Next 3 games

[Cbus cardsfan]

The Cards schedule sets up so that they play 3 teams currently in front of them in the standings. They take care of business in all, which I think they will, they will have a secure path to the playoffs.

Minny is struggling and has no run game. PP made Diggs a non-factor last and I expect the same this year.

Atlanta will be the toughest of the 3 but the Cards seem to have had Matt Ryan's number throughout the years. Tough game on the east coast but the Cards defense should prevail.

Washington coming into Arizona should be a win for the Cards.

I think at worst they go 2-1 and, if the can get the W in Atlanta, 3-0. Still 6-5-1 with a couple of "soft spots" in Miami and NO to follow puts the Cards in good shape.

The only thing really concerning to me is 5 of the last 7 games are on the road with 2 on the east coast. Still, the Cards are a strong enough team to go on the road and prevail in meaningful games.

 

[MrYeahBut]

We get Atlanta coming off their bye week so hopefully they come out flat like the Cards did yesterday.

 

[Darkside]

The Cards schedule sets up so that they play 3 teams currently in front of them in the standings. They take care of business in all, which I think they will, they will have a secure path to the playoffs.

Minny is struggling and has no run game. PP made Diggs a non-factor last and I expect the same this year.

Atlanta will be the toughest of the 3 but the Cards seem to have had Matt Ryan's number throughout the years. Tough game on the east coast but the Cards defense should prevail.

Washington coming into Arizona should be a win for the Cards.

I think at worst they go 2-1 and, if the can get the W in Atlanta, 3-0. Still 6-5-1 with a couple of "soft spots" in Miami and NO to follow puts the Cards in good shape.

The only thing really concerning to me is 5 of the last 7 games are on the road with 2 on the east coast. Still, the Cards are a strong enough team to go on the road and prevail in meaningful games.

Atlanta is an offense we haven't seen and probably won't see the rest of the year. They're really good and Matt Ryan is making all the throws: short, intermediate, and deep. They have a strong running game and passing game. We could lose this one.

It's the Washington game I hate. Everyone pens us in for a win. Why? Washington has been good this year. They're playing better than we are. I think saying we'll win Minny, Atlanta, and Washington is a stretch dude.

I honestly think we're mediocre. I'm not saying we can't get on a run, but a mediocre run doesn't amount to much. I think this team is flawed in crucial ways. Our stretch of "mediocre" opponents the first half of the season is over, and we could barely manage a .500 record doing it.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Atlanta tore this team a new hole last time AND that was with them having an abysmal year. Cards will go 1-2 over next three because the league has figured out their offense.

 

[Shane]

Your mighty optimistic for a team they could just as easily go 0-3 over that stretch.... we have four wins and two of them are against the lowly 49ers we are in no position to be tooting our own playoff horn....

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The Cards are 2 missed easy FG's from 6-3, they are third in the NFC in point differentia and 3rd in scoring defense. I'll stick to my prediction. Jump on before the bandwagon fills up.

 

[Cards_Campos]

Giants are 6-3 now with Cleveland and Chicago next. So they are going to be 8-3. We now have to get the last playoff spot.... So now it is harder... We have to win next 4!!

 

[Buckybird]

1 game at a time

 

[USAFMEDIC]

Feeling positive about 2-1.

 

[Shane]

The Cards are 2 missed easy FG's from 6-3, they are third in the NFC in point differentia and 3rd in scoring defense. I'll stick to my prediction. Jump on before the bandwagon fills up.

You are what your record says you are...

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You are what your record says you are...

I agree.

In 3 weeks, their record is going to say 7-4-1 and one of the better teams in the league.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Your mighty optimistic for a team they could just as easily go 0-3 over that stretch.... we have four wins and two of them are against the lowly 49ers we are in no position to be tooting our own playoff horn....

True, but at the same time, they played two of the best three teams toe to toe and could have won those games.

Doesn't matter who it's against, but if that 5th loss comes sooner rather than later their season is likely over.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Atlanta tore this team a new hole last time AND that was with them having an abysmal year. Cards will go 1-2 over next three because the league has figured out their offense.

