Arizona versus Carolina: A conversation about the NFC Championship Game

 The following is a conversation between four strangers about this evening's NFC Championship game (click here for thoughts on the AFC game):

Even in the snow.

JOHN NOLAN: As much as this game on paper should be about the offenses and their respective playmakers, it’s the defenses that will decide who wins.

A conversation about the 2015-16 NFC West

Russell Morris and I discuss what can be expected from the upcoming season in the NFC West. Collaborative discussions of other divisions can be found here: AFC East, AFC West, NFC East.

This is actually how the Cardinals have used Larry Fitzgerald for most of his career.

Arizona Cardinals

2014 NFL Playoffs: Saturday's Wild-Card Round

The following is a conversation previewing the 2014 Wild-Card match-ups (a preview of Sunday's games can be found here): 

Arizona Cardinals v Carolina Panthers @ 4:35 on ESPN

Cam is either revealing the 'S' on his chest or doing the chicken dance.

Mike Langston: Five weeks ago the Panthers were 3-8-1. Now, they are hosting a playoff game. Are they hot? Or, are they the benefactors of a perfectly timed resurrection or a perfectly weak finish to the schedule?

Bryan Harvey: Hm, sounds a bit like divine intervention. That eighth loss, which was a 18 point humiliation against the Vikings, was the team's sixth loss in a row. Then, they beat the Saints, only to have Cam Newton's back fractured two days later. So not only were the Panthers 3-8-1 about five weeks ago, but the day after improving to a still dead 4-8-1, their franchise quarterback also seemed in need of a miracle.

I'm not trying to make light of a car accident, but this is what the script would look like if M. Night Shyamalan made a film about football. Maybe he could call it Indestructible and it could be about an invincible Superman.

Moreover, Carson Palmer could play a quarterback named Mr. Fragile. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if we're to believe the team's been resurrected, then we have to believe in M. Night Shyamalan's genius too.

2010 NFL Playoffs: Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Think of the quest for immortality in the course of the NFL as a five act Shakespearean drama. The preseason was all Prologue. Act 1 was the regular season, giving us straight up details about characterization and setting. Now, we arrive in Act 2, and we are quite familiar with our protagonists. Aaron Rodgers is a noble prince. Charles Woodson is a crafty sage. Clay Matthews is all freight trains and progress, and Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Ryan Grant provide a bevy of knights; and a weak link to the kingdom even lurks in the shadows of the goal post, in the shape of kicker Mason Crosby. The players we know, but the conflict is refreshingly new. For the first time in two years, this team will not be measured against the feats of Brett Favre's arm.

The fact that the Packers made it to Act 2 without number 4 is proof that there is a balm in Gillead. For Aaron Rodgers, this week is not about whether he is fit to lead or measures up to a single legend; this week is all about the field of battle. This week comes down to action; one team versus another. This week is not about revenge or analogies to past lovers. The score will decide who is victorious, and the simplicity of that is enough for a Packers fan to think the future is very bright indeed.

Of course, the continuation of this plot, should the Green Bay Packers win today and next week against New Orleans, could bring us to a day of reckoning in Minnesota, proving that the future is never truly devoid of yesterday's tragedies.

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Rodgers, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, and gentles all,
The flat unraised spirits that have dared
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great an object: can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? or may we cram
Within this wooden O the very casques
That did affright the air at Agincourt?
O, pardon! since a crooked figure may
Attest in little place a million;
And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work.
Suppose within the girdle of these walls
Are now confined two mighty monarchies,
Whose high upreared and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder:
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide on man,
And make imaginary puissance;
Think when we talk of horses, that you see them
Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth;
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings,
Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times,
Turning the accomplishment of many years
Into an hour-glass: for the which supply,
Admit me Chorus to this history;
Who prologue-like your humble patience pray,
Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

2009 NFC West Division Preview

In the past, we broke down every team in detail before the start of the season, but this year we decided to view each division as a dysfunctional American family and base our predictions off their family trees.

Family Portrait:

Place of Residence:

Bill Walsh always knew he wanted to be an artist. In fact, it was never an issue of wanting or becoming; he was always an artist. His parents found him one day in his nursery drawing x's and o's along the walls. Most parents would have been furious at the scarlet and gold splotches he scattered along the walls, but his mother was brought to tears by the x's that, in her eyes, looked more like birds ascending to heaven, even little Bill's father was hypnotized by the grace of Bill's o's, that made him think of the comfort one can only find inside their mother's womb.

As Bill got older, his graceful sketches became majestic paintings. Each one more elaborate than the one preceding it. Soon, his work encompassed entire coast lines and directions on a compass, and other artists came to study under him, before sneaking off in the night and taking the techniques they'd learned under Bill's tutelage to far off destinations, like Green Bay, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Vacation Spot:

The mind of Mike Martz defies all logic. His brush strokes melt time and straight lines into Salvador Dali paintings, causing grown men to weep. His imagination lays waste to reality, removing Walsh's anchored exactitudes and reincarnating Kurt Warner as the tenth avatar of Vishnu, a guide and uplifter of misbegotten souls. He disappears, only to reappear in the shadows, light, and space of Joe Montana the Creator, Steve Young the Destroyer, and Jerry Rice the Preserver. This family finds restoration in the recesses of the mind, guided there by the flowing rivers of Marshall Faulk and Shaun Alexander's fragile bull-like power.

