Magic number for division is 2; can clinch against Giants

[Gambit]

This game will tell me if we are for real or not. A win here and I'll believe we can go deep into the playoffs. A loss here and I'll think the best we can hope for is a 2nd round loss.

I think if we play well, it will be good enough. Sort of like how the Giants played well against the Pats the last game of the season, and it helped them have faith they could win if they played again. Well, maybe we'll be meeting them again in the Conference Championship Game.

 

[Lloydian]

I think we've already secured the best Division record (4-0 with 2 to play), which is the first tie-breaker, if I am not mistaken (I could be).

You're mistaken. The Seahawks are currently 2-2 in the division. The question about the magic number of 2 somehow not involving the Seahawks would assume that the Cardinals won against New York but lost the remainder of their games while Seattle wins out (both stupid propositions). But in that event, both teams finish 8-8, both have 4-2 division records. Both would be 1-1 in head to head. Games in common would also be tied in that scenario. Conference records would be identical. That leaves strength of victory, and there are just too many games left to play to accurately guess that.

I have too much time on my hands.

 

[DoTheDew]

You're mistaken. The Seahawks are currently 2-2 in the division. The question about the magic number of 2 somehow not involving the Seahawks would assume that the Cardinals won against New York but lost the remainder of their games while Seattle wins out (both stupid propositions). But in that event, both teams finish 8-8, both have 4-2 division records. Both would be 1-1 in head to head. Games in common would also be tied in that scenario. Conference records would be identical. That leaves strength of victory, and there are just too many games left to play to accurately guess that.

I have too much time on my hands.

I wouldn't worry about it. If the Seahawks somehow won out and we lost all our games and lost the division, I wouldn't eat for a month.

 

[Azlen]

Actually it was shown in several AFC home markets where they carried the AFC team's early game, e.g. Baltimore and didn't want to have to compete with it. That is the Fox station carried the best late game, AZ vs. SEA as opposed to carrying an early Fox game which would have had zero local audience against the AFC home market team.

Exactly, in those markets they couldn't show the early Fox game so they had to chose either the Cardinals and Seahawks or the Niners and Rams. Which is why I said it was shown in markets that didn't show the early Fox game.

 

[82CardsGrad]

huh? They have the best answer to our offense - kill the QB. The G-Men get pressure like no one else and our O-line just stinks at this point.

if Wilson isn't suspended I think we've got a decent shot of pulling out the win. If he doesn't and we're missing him to help in the run game and have Fransisco and Brown out there as starters we're in deep doo doo.

we also have the problem that if the game is close, the offense can't close it out. you just can't put your defense in the situation we have time and time again, especially against good teams. We barely got away with it against Frisco and everyone was probably biting their nails yesterday when again we couldn't get a first down at the end because we can't run the ball... and that was against teams with a combined record of 5-15.

Agree 100%...

The Giants in many ways represent the toughest challenge we have faced all year, and probably the toughest challenge we will face for the balance of this season - including the playoffs...
They do the one thing that can completely de-rail the Cards quicker than anything else - they control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball better than any other team in the NFL.
They clearly have the best o-line and d-line, BY a large margin, over any other team.
Our offense can't be successful if they're not on the field. Check out the Giants running game... They manhandle teams... literally beat them down, game after game... Eli is having a so-so year, but the offense is unstoppable ONLY because of their o-line and running game, which is blowing away the rest of the NFL and averaging 173 yards per game!!!
They're ranked 2nd in the NFL in total defense and 2nd in passing defense, giving up a mere 170 passing yards per game...and have sacked the QB 31 times!

This is when having an effective run game would come in handy... Since we can't run the ball, we will be playing a league-leading defense that will have the luxury of pinning their ears back and beating down Kurt Warner...
They won't even need to blitz to do it. They're that effective upfront...

Oh - and this little issue of STUPID PENALTIES can't be ignored... Against the Giants, should we continue to commit penalties at our league-leading rate, fuggetaboutit!!! This game could quickly turn into a disaster..

To say that this is a huge test would be a huge understatement. If we can somehow beat the Giants by exploiting what we do best - ball control offense via the passing game... it will send an incredible message to the rest of the league. And frankly, at that point anything becomes possible and a post-season of more than just one win becomes worthy of discussion...

 

[D-Dogg]

huh? They have the best answer to our offense - kill the QB. The G-Men get pressure like no one else and our O-line just stinks at this point.

if Wilson isn't suspended I think we've got a decent shot of pulling out the win. If he doesn't and we're missing him to help in the run game and have Fransisco and Brown out there as starters we're in deep doo doo.

we also have the problem that if the game is close, the offense can't close it out. you just can't put your defense in the situation we have time and time again, especially against good teams. We barely got away with it against Frisco and everyone was probably biting their nails yesterday when again we couldn't get a first down at the end because we can't run the ball... and that was against teams with a combined record of 5-15.

The only thing I agree with is that if Wilson is out, we are doomed. Doomed.

Other than that, their rush will be negated by the quick throws to Fitz/Q, little slants and our "run with the pass" playcalling.

Our defense will get up for this game...they always get up for better teams at home.

Early scores to take away the run, then let it ride on Eli. He will make mistakes.

I think we get beat next week in Philly though.

 

[82CardsGrad]

The only thing I agree with is that if Wilson is out, we are doomed. Doomed.

Other than that, their rush will be negated by the quick throws to Fitz/Q, little slants and our "run with the pass" playcalling.

Our defense will get up for this game...they always get up for better teams at home.