Playing Atlanta will be like playing ourselves... that is the 2015 Cardinals with a great offense

 

[football karma]

I feel like this season has been all about "what you expect from a team is exactly the opposite from what you actually get"

SF was supposed to be a sieve against the run -- yet looked awfully competent
Buffalo and Carolina were supposed to be awful on D and giving up big points, yet looked pretty competent against the Cards

so -- Minny is looks like a low scoring, grind it out game featuring two good Ds -- expect a shoot out
Atlanta is a great O, with suspect D -- we will get a grind it out game

 

[PJ1]

The Cards are 2 missed easy FG's from 6-3, they are third in the NFC in point differentia and 3rd in scoring defense. I'll stick to my prediction. Jump on before the bandwagon fills up.

All this means to me is that we have a kicker that could blow one of these upcoming games for us. Would be happy if we went 2-1 in these games.

 

[Shaggy]

Just like all year, the teams that have been struggling this season (Bills, Panthers, 49ers)turn it around on the Cards. So I see Minny doing just that. They have been struggling, so the Cards will help them out and get them back in track...

 

[WisconsinCard]

The Cards schedule sets up so that they play 3 teams currently in front of them in the standings. They take care of business in all, which I think they will, they will have a secure path to the playoffs.

Minny is struggling and has no run game. PP made Diggs a non-factor last and I expect the same this year.

Atlanta will be the toughest of the 3 but the Cards seem to have had Matt Ryan's number throughout the years. Tough game on the east coast but the Cards defense should prevail.

Washington coming into Arizona should be a win for the Cards.

I think at worst they go 2-1 and, if the can get the W in Atlanta, 3-0. Still 6-5-1 with a couple of "soft spots" in Miami and NO to follow puts the Cards in good shape.

The only thing really concerning to me is 5 of the last 7 games are on the road with 2 on the east coast. Still, the Cards are a strong enough team to go on the road and prevail in meaningful games.

I'm not one to make predictions, but I'm with ya brotha.

 

[JeffGollin]

Cards are anything but predictable. They've got the chops to run the table, but are also mistake-prone enough to blow up the balance of the season.

 

[Stout]

I agree.

In 3 weeks, their record is going to say 7-4-1 and one of the better teams in the league.

Based on what, a wing and a prayer? Are we hoping for divine intervention here? One of the better teams in the league? What do you think this is, 2015?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Based on what, a wing and a prayer? Are we hoping for divine intervention here? One of the better teams in the league? What do you think this is, 2015?

Nope. Based on talent. They have a top 3 defense and a top 10 offense. The bounces have not gone their way. People sure are spoiled over last year's 13-3 team.

The difference between this year's Cards team and last year's is the Cards have made the little mistakes to beat themselves. I don't see that continuing. Other than the Buffalo game, the Cards have been the better team on the field only to gaffe away wins, which is something they have not done in the past.

NE- missed GW FG
Sea- same
Car- not saying they win but replay not working cost the Cards 14 points

Like Shane said, the record speaks for itself but let's not act like the Cards are chopped liver and don't have an extremely talented team. The breaks will even out. I can see the Cards going 7-1 the second half, easily. Other than at Seattle, they go into each game with better, more talented team. That doesn't always mean a win but I'll go in with our guys over anyone else's.

Plus, you guys know I'm not a Kool-Aid drinker. If I thought they stunk, or were mediocre, I'd say so.

 

[speedy]

Nope. Based on talent. They have a top 3 defense and a top 10 offense. The bounces have not gone their way. People sure are spoiled over last year's 13-3 team.

The difference between this year's Cards team and last year's is the Cards have made the little mistakes to beat themselves. I don't see that continuing. Other than the Buffalo game, the Cards have been the better team on the field only to gaffe away wins, which is something they have not done in the past.

NE- missed GW FG
Sea- same
Car- not saying they win but replay not working cost the Cards 14 points

Like Shane said, the record speaks for itself but let's not act like the Cards are chopped liver and don't have an extremely talented team. The breaks will even out. I can see the Cards going 7-1 the second half, easily. Other than at Seattle, they go into each game with better, more talented team. That doesn't always mean a win but I'll go in with our guys over anyone else's.

