I still cant believe our losses.

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

To Nick Foles and Landry Jones, of all QBs.

 

[crisper57]

******** the Rams...

 

[fatosber]

******** the Rams...

The Rams are 3-0 in arguably the toughest division in the league, and yet can't seem to score on other teams. The Rams have lost to teams with a combined record of 27 - 19, and have won to teams with a combined record of 17 - 21.

P.S. NFC is going to be a lot tougher to get a by in the first round of playoffs. NFC is a combined 75-71 compared to 71-75 for AFC

 

[NJCardFan]

To Nick Foles and Landry Jones, of all QBs.

Those teams didn't beat us. Our inability to make plays beat us. Against the Rams we needed just 10 yards tops to get into FG range to win the game. Then on 2nd and 3rd and 1, Arians chose to pass instead of running just to get a first down. In Pittsburgh, CP throws an interception in the endzone that would have given us back the lead then the defense gave up a long TD on the ensuing drive so both games we had our chances. However, perhaps that loss is what is firing this team up.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Rams are 3-0 in arguably the toughest division in the league, and yet can't seem to score on other teams. The Rams have lost to teams with a combined record of 27 - 19, and have won to teams with a combined record of 17 - 21.

P.S. NFC is going to be a lot tougher to get a by in the first round of playoffs. NFC is a combined 75-71 compared to 71-75 for AFC

Our division has ONE team in it with a winning record. It ain't the toughest division in the league anymore.

 

[fatosber]

Our division has ONE team in it with a winning record. It ain't the toughest division in the league anymore.

It's pretty tough considering it has the number 2 and 3 defenses, the best offense pretty good coaching and last two Super Bowl finalist. Rams defense is pretty decent too.

 

[NJCardFan]

It's pretty tough considering it has the number 2 and 3 defenses, the best offense pretty good coaching and last two Super Bowl finalist. Rams defense is pretty decent too.

I beg to differ. We still have the defending conference champions who are going through the historical bad season after a SB loss. The Rams have also played well up to recent weeks. Top it all off with the fact that most divisions have one hoss team and the rest mediocre with 2 really bad divisions. The league as a whole is mediocre this season. How else do you explain a team like Carolina being undefeated.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's pretty tough considering it has the number 2 and 3 defenses, the best offense pretty good coaching and last two Super Bowl finalist. Rams defense is pretty decent too.

it has one very good team, two mediocre teams and a terrible team. It's a far cry from the days when it was looking at having THREE double-digit win teams like three years ago, or last year when it had a 12 and 11 win team.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I beg to differ. We still have the defending conference champions who are going through the historical bad season after a SB loss. The Rams have also played well up to recent weeks. Top it all off with the fact that most divisions have one hoss team and the rest mediocre with 2 really bad divisions. The league as a whole is mediocre this season. How else do you explain a team like Carolina being undefeated.

the league really does seem like it's a little down this season. I think the NFC is wide-open simply because there's not a GREAT team amongst the bunch. Even though I think we've got a decent shot to go to the Super Bowl, we still make a ton of mistakes. Carolina I just don't buy, even though they're solid. Everyone else has major flaws.

and in the AFC, I can't see ANYONE beating NE and I think this is the weakest Pats team I've seen in a while.

all of which is fine with me. Just means we have a good shot to win this sucker.

 

[NJCardFan]

it has one very good team, two mediocre teams and a terrible team. It's a far cry from the days when it was looking at having THREE double-digit win teams like three years ago, or last year when it had a 12 and 11 win team.

But the rest of the conference is worse with the exception of the North. I don't count the South because the Falcons are being exposed for the frauds they really are.

 

[Cheesebeef]

But the rest of the conference is worse with the exception of the North. I don't count the South because the Falcons are being exposed for the frauds they really are.

true, but I think a pretty strong argument can be made for the North being better then our division.

I just think the general thinking of the NFC West being the best is based on previous year's reputation.

 

[daves]

and in the AFC, I can't see ANYONE beating NE and I think this is the weakest Pats team I've seen in a while.

I was thinking the same thing, until i saw the very mediocre Giants almost beat them (and by all rights, they should've won). The Patriots have had a pretty easy schedule, and the injuries overall, and now in particular to Edelman, are taking more and more of a toll.

The Giants game showed that despite it all, the Patriots can still score points and find a way to win with impeccable situational football. But their margin for error is becoming razor thin.

When both teams play their best, i think the Cardinals are the better team. It's just that the Cardinals more often lose focus, or whatever it is they do, and lapse into a couple series or a half worth of sloppy play, which has cost them games. The Patriots, for 15 years, almost never shoot themselves in the foot the way the Cardinals sometimes do.

But hopefully, with the tough games down the stretch, the Cardinals will learn to eliminate the brain farts from their game.

