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Winless In Seattle
Robin PottratzEagles/Cardinals preview
January 12th 2009 04:41
The NFC Championship game runs through Arizona this year, now sit and think about that for a moment. The Arizona Cardinals had never won back to back playoff games before this season. I correctly predicted that they would be the Falcons but I sure missed picking them to beat the Panthers. So now I am writing a breakdown of the Philadelphia Eagles at the Arizona Cardinals NFC Championship game.
Breaking down the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona backed their way into the playoffs after winning a creampuff division in the NFC West. Playing poorly for several games until the final regular season contest, lots of people wrote the Cardinals off. When Anquan Boldin injured a hamstring and didn’t dress for the Panthers game, more said “This is the last game” for the Cardinals. But Arizona went into Charlotte and beat the mess out of Carolina and now will host the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Beating Carolina was their first win on East Coast this season. Among the several losses in the East was a 48 to 20 drubbing by the Eagles.
Kurt Warner is looking like his old Ram’s self from “The greatest show on turf” days when he put up spectacular numbers. Three receivers had over 1,000 yards in receiving yards in 2008 for Arizona. Even if Anquan Boldin misses this game as well, the Cardinals can light teams up with the passing game. Protecting Kurt Warner is the key; given time he will find somebody open and put the ball in the right spot.
But something that has given the Cardinals some new life on offense is just enough of a running game to give pause to opposing defenses. Future NFL Hall of Famer Edgerrin James was benched for most of the regular season. Now he is playing again and doing a good job, trying to audition for a new team in 2009.
Arizona’s defense was subpar in most of the 2008 NFL regular season games. But they feed off of doubt in the media and have a “us against the world” attitude. They shut down the Falcon’s running game in week one of the playoffs. Then they contributed to Jake Delhomme’s meltdown in the next playoff game.
To beat the Eagles will require the Cardinals to limit turnovers and sacks against Jim Johnson’s stellar defense. Live by the blitz; die by the blitz at times. If Warner can burn the Eagles on a blitz he will find Larry Fitzgerald for big plays. On defense they need to contain Brian Westbrook and avoid a big play by DeSean Jackson
Breaking down the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles battled injuries and ineptitude at times in the 2008 regular season. But after being benched for part of one game Donovan McNabb really turned his game up a notch or twelve.
Rookie receiver DeSean Jackson has given the Eagles a deep threat for the first time since some dude called TO was in Philly. Kevin Curtis is a scrappy and dependable possession receiver who makes key plays. Brian Westbrook is his usually self which is bad news for the Cardinals. And now his backup Correll Buckhalter has stepped up and is a good running back in his own right.
The Philadelphia Eagles defense is led by blitzmaster coordinator Jim Johnson and can bring the nasty. I believe this to be the hardest hitting defense in the NFC. If Asante Samuel is healthy he and Sheldon Brown can possibly shut down the Arizona passing game.
To beat the Cardinals is simple for Philly. Disrupt Kurt Warner and break his rhythm. Warner is streaky and tends to not play well if hit often early in the game. On offense the Eagles need a big play early to dampen what is a very emotional defense for the Cardinals at this point of the season.
Prediction for the Eagles/Cardinals NFC Championship Game
Playing at home is a big bonus for the Cardinals who will love that warm weather with will help Air Whistenhunt’s offense. I have been saying “Watch the Eagles” for several weeks, I just had a feeling about them.
But that feeling has changed and I think Arizona has caught fire at the right time. We remember what momentum did for the Giants last season. The Eagles/Cardinals NFC Championship Game will be won by Arizona 35 to 24.
Breaking down the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona backed their way into the playoffs after winning a creampuff division in the NFC West. Playing poorly for several games until the final regular season contest, lots of people wrote the Cardinals off. When Anquan Boldin injured a hamstring and didn’t dress for the Panthers game, more said “This is the last game” for the Cardinals. But Arizona went into Charlotte and beat the mess out of Carolina and now will host the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Beating Carolina was their first win on East Coast this season. Among the several losses in the East was a 48 to 20 drubbing by the Eagles.
Kurt Warner is looking like his old Ram’s self from “The greatest show on turf” days when he put up spectacular numbers. Three receivers had over 1,000 yards in receiving yards in 2008 for Arizona. Even if Anquan Boldin misses this game as well, the Cardinals can light teams up with the passing game. Protecting Kurt Warner is the key; given time he will find somebody open and put the ball in the right spot.
But something that has given the Cardinals some new life on offense is just enough of a running game to give pause to opposing defenses. Future NFL Hall of Famer Edgerrin James was benched for most of the regular season. Now he is playing again and doing a good job, trying to audition for a new team in 2009.
Arizona’s defense was subpar in most of the 2008 NFL regular season games. But they feed off of doubt in the media and have a “us against the world” attitude. They shut down the Falcon’s running game in week one of the playoffs. Then they contributed to Jake Delhomme’s meltdown in the next playoff game.
To beat the Eagles will require the Cardinals to limit turnovers and sacks against Jim Johnson’s stellar defense. Live by the blitz; die by the blitz at times. If Warner can burn the Eagles on a blitz he will find Larry Fitzgerald for big plays. On defense they need to contain Brian Westbrook and avoid a big play by DeSean Jackson
Breaking down the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles battled injuries and ineptitude at times in the 2008 regular season. But after being benched for part of one game Donovan McNabb really turned his game up a notch or twelve.
Rookie receiver DeSean Jackson has given the Eagles a deep threat for the first time since some dude called TO was in Philly. Kevin Curtis is a scrappy and dependable possession receiver who makes key plays. Brian Westbrook is his usually self which is bad news for the Cardinals. And now his backup Correll Buckhalter has stepped up and is a good running back in his own right.
The Philadelphia Eagles defense is led by blitzmaster coordinator Jim Johnson and can bring the nasty. I believe this to be the hardest hitting defense in the NFC. If Asante Samuel is healthy he and Sheldon Brown can possibly shut down the Arizona passing game.
To beat the Cardinals is simple for Philly. Disrupt Kurt Warner and break his rhythm. Warner is streaky and tends to not play well if hit often early in the game. On offense the Eagles need a big play early to dampen what is a very emotional defense for the Cardinals at this point of the season.
Prediction for the Eagles/Cardinals NFC Championship Game
Playing at home is a big bonus for the Cardinals who will love that warm weather with will help Air Whistenhunt’s offense. I have been saying “Watch the Eagles” for several weeks, I just had a feeling about them.
But that feeling has changed and I think Arizona has caught fire at the right time. We remember what momentum did for the Giants last season. The Eagles/Cardinals NFC Championship Game will be won by Arizona 35 to 24.
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