[desertrat]

The Arizona Cardinals will host their 1st ever NFC Title game against the Philadelphia Eagles next weekend! I never thought I'd live to see the day that our Cardinals would be in this position! Good thing I won a lot of cash on the bowl games, tickets for this game will be expensive but I guarantee you I will find a way to be at this game!

[Bette]

I keep thinking that the Cards last two games are flukes. But they actually have a running game and the defense has stepped out.

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by Bette

I keep thinking that the Cards last two games are flukes. But they actually have a running game and the defense has stepped out.

I think it actually hurt the Cards to clinch the division as early as they did with a schedule that was packed with playoff contenders. Teams they played after they had already clinched: @ Philly, Vikings, @ Patriots....Cardinals did not need to win any of these games while the teams they played were fighting for their playoff lives. Once the games started counting again for the Cardinals, they have stepped up. Eagles will be quite challenge for them next week, but I like our chances with the future Hall of Famer at QB..Kurt Warner!

[bears9]

I'm probably going to regret this but I'm picking the Cardinals because as of the last two weeks they are more well rounded, now the running game thing could be a fluke because Carolina was 23rd in the league against the run and Atlanta 28nd. Philly is pretty good against the run, Stewart Bradley has been awesome. But I have that idea in the back of my head that the Cards might run now. But Philly their running game won't do nothing! So Arizona can gear up against the pass. So I pick Arizona to go to the Super Bowl

[Bette]

Originally Posted by bears9

I'm probably going to regret this but I'm picking the Cardinals because as of the last two weeks they are more well rounded, now the running game thing could be a fluke because Carolina was 23rd in the league against the run and Atlanta 28nd. Philly is pretty good against the run, Stewart Bradley has been awesome. But I have that idea in the back of my head that the Cards might run now. But Philly their running game won't do nothing! So Arizona can gear up against the pass. So I pick Arizona to go to the Super Bowl

I like Arizona and I would love to see them go to the Super Bowl and shut all the people up who have for years saying they would never do anything.
Maybe desertrat is right and the reason they looked so bad in the last part of the season was because they had clinched the title so early. It didnt look like the same team in the postseason for sure.
The weather wont be a factor, it will just be what the two teams have to give. Two veteran quarterbacks. Two veteran running backs.
But still, I have to give the edge to Philly (as a Cowboy fan that hurts)
The veteran coach, a Jim Johnson defense, and the wily Donovan McNabb.
At any rate, it promises to be a good game.

[Cadillacman]

Let's face it, the Cards won from plenty of help from Delhomme, McNabb won't be doing that. The Eagles D are playing possessed, and I'm not sold on the Cardinal's pass D. This IS the year people............

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Cadillacman

Let's face it, the Cards won from plenty of help from Delhomme, McNabb won't be doing that. The Eagles D are playing possessed, and I'm not sold on the Cardinal's pass D. This IS the year people............

That hasnt been brought out much, but that is one truthful sentence. Maybe Jake forgot who he was playing for.
I have seen him kind of cave under pressure before although that was heck of a game that year against the Pats. He hasnt been the same since I dont think.

[Seahawker 562]

Like I said once they got the spot in the playoffs they slacked off and would step it up when it rerally counted. And thats exactly what their doing, cards win this one.

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by Cadillacman

Let's face it, the Cards won from plenty of help from Delhomme, McNabb won't be doing that. The Eagles D are playing possessed, and I'm not sold on the Cardinal's pass D. This IS the year people............

Can you remind what the reason for McNabb's getting benched a few weeks ago was again?

[CowboysFTW]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

Like I said once they got the spot in the playoffs they slacked off and would step it up when it rerally counted. And thats exactly what their doing, cards win this one.

i agree. the cards are looking strong and will shoke alot of eagle fans when they win sunday.

[njpsufan]

He had been playing like crap the previous couple weeks. Tie agst Cincy!! As bad as it seemed at the time... I mean really, down by 3 at half time,... it was what McNabb, and the team needed. After that game they all seemed to wake up and , except for the Skins game, played well.

[bears9]

Ok, the Cardinals aren't going to run on Philly, they're run D is so much better than Atlanta and Carolina's. Philly won't run on the Cards, so it comes down to one teams QB and the others seconddary. I give AZ and advantage and I think they'll win this game.

[Notorious C.L.E.]

I am intrigued with this match-up for obvious reasons. If you told me on Thanksgiving that the Cardinals-Eagles game was a preview of the NFC Championship Game, I would have called you either senile or prophetic. Both of these teams have overcome their fair share of adversity this season and caught lightning in a bottle at the most opportune time. I do not expect this game to be a blowout this time around, but I didn’t expect the Cardinals to handle the Panthers last Saturday or the Eagles to get all the help they needed at the end of the regular season either. That said, I think the Eagles hold the advantage on paper.

Philadelphia Eagles
Like Dick LeBeau, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson does not get enough credit for having that defense play at a consistently high level. He is the most aggressive defensive coordinator in the NFL, attacking at every opportunity from everywhere on the field, but the mad scientist makes it work, which is all that counts. He mixes up traditional rushes with exotic zone blitzes that are possible due to the athleticism at defensive end for the Eagles. I think he has even improved at disguising the defense at all three levels, which is dangerous considering he is already responsible for forcing a lot of turnovers.

