Cards v. Hawks Predictions:

[joeshmo]

Trying to find some holes in their armor.

There D is above average in both pass and run D.
http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php

They have good special teams all the way around.

There O has above average passing but way below average rushing attack.
http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamoff.php

They are an average pass blocking unit.
http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol.php

They are the least penalized team in the league.

They have the 5th best turnover differential.

Overall they are a very sound team that just dont make mistakes. So when they do make a mistake we have to make them pay for it because those mistakes dont happen often and we may not get a 2nd chance.

I say play with 7 in the box and see if you can stop the run with just that against a below average run attack. Will make our depleted secondary play that much better. Dont blitz often because the veteran QB will make you pay for it. But dont just send 3 down linemen either like Pendy likes to do to often. Send a steady dose of 4-5 players each time.

We will be playing in the loudest house in the league. I expect to see our fair share of penalties again. Just dont make them the personal foul variety and limit those penalty yards.

On O we need to have a balanced attack. Dont think we can beat their D with just passing or just running.

In the end us playing on the road in the house that penalties built against a team that doesnt beat themselves is going to be a super tough game.

With or without Fitz or Boldin I dont like this game.

28 - 23 Seattle pulls it out.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Seattle 30
Cards 17

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Cards 24 Seahawks 21. Redemption for Rackers!

 

[SeaChicken]

Good analysis. On paper, we should take this game but I said the same thing about the Saints. I think teams like the Rams, Cardinals, Saints, and Browns concern me the most because they all have "potentially" potent offenses. If they show up, it can be a dogfight. I think this game really hinges on which team shows up to play.

I will be very disappointed if the Seahawks don't show up with a killer instinct. They can end the division race right here once and for all but if they lose, it means they're gonna have to sweat it out the rest of the season. I expect this to be a game where both teams pull out all the stops. Should be a good one.

On the injury front, it sounds like Boldin is already "out" for this game. Hows Fitzgerald looking right now? I know he was questionable this week and ended up being inactive. Is he supposed to play this week? That's one matchup that concerns me. I think we all remember last game when Kelly Jennings was in perfect position and Fitz just outjumped him on that one play. It's most concerning when your player does everything right and still can't make the play because he's just not big enough. Fitz is a beast.

 

[BigRedRage]

wtf...ur signature just blinked at me

 

[SeaChicken]

wtf...ur signature just blinked at me

 

[joeshmo]

On the injury front, it sounds like Boldin is already "out" for this game. Hows Fitzgerald looking right now? I know he was questionable this week and ended up being inactive. Is he supposed to play this week? That's one matchup that concerns me. I think we all remember last game when Kelly Jennings was in perfect position and Fitz just outjumped him on that one play. It's most concerning when your player does everything right and still can't make the play because he's just not big enough. Fitz is a beast.

I think Fitz plays. Was running routes during pregame warmup and probably would have played if Boldin didnt play IMO.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Cards 24 Seahawks 21. Redemption for Rackers!

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that's a good one.

 

[CaptTurbo]

hawks 32
cards 17

hawks are nothign special just the anti-cardinal consistant and disciplined.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

wtf...ur signature just blinked at me

I agree. It is quite annoying. I am waiting for a Cardinal to shoot into the picture and peck his eyes out.

34-34 OT

That's right this game will end up like kissing your sister.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

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that's a good one.

 

[SeaChicken]

I agree. It is quite annoying.

Excellent.

 

[football karma]

Some key matchups:

1. Levi Brown vs Patrick Kerney / Gandy vs Tapp

Last game, Cards o-line won. Cards dont stand a chance if Kurt is pressured regularly.

2. Dockett vs Chris Gray

Dockett has to get in Hasselbeck's face in the passing game. Hasselbeck is quite good at stepping away from that outside back pressure, keeping his eyes downfield and finding a receiver. Pressure up the gut is a different story.

