AZCardsWin
Our waiting is over!
Miracle in the Desert? No joke, Cardinals still alive!
For Immediate Release
November 16, 2006
By Tim Pino
By now I am sure the title of this story has you thinking I have hit the "Kool- Aid" in record amounts, but with so much negativity going on about the Arizona Cardinals lately (but truly justified) I felt obligated to put together how the "Miracle in the Desert" can be pulled off.
For starters the Cardinals would need to win out and finish at 8-8. It's not totally uncommon for teams with a record of 8-8 to qualify for a wildcard playoff spot in the NFC- and this year is shaping up the same with 8 teams at or around the 5-4 or 4-5 mark.
Can the Cardinals run the table? Sure anything is possible- but as improbable as it may sound- there are a few glimmers of hope in the coming weeks for the Cardinals to slowly turn this thing around. For starters the Detriot Lions (2-7) visit the valley this week and give the Cardinals a great chance at coming away with a much needed win. The following 2 weeks will take the Cardinals on the road to Minnesota (4-5 and losers of 3 straight) and then to St.Louis (4-5 and losers of 4 straight).
Following the 2 games on the road the Cardinals will return home to Glendale to face the Seattle Seahawks (6-3) and Denver Broncos (7-2)- both of whom are having very good seasons. But you have to think the Cardinals will have a fighting chance in both of these home games as for the most part they have been very competitive at The University of Phoenix Stadium this year.
After those two home games the Cardinals will end the season back on the road at San Francisco (4-5) and at San Diego (7-2). The Cardinals lone win of the season has come against the 49ers and with a little luck the Chargers will have their playoff spot wrapped up by the final week or the regular season and sit a lot of their starters.
What would it take for the Cardinals to stay alive in the NFC wildcard playoff picture? Currently Philadelphia (5-4), Dallas (5-4), Atlanta (5-4), and Carolina (5-4) are all tied for the two NFC wildcard spots. The interesting thing to note is that other then the Eagles (4-3 NFC Conference record) every other team mentioned only have 3 NFC Conference wins (the first wildcard tie-breaker should numerous teams end up tied at end of the season).
What does all this mean? Forget the Cardinals 1-8 overall record for a minute. I know its tough to do but do it. Right now the reality is that "5" wins puts you in the NFC playoffs so the Cardinals are just 4 games back with still "7" games to go. Additionally, the Cardinals are only "2" NFC conference wins back from the final NFC wildcard spot.
When I look at the upcoming NFL schedule and see games like Colts at Cowboys and Falcons at Ravens on tap for this week. Next week I see Eagles at Colts and Saints at Falcons on tap. And in two weeks I see Cowboys at NY Giants and Panthers at Eagles. I highlighted the team I feel will win these football games. If the Arizona Cardinals can go on a small winning streak it is not impossible that come December they could find themselves 1-2 games back of the pack with 4 games to go.
Call it the Miracle in the Desert or just something else to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The pulse might be faint but the Arizona Cardinals are still alive in the NFC playoff picture!
For Immediate Release
November 16, 2006
By Tim Pino
By now I am sure the title of this story has you thinking I have hit the "Kool- Aid" in record amounts, but with so much negativity going on about the Arizona Cardinals lately (but truly justified) I felt obligated to put together how the "Miracle in the Desert" can be pulled off.
For starters the Cardinals would need to win out and finish at 8-8. It's not totally uncommon for teams with a record of 8-8 to qualify for a wildcard playoff spot in the NFC- and this year is shaping up the same with 8 teams at or around the 5-4 or 4-5 mark.
Can the Cardinals run the table? Sure anything is possible- but as improbable as it may sound- there are a few glimmers of hope in the coming weeks for the Cardinals to slowly turn this thing around. For starters the Detriot Lions (2-7) visit the valley this week and give the Cardinals a great chance at coming away with a much needed win. The following 2 weeks will take the Cardinals on the road to Minnesota (4-5 and losers of 3 straight) and then to St.Louis (4-5 and losers of 4 straight).
Following the 2 games on the road the Cardinals will return home to Glendale to face the Seattle Seahawks (6-3) and Denver Broncos (7-2)- both of whom are having very good seasons. But you have to think the Cardinals will have a fighting chance in both of these home games as for the most part they have been very competitive at The University of Phoenix Stadium this year.
After those two home games the Cardinals will end the season back on the road at San Francisco (4-5) and at San Diego (7-2). The Cardinals lone win of the season has come against the 49ers and with a little luck the Chargers will have their playoff spot wrapped up by the final week or the regular season and sit a lot of their starters.
What would it take for the Cardinals to stay alive in the NFC wildcard playoff picture? Currently Philadelphia (5-4), Dallas (5-4), Atlanta (5-4), and Carolina (5-4) are all tied for the two NFC wildcard spots. The interesting thing to note is that other then the Eagles (4-3 NFC Conference record) every other team mentioned only have 3 NFC Conference wins (the first wildcard tie-breaker should numerous teams end up tied at end of the season).
What does all this mean? Forget the Cardinals 1-8 overall record for a minute. I know its tough to do but do it. Right now the reality is that "5" wins puts you in the NFC playoffs so the Cardinals are just 4 games back with still "7" games to go. Additionally, the Cardinals are only "2" NFC conference wins back from the final NFC wildcard spot.
When I look at the upcoming NFL schedule and see games like Colts at Cowboys and Falcons at Ravens on tap for this week. Next week I see Eagles at Colts and Saints at Falcons on tap. And in two weeks I see Cowboys at NY Giants and Panthers at Eagles. I highlighted the team I feel will win these football games. If the Arizona Cardinals can go on a small winning streak it is not impossible that come December they could find themselves 1-2 games back of the pack with 4 games to go.
Call it the Miracle in the Desert or just something else to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The pulse might be faint but the Arizona Cardinals are still alive in the NFC playoff picture!