Ultimately, the biggest strength of the Eagles on defense is the trio of Sheldon Brown, Asante Samuel, and Lito Sheppard. Brown does not get the headlines that Samuel gets, but he is hands down their best pure cover corner. He is an aggressive-minded corner with frustrating physicality, good range, and plus instincts. He does not get flat-out beat too often. Samuel is an overrated cover corner, although still above-average in that regard, but his ball skills are unbelievable. He baits quarterbacks into throws and then gets amazing breaks on the ball to force turnovers. He is the perfect number two cornerback. In the nickel, the Eagles have the best in the NFL in Lito Sheppard, who went to Hawaii twice before being relegated to sub-package situations. Brian Dawkins does an excellent job of lining up the secondary and serves as the inspiration for the entire defense.

But, the offense of the Eagles worries me some. I think the Donovan McNabb story is heartwarming, but he still needs to step it up. He missed some opportunities and left some points on the table against the Giants. He played well enough to win, but with Super Bowl aspirations, he needs to continue to improve on his game. He failed to recognize several receivers downfield for a shot at the endzone. He sometimes falls in love with the intermediate passing game too much and neglects the other aspects of this offense.

This leads me to the running game. We saw Andy Reid experience a change of heart toward the end of the regular season and actually show some dedication to the running game. In my opinion, that trend needs to continue. The Cardinals defense has played surprisingly well against two very good running teams, but I still firmly believe that the Eagles can carve out some success on the ground. Westbrook is underrated as a runner and Buckhalter has been productive as well. Balance is the important metric for the Eagles because it will make their passing game all the more efficient. And efficiency wins ballgames.

Arizona Cardinals
The most impressive thing to me about the Cardinals’ postseason run is that their defense has elevated their overall play to another level. They are getting production in areas that they were struggling with weeks ago, particularly in the front seven. Darnell Dockett and Bertrand Berry have been generating more pressure on the quarterback in the past two games, which is definitely helping the back seven do their job. In fact, I heard a story that both of them have spent extra time in preparation, going over film with a comb and using minute details as keys for getting a good jump. In particular, I heard that they picked up on the fact that Matt Ryan will slightly lift his left ankle before taking the snap. Granted, that is speculative, but it would explain the fact that they were faster off the line in that game than any other this season.

Speaking of the back seven, it definitely is equipped with a few building blocks. Karlos Dansby is one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL and would probably find a spot in my top five of such a list. He is a true playmaker that combines a nose for the ball with explosive athleticism and schematic versatility. Geno Hayes reminds me of a younger Jeremiah Trotter and I think he is an asset in their run defense. But, more intriguing to me, is their compilation of talent in the secondary. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie looks the part of a shutdown corner and has played the part since being inserted in the lineup midway through the season. Their pair of safeties in Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson is one of the better tandems in the NFL. Rolle is better suited to a centerfielder role as opposed to cornerback and I would probably put Wilson right behind the Reed / Sanders / Polamalu triumvirate.

Still, the bread and butter of the Cardinals is their offense. In particular, the playmakers on the perimeter. Larry Fitzgerald is one of my favorite receivers in the NFL because he is a quarterback’s dream. He is tough as nails, possesses hands like glue, runs reliable routes, and attacks the ball once it is in the air. His uncanny ability to come down with the rock in a jump ball situation is invaluable and incredibly frustrating because the defense can do everything right and still give up a big play. Opposite him is Anquan Boldin, who is another of my favorite receivers and shares a lot of Fitzgerald’s qualities. But, Boldin is on another level when it comes to picking up yards after the catch because his aggressiveness is similar to a running back when the ball is in his hands. Even Steve Breaston is dangerous because he stretches the defense with his deceptive speed and elusiveness. Slowing these three down is hard enough. Stopping them is out of the question.

Therefore, it would be in the interest of the Eagles to make pressuring Kurt Warner the number one priority. Warner has been superlative this season, but I think he has become a little overrated. He is not the Hall of Fame quarterback that some are making him out to be at all. He is certainly in the upper echelon, and I would feel comfortable with him under center if I were running an NFL franchise, but he has holes in his game that are worrisome against elite defenses. Notably, his inability to handle pressure in the face of uncertainty. When Warner is facing vanilla defenses that have their favorite pressure points, he excels at beating the blitz. But, when Warner is being relentlessly attacked by an aggressive defense that disguises both its blitzes and coverage shells, he can begin to unravel very quickly because he gets impatient in the pocket and makes mistakes. The Cardinals offensive line needs to come prepared to protect Warner, meaning they need to know their assignments by heart, because in the heat of battle, even a fraction of a second in reaction time can mean the difference in a confusion-creating scheme such as the Eagles.


In the end, I think I am going with the Eagles to advance to the Super Bowl.

*

[njpsufan]

This is the same Kurt Warner who lost his job in St. Louis and was run out of town in NY right??? He is an average QB at best, but for some reason people keep thinking about his St. Louis days. He was a perfect fit for that offense... no doubt about it. And while Ariz has played tough in the playoffs, I just don't see it. Warner and James??? 2 guys who are past their prime. If James was that good you don't think Indy would have kept him??? Eagles 24-10.

[shortsleeve47]

Andy Reid is just an excellent coach and fans were wanting to get rid of him this year! I would have been calling Jerry Jones to hire him if he was let go...he always beats the Cowboys(I'm a Cowboys fan).

I choose Eagles to win because of their coaching.