Hypothetical on Palmer

[Cbus cardsfan]

I was watching PFT on CBS sports last night and they were playing the "what if" game. One of the what if's was, what if Carson Palmer would have not gotten hurt?

Florio was one of the 4 guys and he said they'd have made the SB, not necessarily win it but would have made it. The other 3 laughed at him like he was crazy.

However that got me thinking and Florio wasn't crazy at all. The Cards were undefeated with CP in the pocket this year and are 12-2 the last 14 games he's started with both losses being by 3 points last year to playoff teams.

The Cards don't get the juice other teams get, but with Palmer at QB, I'll take my chances going in to 2015 that the Cards are as good as anybody. We all remember how bad the season ended but any team that was down to their 2nd and 3rd string QB's while playing 4 of the final 6 on the road would have struggled. Remember, they were 9-1 when healthy and that loss had Stanton and Thomas playing QB at Denver.

When you look at it, Arians wasn't blowing smoke at all talking about dressing in Levi Stadium.

 

[cardncubfan]

I firmly believe we would have went to the SB as well Cbus. We were playing pretty dang good with Palmer behind center.

 

[seesred]

I'd put it this way. We wouldn't have lost those last games and would have had a by week. The SB was a very strong possibility.

GBR
40

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'd put it this way. We wouldn't have lost those last games and would have had a by week. The SB was a very strong possibility.

GBR
40

I'm not sure about SB either. A bye week and a home playoff game would have made it a lot easier though.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I'd put it this way. We wouldn't have lost those last games and would have had a by week. The SB was a very strong possibility.

GBR
40

Agreed. Not a stretch to think we win one more game and then the matchups all tilt in our favor. Fun what if. Hope we dont have to deal with it last year.

 

[TJ]

With Palmer, the Cards beat Atlanta and win one of the three: @SEA, SEA, @SF. This secures a bye and HFA throughout the playoffs with a formidable QB behind center. Y

 

[HeavyB3]

With Palmer, the Cards beat Atlanta and win one of the three: @SEA, SEA, @SF. This secures a bye and HFA throughout the playoffs with a formidable QB behind center. Y

I think we win two of those three. Seattle at Arizona and the San Fran game (assuming we still had a reason to play starters). But I still think we beat San Fran because if Palmer doesn't get hurt, neither does Stanton. Lindley would have rotted away on the San Diego Practice Squad.

 

[Proteus]

Who would we have played in the divisional round?

 

[Shane]

It's great to think that... But the way we played defense the last 4 weeks im not sinuses a healthy Palmer would have mattered...

 

[Brak]

If my aunt had a ****, she'd be my uncle.

 

[Shane]

If my aunt had a ****, she'd be my uncle.

 

[HeavyB3]

It's great to think that... But the way we played defense the last 4 weeks im not sinuses a healthy Palmer would have mattered...

Defense plays better if they are not left on the field most of the game. I really believe that they just wore down from having to play so much. 3 and out, 3 and out, 3 and out. That's pretty rough on a defense

 

[Shane]

Defense plays better if they are not left on the field most of the game. I really believe that they just wore down from having to play so much. 3 and out, 3 and out, 3 and out. That's pretty rough on a defense

They were so awful I dont think you can only blame it on that JMO

 

[oaken1]

PP@! laid out the defenses problems before they ever occurred.... he stated that the defense has no got to not only beat the other teams offense, but their defense as well....anytime your defense is feeling like they have to do it all...win the game on their own...they will take chances and make mistakes. They lost their discipline.

as to the original topic.... I am 100% convinced we would have played in the SB this season if not for that damned knee....and about 80% sure we would have won it......I could just feel it all season long.....

but then the Cardinals showed up................

 

[Darkside]

PP@! laid out the defenses problems before they ever occurred.... he stated that the defense has no got to not only beat the other teams offense, but their defense as well....anytime your defense is feeling like they have to do it all...win the game on their own...they will take chances and make mistakes. They lost their discipline.

as to the original topic.... I am 100% convinced we would have played in the SB this season if not for that damned knee....and about 80% sure we would have won it......I could just feel it all season long.....

but then the Cardinals showed up................

Agree with this. Statistically, before Palmer got hurt, we were one of the better tackling teams in the NFL. That alone makes an offenses job incredibly difficult and makes them start pressing. However, as the year wore on we saw a ton of missed tackles due to players going for strips, INTs, etc. They even started taking bad angles and were out of position because they were trying to cheat on their assignments.

With a healthy Palmer none of that happens. They can just play fundamental ball and make teams drive 80 yards every single time. When you're on the field all day due to continuous 3 and outs you simply don't have that luxury. You have to start taking chances.

Don't know if we make the SB either though. We probably win the division but beyond that...

 

[BigRedMO]

What if ifs and buts were candies and nuts? Winning organizations and their fans dont spend the off season thinking about hypotheticals. The are enjoying their win or preparing for next year. "Just win, baby" - Al Davis

 

[Darkside]

Al Davis and the Raiders haven't been relevant in decades. Nor have the Cowboys. People need to get over that ****.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

This was a Superbowl Team before injuries.

 

[New Username]

What if ifs and buts were candies and nuts? Winning organizations and their fans dont spend the off season thinking about hypotheticals. The are enjoying their win or preparing for next year. "Just win, baby" - Al Davis

I wonder is seahawk fans are thinking through any hypotheticals?

 

[Zeno]

I'm not sure about SB either. A bye week and a home playoff game would have made it a lot easier though.

This was my feeling as well. I wasn't particularly confident in a SB appearance but home playoff games make a huge difference in outcomes.