I disagree that the Vikings game was a weak showing for us, that we were soft physically or showed little heart on D.
First however, I'll never take a win for granted, any win. I've seen us lose too often. I'm thankful for every win, no matter how it happens. It's difficult to win an NFL game, even against bad teams, and Minnesota isn't a bad team.
We've now won 7 in a row, which isn't easy under any circumstances, but is even more difficult when you look at some of the teams we've played and when we played them. Those 7 wins were VS the Ravens, Browns, Seattle, Cincinnati, San Fran, Rams, and Vikings. To win all 3 divisional games in that stretch is no small feat. To win all of those games is a large feat of awesomeness.
Furthermore, 3 of those 7 games were in prime time, where our record has been abysmal. We won all 3. NFL players are creatures of habit, they love their schedules and routines, yet we played 1 flexed prime time game and another Thursday night game. We beat the 49ers, Rams, and Vikings in an 11 day span.
That isn't rolling over or being mentally weak or giving a lack of effort. That is mental strength, mental toughness, when you're playing 3 or 4 physical teams in a row with less preparation, in prime time games, 1 of them flexed, another on a Thursday, and still coming out with the wins in every single game. That's what championship teams are made of. Their tanks were running on empty and they still had enough fortitude to coast with their remaining gas into the nearest rest stop without losing a single game. That's how you win. It doesn't just happen, it isn't easy.
I think this is a magical year for our Cards and I think we have a special team. The extra time off until our next game is going to recharge this team. They dug down deep during that really tough stretch and found they could compete when they were totally spent. The next time they have to dig deep like that, in the playoffs, they know they can do it and they know they have more to give. This team has learned how to blow out teams when possible but also how to grind out the tough games.
This team is full of grinders. Yes, we're less talented at LB (and D-line) in a bad way, but these guys grind and never stop believing in their teammates and coaches. They know what it takes to win any type of game. That doesn't just happen, you have to learn, and we have a coach in BA who has made it possible to learn these lessons while winning games.
I don't buy that the D laid down or had no heart, I find it offensive. They gave up 20 points, it's not a crime. Frankly, I was more disappointed in the offense--if they convert some of those TD's (DJ's drop, not being able to punch it in near the goal line), our defense can play a lot differently and their offense has to start chucking it. The offense just never put it out of reach like that. It happens. No game is perfect, but great teams win games they play like crap in. We did that.
I really have very few concerns going forward. Doesn't mean we're going to win it all, any team can lose any day of the week, but as far as our weaknesses, we've been harping on the same exact weaknesses all year, since training camp frankly. It's nothing new, it's not like some new hole got exposed on our team, it's the same things we've been talking about. But we're 11-2 folks.
11 and 2!!!!!