Early scores to take away the run, then let it ride on Eli. He will make mistakes.

I think we get beat next week in Philly though.

I don't see it that way, but...

Man, a road game in Seattle after a Monday nighter, home against the Giants and then a short week again and on the road in Philly... now that's a tough schedule!

 

[gusmahler]

My son is a Giant fan and he is flying out from Pennsylvania next Saturday so that we can watch the game together. I've already sent him some hate mail to get him fired up, it should be a great game. I'll be in the kitchen listening on the radio and he will be in the living toom watching the game on the large screen tv.

Why does the Giant fan get the TV while you get stuck with the radio. He made the silly choice of teams, make him live with it on radio.

 

[Skkorpion]

If Adrian Wilson is out, the team will still show up and play hard. Bring it on.

 

[jw7]

Oh - and this little issue of STUPID PENALTIES can't be ignored... Against the Giants, should we continue to commit penalties at our league-leading rate, fuggetaboutit!!! This game could quickly turn into a disaster..

Yup, game 10 in the season and there are still delay of games and false starts. I love Whiz, but this can't go on.

3-step drop - pass. 5-step drop pass. Warner can not hold the ball in this game. And NO 3 MAN RUSH!

This game scares the crap outta me.

 

[Pariah]

If "Good Kurt" shows up (and there's no reason to think he won't, then the Cards at least keep it relatively close and have a decent chance to win, IMO. If "Bad Kurt" shows up (we've seen him for 30 minutes in the Jets game, but otherwise he's been conspicuously absent), then we'll get killed. It'll make the first half of the Jets game look like a police action compared to the world war the Giants will hang on us.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I think a fair amount of the 'Bad Kurt' showed up in the Seattle game. Fumble, pick, couple near pics, but we got lucky and the ball bounced our way a couple times. Yeah, I know he threw for almost a 4spot, but if he plays that way against the G men, we go down hard IMO

 

[ajcardfan]

If "Good Kurt" shows up (and there's no reason to think he won't, then the Cards at least keep it relatively close and have a decent chance to win, IMO. If "Bad Kurt" shows up (we've seen him for 30 minutes in the Jets game, but otherwise he's been conspicuously absent), then we'll get killed. It'll make the first half of the Jets game look like a police action compared to the world war the Giants will hang on us.

Oh, bull ******. First of all, it's almost physically impossible to score much more than the Jets did. Second, the Giants are not super human. They are really damn good, but they are definitely vincible. If the Browns and Bengals can go toe to toe with them, so can we.

 

[Totally_Red]

Oh, bull ******. First of all, it's almost physically impossible to score much more than the Jets did. Second, the Giants are not super human. They are really damn good, but they are definitely vincible. If the Browns and Bengals can go toe to toe with them, so can we.

We had the same nervous Nellies before the Carolina game. Yeah, the Cardinals could lose. But I think they'll be fired up defensively and effective offensively. The Giants are very good. The Giants are beatable, especially at UofP IMO.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think a fair amount of the 'Bad Kurt' showed up in the Seattle game. Fumble, pick, couple near pics, but we got lucky and the ball bounced our way a couple times. Yeah, I know he threw for almost a 4spot, but if he plays that way against the G men, we go down hard IMO

agreed. Kurt was making some questionable decisions in that game and he was definitely leaning more towards "Bad Kurt" than "Good Kurt". Besides the two turnovers, there was also another play down in the red zone where the pocket collapsed on him and as he was getting sacked he kind of just threw the ball into the middle of the field that almost got picked. Id' say we saw barely average Kurt on Sunday. Can't have that against the G-men. 3 turnovers will spell doom for us against a great team.

Gotta protect the MVP and let him be the MVP.

 

[CardLogic]

The game vs. the Giants hinges on the Cardinals offensive and defensive line play. First and foremost the OL has got to play it's best game; limit penalties, protect Warner! The DL has got to dig in and not be pushed out when the Giants run the ball.

Successful games in those two areas can provide the Cardinals with a better than even chance to beat the Giants.

 

[Pariah]

I think a fair amount of the 'Bad Kurt' showed up in the Seattle game. Fumble, pick, couple near pics, but we got lucky and the ball bounced our way a couple times. Yeah, I know he threw for almost a 4spot, but if he plays that way against the G men, we go down hard IMO

That pick should have been caught by the receiver.

And, while the fumble was a result of Warner's decision making in the pocket (he stepped up nicely, but just hung on to it way too long), it wasn't really classic "bad kurt," IMO. Sometimes QBs fumble when hit, and that was more of a typical QB fumble than poor ball control.

JMHO

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think Kurt played his second worst game of the season last week but I was worried going into Seattle that it could be worse so they key is he played well enough to win.

And he can do the same on Sunday and will have two big advantages:

1) He is at home in the dome. Conditions are not a consideration.

2) He should have sufficient motivation with them being World Champs, his former team, and the coach and QB that sent him packing being on the other side line.

The scary thing is that they mentioned last week how Kurt had said the teams that give him the most trouble are the ones that get rush with 4 guys and drop seven in coverage. Uh oh. Wiz/Haley against Spagnulo will be they key maytchup IMO.

I say we hang tough and maybe even have a lead late but ultimately lose because we can't close them out. Thats okay because I say we win the rest of our home games and go to the 2nd or 3rd round this year of the playoffs. I would have taken that all offseason in a NY minute.

I'm thinking flat out quasi-invincible contender next year. We are playing with House Money at this point.