Charting The Cardinals' Path to the Super Bowl Part II

[Mitch]

In one of the few times I have ever gotten a prediction right, last year the path I saw and posted prior to the playoffs was beating ATL at home, CAR on the road and getting a home NFC Championship game versus PHI as the most feasible way for the Cardinals to make the Super Bowl.

So, I am going to look into the stars and try it again. Here goes.

First of all, assuming that Green Bay is going to beat the Seahawks at home this week to go 10-5, the Cardinals will actually have a lock of their first round opponent in their own hands by losing to Green Bay at home. That would assure the Cardinals of the #4 seed, like last year, and at 11-5 that will most assure that Green Bay will be the #5 seed and thus, the Packers are the Cardinals' opponent in round one.

The other fascinating scenario is that in Week 17 we may also be watching the other wild card matchup: New York at Minnesota. Should the Eagles beat the Cowboys that day, New York will be playing for the #6 seed, and the Vikings will be playing for the #2 seed. What I see there is the Giants winning that game, as they have much more to play for.

BTW, I have Dallas losing at home to the Eagles, who wrest away the #2 seed from the Vikings in the process.

Thus, the seeds are as follows:

1. Saints
2. Eagles
3. Vikings
4. Cardinals
5. Packers
6. Giants

So here is the Cardinals' path to the Super Bowl:

Round 1:

The Cardinals, after starting Matt Leinart versus the Packers in Week 17 and showing the Packers everything possibly vanilla on both sides of the ball, trot out Kurt Warner and a refreshed team in the rematch, a game in which they get hot early and hold on 27-24.

Meanwhile, and this is key, Minnesota, who also lost the week before to their first round opponent, the Giants, prevail, winning a 20-16 squeaker.

Round 2:

The main thing is, the Cardinals head for New Orleans and their dome. In a wild and crazy, back and forth, show for the ages, the Cardinals score a last second TD to win 41-40.

In Philadelphia, Brett Favre, no stranger certainly toi the cold, steals the show from Donovan McNabb and the Vikings beat the Eagles 26-23.

Round 3:

Rematch of the Cardinals/Vikings Sunday Night game, only this time it's in Minnesota. But, somehow the Cardinals find a way to prevail once again, in royal fashion running away with a 31-17 victory.

This is the path I see. I don't see the Cardinals winning at Philadelphia, just as I didn't see them winning at New York last year, when the Eagles pulled off the 2nd round upset and afforded the Cardinals the home field advantage for the Championship Game.

This is the path: not what I would necessarily predict...but, hey, last year the path was pretty clear.

 

[AZ Native]

Shoot, I was just getting ready to post the same scenarios. But seriously folks, I like what I see.

 

[lauraw]

I think Minnesota is done after watching them yesterday..

 

[Duckjake]

I really like the Cards chances against a 15-1 Saints team. I just hope the Saints don't take the next two weeks off and finish 13-3.

Cards v 5-1 Giants W
Cards v 10-1 Vikings W
Cards v 15-1 Saints ?

Hopefully teams have learned from last year's Giants team who lost 3 of their last 4 games and went out in the first round and the Colts that finishing the season with losses or playing the spares does not bode well for playoff success.

Keep the pedal to the medal KW.

.667 winning percentage in the postseason in Arizona. Keep it up Cards.

 

[ajcardfan]

It is WIDE open in the NFC, which is great for us. I'm hearing a lot of love for Philly today, but they are far from perfect. I like our chances against them, no matter where we play.

Betting much money on the NFC playoffs is going to be very risky.

 

[joshstmarie]

If we beat Green Bay, NO, Minnesota AND lets sayyyyy the Colts.... I wouldnt hesitate to call us one of the best football teams of all time. /Koolaid

 

[imaCafan]

I see GB as #6 seed, Giants #5 and agree with the rest. We might even take the #3 seed and the Favre's, er, Vikes slip to #4 seed. If that happens we, at the #3 seed, will still be playing GB as the #6 seed. So:

#6 GB at #3 Cards: results Cards 34-24 or
#5 Giants at #4 Cards: results Cards 27-20

Then I prefer NO to Philly in the second round. Either should be high scoring for both teams.