And they call this art.

Favorite Pastime:

The creativity of this family doth runneth over. Ken Whisenhunt creates comic books. Mike Nolan designed men's formal wear. Mike Singletary is a great orator. Matt Hasselbeck is a master military tactician. But the genius that originality requires often causes the human spirit to tread into the darker emotions of human existence. Critics have frowned on the paintings of Alex Smith, plummeting him into the depths of depression. Matt Leinhart writhed under the legacy of his forefathers and opted for a life as a playboy, slipping into the dangerous realms of substance abuse and too many women. Anquan Boldin was driven mad with jealousy by the attention given to his brother Larry, and Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson have mutilated their physical beings while seeking the perfection of their predecessors. The search for the horizon, where the earth meets the celestial, has driven the Bill Walsh School of the Arts into a bankrupt oblivion where genius stutters like some ragged, schizo prophet, carrying a 40 oz.

Teach's Prediction:

San Francisco won seven games last year, but looking at their schedule, I really don't see how they're going to do better than six wins this year. It's quite possible they go into their bye week 1-4. Frank Gore is a solid back, but can he play a whole season at full speed? Who is the quarterback? How old is Isaac Bruce? The one positive I do see for this team is that they played harder for Coach Singletary than they did for Coach Nolan. The last five games of the season they only gave up 14.2 ppg, compared to 28 ppg the in the first 11 games of the season.

In St. Louis, Torry Holt is gone, marking the Greatest Show on Turf as officially closed. If Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery can form a competent receiving duo and Steven Jackson stays healthy, then maybe this team can put a scare into Seattle and Arizona. Of course, the defense will have to do much better than last year also, when it gave up over 30 points in 9 different games.

I expect Seattle and Arizona to battle all the way to the finish for the division crown. If Matt Hasselbeck stays healthy, then I think the addition of TJ Houshmandzadeh will allow him to carry the Seahawks back to the top of the division. The Cardinals have a lot of weapons, but I do think they will need to run the ball better this year and there may be chemistry issues. I also want to see if Kurt Warner can duplicate last season's success.

Langston's Prediction:

If you have been keeping up with our divisional previews, you will have noticed that myself and Teach don't differ to much on our predictions. This division isn't that different. We agree that both the Rams and Niners are works in progess and that the Seahawks and Cardinals will be vying for the title. However, I'm not buying that the 'Hawks will return to division glory.

The Seahawks have the best defense in the division, and it's only going to get better with linebacker Aaron Curry joining the ranks. The offense will be better with Houshmandzadeh catching balls from their Pro Bowl quarterback, but they still have one of the most lackluster running back situations in football with T.J. Duckett, Julius Jones, and Edgerrin James. Both Duckett and Jones have proven to be wildly unreliable, while James has steadily declined since he left Indy. The inconsistent running game will hamper them from winning the division.

With the releases of Roderick Hood, Edgerrin James, and Travis LaBoy, the Cardinals released expendable pieces. By way of free agency and the draft, they replaced them with definite upgrades. Bryant McFadden comes in to take the corner spot opposite Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, helping to form a solid secondary unit with Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle. James will be replaced by Beanie Wells. Though he comes with injury concerns, he has the ability to be something neither James nor Hightower was last season, a game changer. LaBoy is replaced by Clark Haggans, who will bring consistency, veteran leadership and a championship pedigree. Last season they were already the best team in the division and with these acquisitions they seem to have only gotten better, making them my team to beat in '09.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Preview

LARRY FITZGERALD IS THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.

TROY POLAMALU IS VENOM.

THE STATE OF THE WORLD,

AS WE KNOW IT,

IS AT STAKE.

TO BE CONTINUED....

NFC Championship Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles at the Arizona Cardinals

Next Sunday, Fox will premier The Bucket List, starring Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb.  