...dbs

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Let's see how the Pats function without Edelman. He's a major loss to them. They are still clearly the team to beat in the AFC but Pittsburgh, with Ben, can definitely beat them and it won't surprise me if they come out of the AFC.

The NFC West matches up with any division and I don't think any division is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to which one is toughest. I'd probably go:
AFC East
NFC West
AFC Central
NFC Central
NFC South
AFC West
NFC East
AFC South

 

[Cardsfanstl]

In both our losses the opponents scored 17 points of turnovers in each game. Those were the biggest mistakes we made in each game.

 

[conraddobler]

In both our losses the opponents scored 17 points of turnovers in each game. Those were the biggest mistakes we made in each game.

Exactly.

It's almost always turnovers.

The single highest correlated metric to winning a NFL football game is net turnover margin and it's not even close to the 2nd one.

There are crucial times in any game that if you screw up you will lose the game.

What the team did last Sunday night was establish something pretty key. They lost the turnover battle and still beat a team that was in the Super Bowl last year, at their house, in the fourth quarter coming back from what in the past would of buried them.

They are IMO the most talented team in the league and although not the best coached team in the league the gap between our staff and the best is the smallest it's likely ever been.

We're probably not going to get a better shot at this one than this year.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

Exactly.

It's almost always turnovers.

The single highest correlated metric to winning a NFL football game is net turnover margin and it's not even close to the 2nd one.

There are crucial times in any game that if you screw up you will lose the game.

What the team did last Sunday night was establish something pretty key. They lost the turnover battle and still beat a team that was in the Super Bowl last year, at their house, in the fourth quarter coming back from what in the past would of buried them.

They are IMO the most talented team in the league and although not the best coached team in the league the gap between our staff and the best is the smallest it's likely ever been.

We're probably not going to get a better shot at this one than this year.

You are so right. Other years Cards would have folded once the opponent took a lead. This year seems different.

 

[AZ Native]

It really IS the turnovers.
Which makes Palmer look even better considering he turned the ball over 7 times (4/3) in his 2 wins IN Seattle.

 

[TJ]

If David Johnson doesn't return the opening kickoff, we win.

 

[Jim Otis]

Then there is the 1981 49'ers !!! The Bill Walsh coached team that won the NFC championship game after turning the ball over { 6 } times , 3 int's by Montana ,and 3 fumbles by team mates . It was Bill Walsh talking to the troops , telling them to keep their heads up (it's not over we can still win it) , it's always been about A Coach building a team that reflects him . Certainly credit is deserved throughout the team , but the one guy that I give the most credit for all the wins , and all the losses is Bruce Arians . The two games we lost , I thought BA was impatient , and over reached on far to many of his play calls . It was like he got personal instead of keeping it strictly business . I believe he holds disdain for both Tomlin and Fisher . I believe if it's all business , we would have won both of those games . I think BA is the best HC in the NFL . Do I believe he is infallible ? NO !!

 

[Darkside]

Then there is the 1981 49'ers !!! The Bill Walsh coached team that won the NFC championship game after turning the ball over { 6 } times , 3 int's by Montana ,and 3 fumbles by team mates . It was Bill Walsh talking to the troops , telling them to keep their heads up (it's not over we can still win it) , it's always been about A Coach building a team that reflects him . Certainly credit is deserved throughout the team , but the one guy that I give the most credit for all the wins , and all the losses is Bruce Arians . The two games we lost , I thought BA was impatient , and over reached on far to many of his play calls . It was like he got personal instead of keeping it strictly business . I believe he holds disdain for both Tomlin and Fisher . I believe if it's all business , we would have won both of those games . I think BA is the best HC in the NFL . Do I believe he is infallible ? NO !!

Agree with much of this. However, some of it is on Carson Palmer. Actually, I'd say both our losses are largely on Palmer. Both. Why do people think he was so pumped up on Sunday, and emotional, and making gestures and pumping his fists and giving a hip thrust (LOL @ Palmer giving a hip thrust). It's because last time he air-mailed two passes when it mattered, one of them on 4th down to decide the game. He didn't come through, and I'm sure he'd say that. So Sunday, when he did come through, under the worst possible circumstances, he was emotional and pumped up.

He's a mentally strong ****, there's no doubt. You could tell Sunday meant a lot to him, and it wasn't just because it was a divisional game or possible playoff rights or winning the division, I think it's because he overcame some demons he had after choking in our two losses. Hate to use the word choke, but that's what he did, he gagged on it.

It was supremely important for him to come back in this game, not just for him but for his teammates, to have that belief. It's much better that he got strip-sacked twice and came back with 2 80-yard scoring drives after that. That's huge in a locker-room. Everyone makes mistakes, it's how you come back from them, and Palmer was outstanding. His team and coaches know that, that's why he was emotional on the sidelines like we haven't seen before.