 

[RedRob]

I see GB as #6 seed, Giants #5 and agree with the rest. We might even take the #3 seed and the Favre's, er, Vikes slip to #4 seed. If that happens we, at the #3 seed, will still be playing GB as the #6 seed. So:

#6 GB at #3 Cards: results Cards 34-24 or
#5 Giants at #4 Cards: results Cards 27-20

Then I prefer NO to Philly in the second round. Either should be high scoring for both teams.

I'm having to put my foot on the floor to keep the ceiling from spinning

 

[Buckybird]

. We might even take the #3 seed and the Favre's, er, Vikes slip to #4 seed. If that happens we, at the #3 seed, will still be playing GB as the #6 seed.

Keep dreaming. Have you seen the Bears play lately? They have mailed it in & are getting worse by the week.

 

[devilalum]

In one of the few times I have ever gotten a prediction right, last year the path I saw and posted prior to the playoffs was beating ATL at home, CAR on the road and getting a home NFC Championship game versus PHI as the most feasible way for the Cardinals to make the Super Bowl.

So, I am going to look into the stars and try it again. Here goes.

First of all, assuming that Green Bay is going to beat the Seahawks at home this week to go 10-5, the Cardinals will actually have a lock of their first round opponent in their own hands by losing to Green Bay at home. That would assure the Cardinals of the #4 seed, like last year, and at 11-5 that will most assure that Green Bay will be the #5 seed and thus, the Packers are the Cardinals' opponent in round one.

The other fascinating scenario is that in Week 17 we may also be watching the other wild card matchup: New York at Minnesota. Should the Eagles beat the Cowboys that day, New York will be playing for the #6 seed, and the Vikings will be playing for the #2 seed. What I see there is the Giants winning that game, as they have much more to play for.

BTW, I have Dallas losing at home to the Eagles, who wrest away the #2 seed from the Vikings in the process.

Thus, the seeds are as follows:

1. Saints
2. Eagles
3. Vikings
4. Cardinals
5. Packers
6. Giants

So here is the Cardinals' path to the Super Bowl:

Round 1:

The Cardinals, after starting Matt Leinart versus the Packers in Week 17 and showing the Packers everything possibly vanilla on both sides of the ball, trot out Kurt Warner and a refreshed team in the rematch, a game in which they get hot early and hold on 27-24.

Meanwhile, and this is key, Minnesota, who also lost the week before to their first round opponent, the Giants, prevail, winning a 20-16 squeaker.

Round 2:

The main thing is, the Cardinals head for New Orleans and their dome. In a wild and crazy, back and forth, show for the ages, the Cardinals score a last second TD to win 41-40.

In Philadelphia, Brett Favre, no stranger certainly toi the cold, steals the show from Donovan McNabb and the Vikings beat the Eagles 26-23.

Round 3:

Rematch of the Cardinals/Vikings Sunday Night game, only this time it's in Minnesota. But, somehow the Cardinals find a way to prevail once again, in royal fashion running away with a 31-17 victory.

This is the path I see. I don't see the Cardinals winning at Philadelphia, just as I didn't see them winning at New York last year, when the Eagles pulled off the 2nd round upset and afforded the Cardinals the home field advantage for the Championship Game.

This is the path: not what I would necessarily predict...but, hey, last year the path was pretty clear.

You have the Giants beating the Vikings but the Vikings moving on?

 

[cardpa]

You have the Giants beating the Vikings but the Vikings moving on?

Your reading it wrong. Mitch is saying that the Vikings lost to the Giants in the last week of the regular season, not the playoff game.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I think The Cardinals are done after watching them yesterday..

ftfy

 

[devilalum]

Your reading it wrong. Mitch is saying that the Vikings lost to the Giants in the last week of the regular season, not the playoff game.

OK, I see it now. I just saw "the Giants prevail winning a 20-16 squeaker"

 

[AntSports Steve]

The Saints need to win just one of their last 2 games (Tampa and Carolina) and they lock up the #1 seed. They are the round two team that I want the Cards to play.

For that to happen, the Cards need to be the #4 seed (and win), and the #3 seed needs to win also (not the wild card team).

I still think MIN stays as the #2 seed as the Eagles have 2 hard games, DEN and Dallas.

The last thing I want is PHI to be the #2 seed. That means the road to the Superbowl for the Cards would be thru outdoors and the cold in PHI. No thanks.

We could hope for last years situation. Cards win in round 1, the other wildcard team wins in round 1. The other wild card team beats the #1 seed, Cards go to a dome team (MIN?) and beat the #2 seed and the NFL Championship game is once again in Arizona!