Getting Ahead of Ourselves

[cardsfanmd]

I know I will catch some flak for looking so far ahead, but I really think we are still in a great position to finish with the best record in the NFC and have homefield throughout the playoffs. Right now I think our biggest enemies are the Giants, Panthers, Skins, Dallas and Tampa.

Look at these remining shedules:

Giants (9-1)
@ Arizona
@ Wash
Philly
@ Dallas
Carolina
@ Minnesota

Panthers (8-2)
@ ATL
@GB
TB
Den
@ NYG
@ NO

Tampa Bay (7-3)
@ DET
NO
@ CAR
@ ATL
SD
OAK

Washington (6-4)
@ SEA
NYG
@ BAL
@ CIN
Philly
@ SF

Dallas (6-4)
SF
SEA
@ PIT
NYG
BAL
@ Philly

 

[Spielman]

If the Cards beat the Giants, it's a possibility. One game back with a head to head tiebreaker would make things very doable vs. the Giants, and the NFC South teams have some tough sledding, and the NFC North teams are uninspiring and behind the Cards.

Still, beating the Giants is a fairly large if.

I'd put it at about a 30% chance of the Cards getting a bye with the 1 or 2 seed, and about a 70% chance of their getting the 3 or 4 seed.

 

[SuperSpck]

*Throws flak*

 

[TheCardFan]

This has been a fun year and we are certianly winning games we wouldn't have in the past...

However, until we stop making stupid plays and so many penalties, we will not beat good teams down the stretch.

I hope we can "mature" in the next few weeks.

 

[JeffGollin]

Giants. Eagles. Vikings. New England.

Every one of these teams is more than capable of beating us.

And although we've beaten Seattle and StL once apiece on the road, they are also capable of beating us (because we have proved in the past that we are capable of beating ourselves).

It's way too early for a victory dance. (You'd think we'd have learned by now).

 

[Zeno]

I know I will catch some flak for looking so far ahead, but I really think we are still in a great position to finish with the best record in the NFC and have homefield throughout the playoffs. Right now I think our biggest enemies are the Giants, Panthers, Skins, Dallas and Tampa.

Look at these remining shedules:

Giants (9-1)
@ Arizona
@ Wash
Philly
@ Dallas
Carolina
@ Minnesota
I don't see the Giants losing more than 3 of those 12-4 at worst
Panthers (8-2)
@ ATL
@GB
TB
Den
@ NYG
@ NO
I'm not a big believer in the Panthers, even if they did beat us, I could see them losing 4 or 5 and finishing 9-7 or 10-6
Tampa Bay (7-3)
@ DET
NO
@ CAR
@ ATL
SD
OAK
2 wins guaranteed in Detroit and home against Oakland the other games are tough but they will win at least 1 of those to finish 10-6

Washington (6-4)
@ SEA
NYG
@ BAL
@ CIN
Philly
@ SF
They'll beat Seattle, Cincy & SF the other 3 will be tough 9-7 at worst most likely 10-6

Dallas (6-4)
SF
SEA
@ PIT
NYG
BAL
@ Philly
I wouldn't be surprised if they close out the season with 4 straight losses 8-8, 9-7 at best

Looking at our schedule 10-6 is most likely, at worst 9-7 and at best 11-5.

So at best we can be the #2 seed if the NFC South or North winner finishes no better than us. Absolutely opitmistic views is we could have 2 home games and then hope the Gianst blow a home playoff game.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Giants. Eagles. Vikings. New England.

Every one of these teams is more than capable of beating us.

And although we've beaten Seattle and StL once apiece on the road, they are also capable of beating us (because we have proved in the past that we are capable of beating ourselves).

It's way too early for a victory dance. (You'd think we'd have learned by now).

You know I get that we are all cynical and inclined to think the worst is coming.

But he's just pointing out the other teams schedules we are competing with and its a very important point. I didn't realize the Panthers have such a hard schedule left so I am more optimistic about our chances for #2. Especially if we win next week.

As for needing to clean it up. I think Sando put it best. We are a good 5 weeks from the playoffs and five weeks ago we are not the team we are now.

The point it to get better as the playoffs start and we have every opportunity to gauge ourselves with this upcoming schedule. I am actually excited about it. It was these last three games I was nervous about.

Can you believe we just won these last 3 games? I know this wasn't anyones definition of murderer's row but 3 Division games that we HAD TO HAVE and 2 of which were on the road. And we won all 3? The Cardinals?!?

I'm astonished. These aren't your older brothers cardinals

 

[cardsfanmd]

Giants. Eagles. Vikings. New England.

Every one of these teams is more than capable of beating us.

And although we've beaten Seattle and StL once apiece on the road, they are also capable of beating us (because we have proved in the past that we are capable of beating ourselves).

It's way too early for a victory dance. (You'd think we'd have learned by now).

Who's dancing? I was just pointing out that the other contenders dont have cakewalks to the playoffs. Giants, Eagles, Vikes and New England couls all beat us, but we could also beat them. I say we go atleast .500 in those four games.

At the same time, the Giants have away games against Washington, Dallas and Minnesota that could all end up as losses and also play the second best team in the NFC right now in Carolina and an always tough divisional matchup against the Iggles. If the Cards could beat them next week it could be thebeginning of a vicious downward spiral for the G-Men.

 

[Totally_Red]

Who's dancing? I was just pointing out that the other contenders dont have cakewalks to the playoffs. Giants, Eagles, Vikes and New England couls all beat us, but we could also beat them. I say we go atleast .500 in those four games.

At the same time, the Giants have away games against Washington, Dallas and Minnesota that could all end up as losses and also play the second best team in the NFC right now in Carolina and an always tough divisional matchup against the Iggles. If the Cards could beat them next week it could be thebeginning of a vicious downward spiral for the G-Men.

Hopefully the Williams boys get their suspensions this week so they miss the Cardinals game in week 15, but are back for the Giants game in week 17. The Vikings are one team that CAN shut the Giants ground game IMO. Anything could happen in the MetroDome and I am perfectly willing to overcome a lifetime hatred of the Vikings for one week and cheer on the Purple Gang if it means a better seed for the Cardinals.

 

[Duckjake]

And although we've beaten Seattle and StL once apiece on the road, they are also capable of beating us (because we have proved in the past that we are capable of beating ourselves).

It's way too early for a victory dance. (You'd think we'd have learned by now).

How would we have learned?

Our record as of Nov.17th for this century pre Whisenhunt:

2006 1-8
2005 2-7
2004 4-5
2003 3-7
2002 4-6 (and had lost 4 in a row)
2001 2-6
2000 3-7

This is the time of year we're normally talking about free agency and the draft and who to cut.