I was actually taken by Fitz comments after the game on Monday, which nobody even mentioned, I guess because it's a given, but he said Palmer can make very throw. Sounds simple I guess, in theory, but some reporter asked him a follow-up and Fitz said the dude can make any throw on a football field when he's protected. Every single pass imaginable, whether it's an out or fade or streak or some weird pass. Fitz said it makes you run your routes crisply and until the end, because he can get the ball there, even if you think he can't. That's huge.

This is a championship caliber team, as long as Palmer stays healthy.

 

[Buckybird]

I still can't believe the undefeated 18-0 Pats lost to a struggling 9-7 SB bowl Gmen team

It happens, most teams can't play their best & mistake free for 16 games, much less 7 or 8. Move on...get over it...bring on the Bungles

 

[crisper57]

I am worried loss #3 is coming on Sunday. It finally feels like this team broke thru, so it would be a very Cardinal thing do to take a step back...on a national stage.

They are beat up from the Seattle game, it is a non-division, non-Conference opponent, which means this loss hurts less than other losses.

I fully accept that I am suffering from battered fan syndrome and there is no reason to think this team will regress right now. I realize Bengal fans are probably feeling the same as me right now.

One of us will be proven right on Sunday. Feel free to talk me off the edge. I will be driving home to NM on Sunday. It is a 10 hour drive, so I will be racing to get there by kickoff.

I expect a Cardinals loss, or they will win by 40. Equal likelihood, IMO. I don't think this will be a hard-fought victory for them either way.

 

[Bert]

I am worried loss #3 is coming on Sunday. It finally feels like this team broke thru, so it would be a very Cardinal thing do to take a step back...on a national stage.

They are beat up from the Seattle game, it is a non-division, non-Conference opponent, which means this loss hurts less than other losses.

I fully accept that I am suffering from battered fan syndrome and there is no reason to think this team will regress right now. I realize Bengal fans are probably feeling the same as me right now.

One of us will be proven right on Sunday. Feel free to talk me off the edge. I will be driving home to NM on Sunday. It is a 10 hour drive, so I will be racing to get there by kickoff.

I expect a Cardinals loss, or they will win by 40. Equal likelihood, IMO. I don't think this will be a hard-fought victory for them either way.

I understand your concerns but this is more Traumatized Cardinals Fan Syndrome or TCFS as psychiatrists call it. This team aint that anymore.

I personally, and this is just my feeling and keep in mind I have no superstitions that suggest that somehow anything I say or think will have an effect on the outcome of the game, lol. I think the Bengals are walking into a freaking buzzsaw on Sunday night.

I think the Cardinals confidence is at an all time high. They just beat their biggest bully, I dont think they will respond with a let down, I think they feel like world beaters right now. This is an emotional team with a bunch of guys that feed off of it.

They are coming home, the Bengals will have some fans there but it wont be drastic like Cowboy or Green bay games, so UovP will be ROCKING, the fans are pumped. First home game in almost a month.

The Bengals have probably had their confidence dinged up a little. I mean they lost to Houston at home on MNF. Granted they might be angry, but I dont think that's going to matter. They feel a ton of pressure to not lose 2 in a row.

As much as we aren't familiar with them, they aren't familiar with us.

I respect the Bengals, I hope we play them in the Superbowl but I think the Cardinals win this one going away. As Jermaine would say; Conditions are perfect... It's business time.

34-21 Cardinals.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I am worried loss #3 is coming on Sunday. It finally feels like this team broke thru, so it would be a very Cardinal thing do to take a step back...on a national stage.

They are beat up from the Seattle game, it is a non-division, non-Conference opponent, which means this loss hurts less than other losses.

I fully accept that I am suffering from battered fan syndrome and there is no reason to think this team will regress right now. I realize Bengal fans are probably feeling the same as me right now.

One of us will be proven right on Sunday. Feel free to talk me off the edge. I will be driving home to NM on Sunday. It is a 10 hour drive, so I will be racing to get there by kickoff.

I expect a Cardinals loss, or they will win by 40. Equal likelihood, IMO. I don't think this will be a hard-fought victory for them either way.

I'm kinda with you, only because we might not have Floyd AND Brown this week. If we had both of those guys, I'd expect us to come out and win by 40... and then probably be pissed when we laid an ish-burger.

this definitely is statement game though, IMO. Last week was a coming out party for this team. This week is a game where we can cement that and start striking fear in the league.

 

[Bert]

I'm kinda with you, only because we might not have Floyd AND Brown this week. If we had both of those guys, I'd expect us to come out and win by 40... and then probably be pissed when we laid an ish-burger.

this definitely is statement game though, IMO. Last week was a coming out party for this team. This week is a game where we can cement that and start striking fear in the league.

You're always afraid we're gonna lose it's tradition! I'd be worried if you didn't.

The only games you called us winning we lost so just do your job Cheese! jk