Next three weeks are the KEY to the season.

[ajcardfan]

We play three straight divisional games:

at Rams
vs. Niners
at Seahawks


The the other schedules in the West:

Hawks: Eagles, at Dolphins, Cards
49ers: BYE, at Cards, Rams
Rams: Cards, at Jets, at Niners


Three games, and a real chance to take a stranglehold on the division like never before. Each one of these upcoming games is actually much more important to our postseason hopes than the Panthers game was.

 

[artp]

Will 8 - 8 win the NFC West? If the Cardinals cannot do that, it will be a sad pill to swallow.

 

[TheHopToad]

Will 8 - 8 win the NFC West? If the Cardinals cannot do that, it will be a sad pill to swallow.

I don't see how there's any excuse to finish less than 9-7, and that's being conservative.

We only have three games left against winning teams: home vs Giants, at Philadelphia, and at New England.

Assuming we lose all three of these games and win the rest of our home games (other than the Giants game), we only need to split the two remaining divisional road games to achieve 9-7, which should be more than enough to win the division.

Honestly, I think 7-9 will be good enough to take it, but we'll do better. I'm hoping for 10-6, which shouldn't be unrealistic.

 

[TJ]

We finally hit the division portion of our schedule. This will prove whether we are truly a notch above the other three teams in this division or if we are only on par with them

 

[Duckjake]

Next Sunday's game is the key for a winning season. They have to win in St.Louis. Then a home win vs the 49ers puts them at 6-3. Not a bad place to be going to Seattle.

However, I still think the Dec game in Arizona vs Seattle will be for the division title.

 

[TheHopToad]

However, I still think the Dec game in Arizona vs Seattle will be for the division title.

Huh? Certainly you're not suggesting that Seattle is still in competition for the division title, are you?

Don't be fooled by a victory over a 49ers team that is a mess right now. Seattle is still a banged up and bad team. And they haven't even hit the tough part of their schedule yet. They have Philadelphia, @Miami, Washington, @Dallas, New England, and the Jets still to come, not to mention both divisional games against the Cards and one at St. Louis.

The Hawks are done!

 

[TJ]

Huh? Certainly you're not suggesting that Seattle is still in competition for the division title, are you?

Don't be fooled by a victory over a 49ers team that is a mess right now. Seattle is still a banged up and bad team. And they haven't even hit the tough part of their schedule yet. They have Philadelphia, @Miami, Washington, @Dallas, New England, and the Jets still to come, not to mention both divisional games against the Cards and one at St. Louis.

The Hawks are done!

If they get Hasselbeck and some of their key players back from injury, I can see them being some sort of threat. At the least, I hope he is out until after the Cards game

 

[CtCardinals78]

I am ready to get flamed for this but I fully expect the Cards to lose this weekend against the Rams. This team can not win on the road. IF they lost to the Rams I think Stl will win the west. This is a huge game this Sunday. God I hope I'm wrong.

 

[imaCafan]

I don't see how there's any excuse to finish less than 9-7, and that's being conservative.

We only have three games left against winning teams: home vs Giants, at Philadelphia, and at New England.

Assuming we lose all three of these games and win the rest of our home games (other than the Giants game), we only need to split the two remaining divisional road games to achieve 9-7, which should be more than enough to win the division.

Honestly, I think 7-9 will be good enough to take it, but we'll do better. I'm hoping for 10-6, which shouldn't be unrealistic.

I agree, we will be no worse than 9-7 and more like 10-6......

 

[Jttsaz]

I think only the Rams have a chance..the Cards have 9 games remaining..worst case..if they go 4-5 then the Rams will have to go 6-4 and win the tie breaker over the Cards. If the Cards win vs. the Rams next week they would have a 3 game lead with 8 games to go which would be tough for the Rams to overcome.

Week 9
AZ @ STL
Phi @ SEA
SF Bye

Week 10
STL @ NYJ (Jets W)
SF @ AZ (Az Win)
SEA @ MIA

Week 11
STL @ SF
AZ @ SEA

Week 12
SF @ DAL
NYG @ AZ
WAS @ SEA

Week 13
SEA @ DAL
SF @ BUF
AZ @ PHIL
MIA @ STL

Week 14
NYJ @ SF
STL @ AZ
NE @ SEA

Week 15
SF @ MIA
MIN @ AZ
SEA @ STL

Week 16
AZ @ NE
SF @ STL
NYJ @ SEA

Week 17
STL @ ATL
SEA @ AZ
WAS @ SF


Cards: @ Rams, 49ers, @ Seattle, Giants, @ Eagles, Rams, Vikes, @ New England, Hawks (5 home games)
Rams: Cards, @ NY Jets, @49ers, Bears, Miami, @ Cards, Seahawks, 49ers, @Atlanta


Rams do have an easier schedule with Jets, Bears, Dolphins and Falcons outside the West..Cards have Giants, Eagles, Vikes, and Patriots...Lots of football left...

 

[Duckjake]

If they get Hasselbeck and some of their key players back from injury, I can see them being some sort of threat. At the least, I hope he is out until after the Cards game

The Seahawks schedule is in their favor. I can see them winning three straight or at worst going 2-1 and being right back in it. Especially if the Cards lose next week.

 

[ajcardfan]

The Seahawks schedule is in their favor. I can see them winning three straight or at worst going 2-1 and being right back in it. Especially if the Cards lose next week.

Wow. The Seahawks of the last 4 years maybe. But, they will be underdogs next week against Philly and in Miami in two. No way they way they sweep those two IMO.

 

[Duckjake]

Wow. The Seahawks of the last 4 years maybe. But, they will be underdogs next week against Philly and in Miami in two. No way they way they sweep those two IMO.

