Here we go again with the Arizona Cardinals. No one wants to take them seriously for the third straight weekend and once again they are the underdogs. This time it's against Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though Arizona got blown out against Philly back on Thanksgiving Night, I still think they will pull out the win this time around. They are a different team than the one that finished the season like they didn't deserve to even be in the playoffs. They have been known all season as a team that is one-dimensional with the likes of Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald anchoring an impressive passing game. Now, over the past two games, they've developed a running game to go along with their proficient air-attack.As a team, the Cardinals have rushed for 231 yards over the past two games. I know that's not stellar, but that's all they need when they have this kind of offense. Keeping the defense honest is the key to their success. If they can establish any kind of running game early, it just makes it that much more difficult to cover what I consider to be the best receiver this season in the NFL. Fitzgerald will be the difference maker in this game. It's amazing at some of the catches this guy can make. The Eagles on the other hand, do not have a receiver who can make the grabs that Fitzgerald can. I know they have Brian Westbrook, but Fitzgerald will catch those deep balls from Warner when the game is on the line.
The Eagles come into this weekend riding high, winning six of their last seven games. Many of the team members started growing a playoff beard when they were 5-5-1 and looked like they weren't going to be playing in January. This season has had its ups and downs, with the speculation that McNabb and head coach Andy Reid might see their jobs in Philadelphia come to a close at season's end. This season also showed that McNabb didn't realize there were ties in the NFL. It still boggles my mind, especially after hearing the quote: "I wonder what they would do if it were the Super Bowl." Anyway, they have had a great run, the defense is playing great and McNabb is playing well right now. It's their turn to travel across country, similar to what the Cardinals had to do the last time these two teams played.
There is a lot of pressure on Philadelphia to finally win a title with Reid and McNabb. This is their fifth trip to the NFC Championship Game and if they do not come away with a Super Bowl title, maybe some changes will be made. For a team that looked like they weren't going anywhere 11 games into the season, now the Eagles are the favorite in a conference championship game. I don't think McNabb will handle the pressure well. He'll lead his team to two scores (his defense will get the other one), but a couple of key mistakes will help the Cardinals move onto an improbable Super Bowl appearance.
CARDINALS 24 EAGLES 21
Shawn Marosek
2 comments:
All valid comments, but I just have to throw out there that the Eagles defense is a lot better than the Falcons' or the Panthers' D. But I agree that the Eagles defense will be crucial in scoring points.
What? Shawn still knows how to post! :)... I expect an AFC breakdown too, haha.
I think the Eagles pass rush is extremely important in this game because you are right about Fitzgerald being a major weapon. The only game all year where the Jets had any semblance of a pass rush was against Arizona and they led 34-0 at halftime. Warner is a much different quarterback when he's been hit a few times. I have to agree with Jaxster on her point. The Eagles defense is miles ahead of Carolina and Atlanta. I wouldn't expect a big running day from the Cards. And don't expect McNabb to throw 5 picks like Delhomme did last week either.
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