Why the NFC West race remains open

[O]

Good read from Sando.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post?id=6375

 

[82CardsGrad]

It's gonna take 9 wins to win the West. And I just don't see how the Cards get there...

 

[jmt]

If we can't win nine games who cares if we win the Division?

 

[nashman]

If we can't win nine games then we don' deserve to go to the playoffs! If we get on track this team can still win 9 or even more games this season. Lets not worry about the Niners as they will be coming back to earth soon enough, I am not putting much stock in to a 3-1 team with 2 of the wins coming from pathetic opponents and 1 coming against us without Breaston, Boldin (both of whom are huge to our offense).

 

[RugbyMuffin]

It's gonna take 9 wins to win the West. And I just don't see how the Cards get there...

By winning 8 more games.

 

[82CardsGrad]

By winning 8 more games.

As I said.... I just don't see how the Cards geth there.

 

[nashman]

houston = win imo
seattle = win
giants = loss
carolina = win at home
chicago = toss up possible win
seattle = win
st. louis = win
tenn = road game but I predict win
minn = loss at home
SF = revenge game WIN
detroit = win
st. louis = win
Packers = loss

Our season could easily go like this, thats how you get 8 more wins

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Another example of why I love Sando. While 99% of writers and fans completely overreact to the most recent week or turn of events with a team, he manages to keep a level head and keep things in perspective.

I would be interested to see what the records are of teams in Week 4 of last season were. While I am sure some of the fast starters continued to do well I am sure there are numerous examples of those that fell off the pace and vice versa.

I look at the NFL season as 4 quarters of 4 games. If we win next week (and we should - if we don't all bets are off) we will be 2-2 and ready to take on the rest of the season.

 

[nashman]

And again at least we have the ability to win games, the Niners are not all of a sudden going to get a great QB and Wr's and start scoring bunches of points. They are what they are a good defensive team that does NOT rely on its offense to do much, by the way that defense will have some off games as well as they will be exhausted carrying the team!

 

[82CardsGrad]

houston = win imo
seattle = win
giants = loss
carolina = win at home
chicago = toss up possible win
seattle = win
st. louis = win
tenn = road game but I predict win
minn = loss at home
SF = revenge game WIN
detroit = win
st. louis = win
Packers = loss

Our season could easily go like this, thats how you get 8 more wins

10 & 3 over our final 13 games? With 6 of those 10 W's coming on the road?? Wow.... OK! Don't bogart that Kool-Aide brother!!!

 

[nashman]

You ask how I showed you! Where are these tough road games that we can't win?

 

[Buckybird]

And again at least we have the ability to win games, the Niners are not all of a sudden going to get a great QB and Wr's and start scoring bunches of points. They are what they are a good defensive team that does NOT rely on its offense to do much, by the way that defense will have some off games as well as they will be exhausted carrying the team!

and our defense has the ability 2 lose games. If our O doesn't get it going this weekend we are in deep doodoo.

 

[TJ]

Sando = most unbiased reporter on ESPN's payroll. Used to live in the Bay Area, wrote for a Seattle newspaper, yet makes it a point to give attention to all four division teams.

 

[82CardsGrad]

You ask how I showed you! Where are these tough road games that we can't win?

You're joking... right?

 

[nashman]

Whatever cards grad why instead of the snide comments you actually post what games on the road you think this team is not capable of winning...can you do that?

 

[nashman]

here let me do it FOR you , Giants on the road I said loss, Bears on the road I said possible win go either way, Tenn not looking that tough I think we win, SF is a fraud I predict a win? Where's all these tough road games you speak of?

 

[DieHardCardFan]

I am with nashman on this. It was last year that we were 2-0 and fell to 2-2 and then went to 4-2. After that went to 7-3. Then lost 2 straight to be 7-5. And still only ended up 9-7 after some humiliating losses to the Patriots, Vikings and Eagles.

Winning the next 5 division games is not out of the question at all in my opinion. And SF are not as good as alot of 3-1 teams. I think the next few weeks is gonna expose them.

