more. In the end, it was clear that they would not be denied leaving the Great North West without carrying a three game lead with them back to the Valley. The Cards were "Cardinal Tough". They were tough enough mentally and emotionally to keep digging down deeper. They were tough enough physically to give Seattle more than it had bargained for. Mitch, and the whole world got their answer, and the road to the NFC Championship now goes through the Valley of the Sun.