Plus, you guys know I'm not a Kool-Aid drinker. If I thought they stunk, or were mediocre, I'd say so.

About 15-20 teams can say exactly this every year, and they wouldn't be lying either.

In this league, the little things are the difference between playoff team and non-playoff team.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

About 15-20 teams can say exactly this every year, and they wouldn't be lying either.

In this league, the little things are the difference between playoff team and non-playoff team.

Agree and I think there quite a few teams that are getting breaks that are not all that good and getting by with smoke and mirrors. Atlanta being one of them, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Detroit, Houston, the Giants, Washington, and Miami are some others.

 

[cardpa]

About 15-20 teams can say exactly this every year, and they wouldn't be lying either.

In this league, the little things are the difference between playoff team and non-playoff team.

Exactly and that is why teams like NE and Seattle are year in and year out constantly in the hunt. They pay attention to the smallest details and make decisions based on what is best to achieve greatness. This team isn't there yet IMHO. All you have to do is point out things like bringing back Butler to punt, the lack of a returner on punts and kickoffs, lack of special teams coverage, lack of finding decent backup Oline players, etc. Take into consideration that teams seem to have figured out how to read what the Cardinals are going to do on a lot of plays points to a coaching staff that apparently thinks if you execute the play well it will succeed anyway. I have a little advice for BA, the other team is doing their damn best to stop you and are using every little advantage they can get to beat you. BA doesn't see the trees from the forest. All he sees is the forest. At this level it's in the details and everyone here can easily see that details are not a strong point for this team. If it was you wouldn't have Ellington returning kickoffs. Have they ever considered Brandon Williams as a returner? After all he played a lot of years as a running back. Their willing to put PP out there for punt returns.

I give a lot of credit to BA and SK for turning this team round however one has to question if BA has the ability to make the decisions that need to be made to put this team over the top. For all we know 2015 may have been the pinnacle for him and it isn't going to get any better that. Was 2015 a career year for Palmer and now we have the 2014 and before Palmer from here on out? I don't know for sure what the answer is but for the amount of talent on this team they should be better than they are.

I know a lot of people are saying if they just made the FG against NE and the one against Seattle it would be different. I argue that neither of those games should have come down to making a FG in the first place. Those games should have been in the bag before they got to that point. The team totally outplayed both teams by such a large margin that the game should have been in hand by no later than the mid point of the 4th qtr. That's where the attention should have been focused. Why were those games still so close at the end? What went wrong that they were still allowing them to be in the game? From what I have seen it appears that the coaching staff hasn't really addressed those questions. The SF game was a mirror image of the NE and Seattle games. Once again dominating a team and having to kick a FG at the end to win it. This game too should have been in the win column long before there was 3 seconds on the clock. My question to this coaching staff is have they looked at these games and asked themselves these questions? If yes then do they not have any answers to them or if no then why not?

 

[Stout]

It isn't just about not getting the bounces to go our way, and that 10th-ranked offense is a giant mirage. Anyone watching this team can plainly see we're nowhere near the offensive power we were last year. We don't scare anyone at this point, because all they have to do is stack the run to go after DJ. Palmer sure in the hell isn't going to carry us to the promised land this year, and probably never will, given his age.

We have the D, but we have a 1-dimensional offense and a ravaged and poorly constructed offensive line (Keim, you get a big F for what you did with the OL this season). This doesn't leave me very hopeful of making the playoffs at all.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The Cards are 2 missed easy FG's from 6-3, they are third in the NFC in point differentia and 3rd in scoring defense. I'll stick to my prediction. Jump on before the bandwagon fills up.

Yes we are two missed east FGs from being 6-3, which means we ARE 4-4-1. And we have the same FG kicker who missed those two easy FGs. In other words, we are the same team that is currently .500. Which means we are a .500 team. That's what our current talent and coaching has gotten. And it's no small sample size. It's the majority of a season now.