Remember 2002?

[Buckybird]

Warning: This message contains darksider material.

Does anyone remember 2002, or more specifically, 2002 leading up to the midway point of the season? We were 4-2 and had just defeated the Dallas Cowboys after the bye. We hadn't played very well at all, we didn't have good QB play, but gosh darn it, we had a winning record.

Anyone remember what happened after that? I'll refresh your memory. 6 straight losses and only 1 more win, to finish up at 5-11.

Now, why should I bring this up? We're definitely a better all-around team and we've had success. No, I don't think we'll only win 1 more game all season. Yes, I think a lot of the blind optimism then was just wishful thinking, and I do think we as fans of the team have a better perspective on the fact that we're just not as good as our record now versus then.

Still and all, I remember getting absolutely trashed on this board when I said that we weren't that good, that the 4-2 record was a mirage. I hated being right, because that meant that we sucked, but I knew reality when I saw it, and I said so.

What is reality for the Arizona Cardinals right now? We're garbage, that's what reality is. We're 2-1 but we suck. Not as bad as we did in 2002, but we still stink. We don't have a QB and we don't have a defense. That is a recipe for sucking and sucking some more. We miss Dansby a hell of a lot more than people are willing to admit. Heck, I didn't want to admit it but the truth is plainly visible by now. We miss Warner (duh!), but there wasn't anything to be done about that. We still should have done better at the QB position.

What's my point in putting up this doom and gloom post? Prepare yourselves for a rough season, my compadres, because we're in for some pain.

I've been right there with you Stout, saying 6-10 or 7-9 since preseason. It could get worse if the injuries continue & we all know the QB play has been atrocious!!! If we get too far behind the 8-ball in the W-L column these guys may mail it in.

 

[DoTheDew]

This year? Yeah, our schedule is CAKE (for a good team) and you know what that means? I think it means we're still gonna win 7 games this year but every damn one of them is going to be just as horrifically ugly and painful to sit through as were the first two games.

Whoever wins this division will win at least 8 games. I feel that within a few weeks the best team will become more clear and the NFL, wanting to avoid controversy will tell the refs in a wink wink way to favor that team, at least in division play, to make sure they don't have a losing record when the season ends. Whether that ends up being Seattle, us, or one of the other two remains to be seen. But mark my words, the NFL will do everything in it's power to make sure this division isn't won by a 7-9 team.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I feel that within a few weeks the best team will become more clear and the NFL, wanting to avoid controversy will tell the refs in a wink wink way to favor that team, at least in division play, to make sure they don't have a losing record when the season ends.

I hope you are joking there because there is no way the NFL goes to the Refs like you suggest. The NFL is the Owners and one of the Owners is Bidwill. I'm sure that Bidwill would be happy to have the Refs kill his own team so that someone in the West looks like a champion.

 

[PACardsFan]

2002 vs. 2010? I don't think the seasons compare.

The first and greatest difference - the head coach. Whisenhunt has a plan, we may not agree with it or even understand it, but he has a plan. McGinnis on the other had, as likeable as he was, didn't have a clue!

Second difference - this year's team is not good right now. We can all agree with that; but I believe they will improve. The 2002 team was headed the other direction.

Oh, and that game vs. Dallas in 2002 to get the Cardinals to 4-2, one of the worst played games I have ever witnessed in my life!

A 9-6 overtime win by the Cardinals. Neither team could keep from tripping over their own feet. Bill Grammatica was 3-for-6 kicking field goals, the Dallas kicker missed both his kicks, a field goal and an extra point. The teams only had 2 red-zone possessions each, and all four resulted in zero points. A very ugly game...

Dead on accurate. The current Cardinals are not very good RIGHT NOW. Whisenhunt is too good a coach for this team to not improve. The only thing that could turn this season ugly will be more injuries. The 2002 team was NEVER good & just continued to get worse. They were also coached by a very, very, very bad HC. Probably the worst HC in Cardinal history. So Stout, you're comparing teams with coaches on opposite ends of the spectrum. 2010 team coached by the best coach in Cardinal history & 2002 team coached by the worst coach in Cardinal history. Nothing more needs to be said.

 

[DoTheDew]

I hope you are joking there because there is no way the NFL goes to the Refs like you suggest. The NFL is the Owners and one of the Owners is Bidwill. I'm sure that Bidwill would be happy to have the Refs kill his own team so that someone in the West looks like a champion.

It was said partly tongue in cheek but I really don't believe anyone wins if a 7-9 team makes the playoffs.

 

[arthurracoon]

Oh the memories...2002 was my first full season as a die-hard Cards fan

I remember the 9-6 OT win, followed by the loss in san fran (in typical plummer fashion) & many more

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

We miss Dansby a hell of a lot more than people are willing to admit.

Yes, because we were such a different defense with Dansby on the field.

I think this D has proven we can suck just as bad with or without him.