3. Dansby/Hayes vs Seattle WRs.

Yup. Seattle loves working those inside zones. Dansby and Hayes have to make plays on third down to get the defense off the field.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Hawks 27
Cards 21

This team just doesn't seem to get blown out by anyone and while they don't win on the road all that much, they do seem to play their asses off most of the time. However, this is the first above average team we're playing on the road, thus I see it as a loss.

Biggest game of the season is the NO game. They win that and I think we actually have a good shot at the... gulp... playoffs.

freaking 49ers.

 

[Jttsaz]

freaking 49ers.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Q is out...

If Fitz does play, I don't think he'll be close to 100%. I saw him walking into the tunnel during halftime and after the game, and he was very gimpy and carefull...

Not sure what the weather forecast is for Sunday, but chances are it will be cold and windy, and most likely some form of precip will be falling.
The crowd noise will absolutely be an issue...

The keys will be:

- How well is Warner protected. If he hit at all, you can count on multiple fumbles...

- Can Edge be productive? History says no...

- Can we actually put some pressure on Hasselback? Again, history says no...

- Can we contain Alexander/Morris? We have shown an ability to control Shaun, but Morris? Given that he is the back-up, I'd expect to see Morris have a big day...

- Can we win the turnover battle? If we do, our chances for a W go way up!

All in all, I fully expect a Cards defeat... But man o man would a W next Sunday be HUGE for this team!!!

 

[Pariah]

Seahawks: 34
Cards: 17

I don't like this game one bit. I don't really see the Cardinals being all that competitive, unfortunately.

Our offensive strength (a ball-control passing offense) is likely out the window. I also fear how the defense will react on the road without Wilson and Green (and Berry, and Okeafor).

 

[ajcardfan]

I'm having a hard time seeing how we keep it close. The last two times, we got good pressure on Hasselbeck without blitzing. We just haven't been doing that the last few weeks. We're probably going to be forced to blitz more, and that's dicey with our secondary. I see our defense really struggling to stop them on 3rd downs, ala the Tampa game.

Our best chance is to shorten the game as much as possible, and get at least two big plays leading to TDs on defense and special teams.

 

[Pariah]

I hope Whiz pulls out all the stops for this game. Don't hold anything back. Fake punts and FGs...well-timed, unexpected on-side kicks, flea-flickers, etc...

 

[82CardsGrad]

I hope Whiz pulls out all the stops for this game. Don't hold anything back. Fake punts and FGs...well-timed, unexpected on-side kicks, flea-flickers, etc...

I think the weather will have alot to do with this sort of stuff...

Edit: Just checked the long-range forecast... Still early of course, but it says rain, wind and a high of 40 degrees for Sunday...

 

[Shane]

I hope Whiz pulls out all the stops for this game. Don't hold anything back. Fake punts and FGs...well-timed, unexpected on-side kicks, flea-flickers, etc...

Totally agree.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Cards suck on the road.

Seachickens are great at home.

Too many key injuries for the Cardinals to compete.

Hawks 32

Cards 17

 

[Mulli]

For the first quarter, the Cards should play a boring field position game as much as possible to avoid giving the Hawks the obligatory early lead due to a turnover.

Then they should open it up.

Or not.

 

[SeaChicken]

I hope Whiz pulls out all the stops for this game. Don't hold anything back. Fake punts and FGs...well-timed, unexpected on-side kicks, flea-flickers, etc...

But is that really a good plan? You guys match up with us pretty well straight up (as shown by our last game). Why would you resort to gadgetry if you have a chance at winning straight up? I understood when SF did that with us because it was obvious that they couldn't get any offense going in a straight game. I think that if your team goes away from what they know best, you will actually have a lot lower chance of winning. Gadgetry is cool but people don't realize that it fails a lot more than it works.

If I were Whiz, I'd pull together my best gameplan and try to win it mano a mano.

 

[Pariah]

But is that really a good plan? You guys match up with us pretty well straight up (as shown by our last game).

But that's the rub. Last time we had Boldin, Fitz, Berry and Wilson. We're short 4 probowlers since last time.

We don't have the horses to run with the seahawks straight-up on the road, I don't think.