I'll never discount the Seahawks at home. Just like the Cards have been competitive in Arizona no matter how bad the team was.

 

[82CardsGrad]

The Cards continue to prove that they are not nearly mentally tough enough to win on the road...
So - as in years past, they are now at an inflection point in the season, where should they somehow pull a miracle and win, they can take a HUGE, definitive step forward... However, should they lose (history supports this scencario...), they will have lost 2 in a row since the Dallas game, 2 in a row coming off the bye - not to mention opening up the west for the Hawks or Rams to make a legit run...

Is DeAngelo Williams "that" much better than Stephen Jackson? 'Course not...
Is Delhomme "that" much better than Bulger? 'Course not...

The Panthers had two Cardinal flunkees starting on their o-line today, and we still couldn't get to Delhomme or stop Williams... The Rams will have a better line next Sunday. Will our defense remember how to play football and tackle next week?

I dunno but this game looks to me as though it is setting up for a HUGE, crushing defeat... We do know that Kurt plays well in domes however, so we have that going for us... which is nice...

 

[Buckybird]

One game at a time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cheesebeef]

i think next week says who this team is gonna be for the rest season for the most part. If we can't beat a pretty bad team on the road, we're not gonna beat anyone else on that schedule on the road for the rest of the year and that means we're gonna have to undefeated at home and I just don't see that happening. Sure, we might end up 8-8 and "win" the division, but we're just gonna be set up for a playoff blowout.

I'm not mad or scared about what happened this week. This is no time to panic. They lose next week and we can't start really questioning a lot of things about this club which is basically injury free and playing in a horrendous division. I mean if they can't advantage of those circumstances, how are they ever gonna be able to get better to the point that they can actually deal with adversity.

can't wait to see what happens next week. Gotta start beating bad teams on the road before we start beating the good ones. We got that part down pat at home. Next week is where we see if we can get closer to that goal.

ramble over.

 

[ajcardfan]

One game at a time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's absolutely the attitude the team should take. We fans can talk about any game we want at any time. We have nine games left, 5 against the division and 5 at home. I like our chances with that setup, we 'll just have to see how well we can take advantage of it.

 

[Duckjake]

However, should they lose (history supports this scencario...)

Except this week.

The Cards have won 3 straight in St.Louis. 34-31 last year. 34-20 in '06. 38-28 in '05.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Except this week.

The Cards have won 3 straight in St.Louis. 34-31 last year. 34-20 in '06. 38-28 in '05.

i'd like to personally thank Duckjake for typing the biggest jinx ever.

 

[Buckybird]

i'd like to personally thank Duckjake for typing the biggest jinx ever.

We are gonna win!!! Have a little faith.

 

[gusmahler]

Is DeAngelo Williams "that" much better than Stephen Jackson? 'Course not...
Is Delhomme "that" much better than Bulger? 'Course not...

This is silly. The Panthers are 6-2 and have scored 47 points than they've allowed. The Rams are 2-5 and have allowed 89 points more than they have scored. The Panthers are probably the second best team in the NFC now. The Rams are in a three way race to be the second worst team in the NFC. The Panthers are MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the Rams. You can't just compare two positions and say they are equal.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

The Rams have Avery & Holt...

That's enough right there to concern me. Our Offense can seemingly move at will, but the D seems capable of giving up points just as quickly. IF we win in St. Louis Sunday I expect it'll be close. GO CARDS!!

 

[mojorizen7]

I am ready to get flamed for this but I fully expect the Cards to lose this weekend against the Rams. This team can not win on the road. IF they lost to the Rams I think Stl will win the west. This is a huge game this Sunday. God I hope I'm wrong.

You're right St Louis takes this one @ home.
SOSAR?
SOSAC?
We'll see who's the class of the division. It was the Cards thru 6 weeks but now....???? Should be an outstanding game.

 

[chicards11]

The Cards continue to prove that they are not nearly mentally tough enough to win on the road...
So - as in years past, they are now at an inflection point in the season, where should they somehow pull a miracle and win, they can take a HUGE, definitive step forward... However, should they lose (history supports this scencario...), they will have lost 2 in a row since the Dallas game, 2 in a row coming off the bye - not to mention opening up the west for the Hawks or Rams to make a legit run...

Is DeAngelo Williams "that" much better than Stephen Jackson? 'Course not...
Is Delhomme "that" much better than Bulger? 'Course not...

The Panthers had two Cardinal flunkees starting on their o-line today, and we still couldn't get to Delhomme or stop Williams... The Rams will have a better line next Sunday. Will our defense remember how to play football and tackle next week?

I dunno but this game looks to me as though it is setting up for a HUGE, crushing defeat... We do know that Kurt plays well in domes however, so we have that going for us... which is nice...

Cards will lose next weekend in St. Louis. I dont think they have lost in years but still......the way their defense played last game........wow, ugly.

Could be toast

 

[Skkorpion]

i think next week says who this team is gonna be for the rest season for the most part. If we can't beat a pretty bad team on the road, we're not gonna beat anyone else on that schedule on the road for the rest of the year and that means we're gonna have to undefeated at home and I just don't see that happening. Sure, we might end up 8-8 and "win" the division, but we're just gonna be set up for a playoff blowout.

I'm not mad or scared about what happened this week. This is no time to panic. They lose next week and we can't start really questioning a lot of things about this club which is basically injury free and playing in a horrendous division. I mean if they can't advantage of those circumstances, how are they ever gonna be able to get better to the point that they can actually deal with adversity.

can't wait to see what happens next week. Gotta start beating bad teams on the road before we start beating the good ones. We got that part down pat at home. Next week is where we see if we can get closer to that goal.

ramble over.

Oh my. You speak for me on all of it. Can't blame this coincidence on just climate change. We must be having a major shift in the magnetic Poles.