I still think this team finishes 10-6 even though I originally predicted 11-5, that home opener screwed me up pretty bad, I did not see that coming.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Here is how I see things going for San Fran:

Oct 11 ATL @ SF - Loss
Oct 25 SF @ HOU - Win
Nov 01 SF @ IND - Loss
Nov 08 TEN @ SF - Win
Nov 12 CHI @ SF - Loss
Nov 22 SF @ GB - Loss
Nov 29 JAC @ SF - Win
Dec 06 SF @ SEA - Loss (Matt should be healthy and that place is hard to play in)
Dec 14 ARI @ SF - Loss
Dec 20 SF @ PHI - Loss
Dec 27 DET @ SF - Win - This could go either way. Detroit is still weak but they are actually competing this year.
Jan 03 SF @ STL - Win

So I have them going 8-8

 

[82CardsGrad]

here let me do it FOR you , Giants on the road I said loss, Bears on the road I said possible win go either way, Tenn not looking that tough I think we win, SF is a fraud I predict a win? Where's all these tough road games you speak of?

First, I find it extremely difficult to seriously comment on this topic as, anyone who follows the Cards would know that any road game, no matter where or when it is, is a struggle for this team. Yes, we played very well in Jacksonville. However, it was a hot, sunny day and their defense is mediocre at best, and - a NFL team will win one every now and then...

So, while I don't have the time to research just how many regular season road wins the Cards have averaged over the past 10 years or so, I think it's safe to say that you can probably count them on a couple of fingers...
I'm not saying that they can't win 5, 6 or more road games in a season. I'm saying it's highly unlikely... like almost impossible for this team.

 

[az1965]

If we can't win nine games who cares if we win the Division?

Why not?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The Cards are good enough to beat anyody and inconsistent enough to lose to anybody. The only ,what i would call sure loss, is the game at NY Giants. They'll be favored in all their home games the rest of the way. Then they have the added factor of me attending road games in Chicago and Tennessee. I'm on an incrdible streak. I haven't seen any of my teams (Cards,Sox, Buckeyes, Bulls) lose a game i've attended in 3 years. I believe i'm on a 16 game win streak. So look at it this way to finish out:
Hou-W
@Sea-W
@NYG-L
Car-W
@Chi-W
Sea-W
@Stl-W
@Tenn-W
Minn-W
@SF-50/50
@Det-W
Stl-W
GB-W

Final record 13-3 or 12-4. I know that won't realistically be the case but,other than NYG and Chi on the road, the Cards have a very favorable schedule.

 

[PoolBoy]

we can win every game put in front of us. that should be the teams mindset. I go into every week thinking we will win, as should everyone ESPECIALLY those on the team. we are the NFC champs, the only team we could even be expecting to lose to would be the Steelers, who we don't play. We as fans and the team need to start acting like the NFC Champs that we are. We need to crush the teams that are much inferior (Rams, Detroit, Seattle) and win the tougher games (NYG, SF, Min)

 

[ajcardfan]

If we can't win nine games who cares if we win the Division?

I do. I'd take a division title at 8-8 if that's what had to happen. We'd be in the playoffs with a home game. I'm not so spoiled by last year that I'd turn my nose up by that. It'd beat the hell out of almost every other season we've had here in Arizona.

 

[Russ Smith]

Here is how I see things going for San Fran:

Oct 11 ATL @ SF - Loss
Oct 25 SF @ HOU - Win
Nov 01 SF @ IND - Loss
Nov 08 TEN @ SF - Win
Nov 12 CHI @ SF - Loss
Nov 22 SF @ GB - Loss
Nov 29 JAC @ SF - Win
Dec 06 SF @ SEA - Loss (Matt should be healthy and that place is hard to play in)
Dec 14 ARI @ SF - Loss
Dec 20 SF @ PHI - Loss
Dec 27 DET @ SF - Win - This could go either way. Detroit is still weak but they are actually competing this year.
Jan 03 SF @ STL - Win

So I have them going 8-8

I think they'll lose to Houston honestly.

They probably beat Seattle in the rematch, not sure.

I agree 8 wins seems likely for them.

 

[Syracusecards]

we can win every game put in front of us. that should be the teams mindset. I go into every week thinking we will win, as should everyone ESPECIALLY those on the team. we are the NFC champs, the only team we could even be expecting to lose to would be the Steelers, who we don't play. We as fans and the team need to start acting like the NFC Champs that we are. We need to crush the teams that are much inferior (Rams, Detroit, Seattle) and win the tougher games (NYG, SF, Min)

Right on! Even though Indy is a great team and Manning played amazingly well, I was still disgusted last week because I'm expecting us to win with the amount of talent on this team.

Kind of funny how much the fans can mirror a team as far as turning around the culture from expecting to lose to expecting to win.