1) Avoid being traded
2) Don't get injured this year
3) Prevent frat boy drafted by franchise from taking starting job
4) Read playbook more than Bible this year
5) Quit fumbling when defensive linemen breathe on me

6) Wear gloves to help with #5
7) Prove I'm not a system quarter back
8) Get benched during season because it adds drama
9) Almost get coach fired
10) Remember how Mike Martz tried to murder me
11) Avoid playing a home game the entire playoffs
12) Win a game on the East coast
13) Make phone call from Giants sideline, resulting in an unsportsmanlike penalty, so people don't get too caught up in thinking I'm a good leader
14) Remember Larry Fitzgerald is Peter Parker
15) Dust off the Edge because it might still be sharp enough to cut up defenses
16) Don't do what Jake Delhomme just did
17) Make sure Brian Westbrook is healthy
18) Pray for Anquan Boldin's hamstring
19) After beating Giants, show that I'm human by holding back emotions just enough not to cry but just enough to gain the fans' sympathy
20) Win NFC Championship game
21) Win Super Bowl

22) Ride off into the sunset  

Redskins sign Hall

The NFL Network is reporting the Washington Redskins have reached agreement on a one-year contract with cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

In under a week, Hall has gone from a celler dweller of the AFC West to a contender in the NFC East. According to ProFootballTalk.com the contract is said to be the same prorated $1 million salary he would have received if he had stayed in Oakland. It also contains a commitment that the Redskins won’t use the franchise tag on Hall in 2009.

The Skins should welcome Hall with open arms as Shawn Springs has struggled with injuries this season, and has managed to only play in four games. The Redskins have a bye this week and will host the Cowboys on Nov. 16.

Other NFL news:

• Brady Quinn looked spectacular in his debut, throwing for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns. However his effort wasn't enough as Cutler tore apart the Cleveland secondary by throwing for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cutler did most of his damage in the fourth quarter, which included a 92 yard TD pass to Eddie Royal and a 11 yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall with 1:14 remaining. The Broncos won the shoot-out 34-30.
  


• Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals’ first-round draft pick out of Tennessee State, is slated to start this weekends game at corner. Rodgers-Cromartie has started three games this season when the Cardinals used their nickel package to start the game, but now Rodgers-Cromartie will be a fixture in the base defense.
  


• Steelers running back Willie Parker, who returned to action on Monday night after missing several games with a knee injury, won’t play on Sunday against the Colts, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The injury is to his should which Parker sustained in the game against Washington.

2008 NFL Season Previews: #17 Arizona Cardinals

Team: Arizona Cardinals
Division: NFC West
Last Years Record: 8-8
Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt
Offensive Coordinator: Todd Haley

Key Losses:
WR Bryant Johnson
LB Calvin Pace
S Terrence Holt
LB Darryl Blackstock

Key Additions:
LB/DE Travis Leboy
LB Clark Haggans
DL/ Bryan Robinson
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Breakdown of the offense:
Matt Leinart has had a rough off season, starting with his broken left collarbone that limited him to just five starts. Then some pictures of him and a couple buddies partying with some younger(I am trying to be nice, they looked like high schoolers) females hit the Internet via TheDirty.com. These pictures made there way from blog to blog before hitting ESPN, and eventually becoming a national story. It is safe to say these not-so-innocent pictures ruined his vacation. Many wondered if he was committed enough to be a starter in the NFL, and asked why was he beer bonging instead of watching game tape or rehabbing. Certainly this has never happened in the NFL before, NFL players drinking way to much with there entourage and a couple coeds. It was called deplorable and disrespectful to his team and the fans. But lets be honest, he was doing something a lot of NFL players don't do, drinking at home instead of drinking and driving. This has put the microscope on the former first round pick, and puts this season as a make-or-break year for him. If he fails, he was partying to hard and if he prevails it proves he was doing all the work needed before he partied. That is, if he even wins the job over veteran Kurt Warner. Warner was brought in to show Leinart the ropes and give him time to learn the offense. Leinarts injury last season, gave Warner a chance to shine, en route to a 27-touchdown and 3,417 yard season. But even before the injury, Whisenhunt had alternated between the two quarterbacks. Leinart enters training camp as the number one guy, but Whisenhunt will play the quarterback deemed the best. Penn States Anthony Morelli enters camp as the third stringer.

Edgerrin james had a decent but unimpressive year, 1,222 yards, where he only had four runs of twenty yards or more. He is getting old, well for a NFL running back, as he just turned thirty on August 1st. The Cardinals are not unhappy with James at all, but they do need more production out of the position. They were hoping to add a speedy back to compliment James, but they waited to long. Well into fifth round, they drafted Richmond's Tim Hightower, who does not help the speed out of the backfield with his 4.6 40 yard dash times. Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington return but are likely to be phased out of the offense. Terrelle Smith never gets goal-line touches but he provides decent enough blocking to remain the starting fullback.

The Cardinals have one of the best tandems at receiver in the league with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. But there are a couple of issues regarding Boldin. After the Cardinals restructured Larry Fitzgeralds deal in the off season, Boldin decided he wants a new deal as well. He deserves it, as he led the NFC in receptions with 100 and yards with 1409, while adding 10 touchdown receptions. At one point it looked as if Boldin would holdout and the Cardinals may trade him. Boldins other issues include a recent hamstring injury which required an MRI, but thankfully for the Cardinals it revealed no damage. Although there was no damage the hamstring is one of the injuries that can hamper players all season long. The loss of Bryant Johnson was huge as he was one of the best third receivers in football. Steve Breaston and third round pick Early Doucet look to compete for that third spot with Sean Morey and Jerheme Urban. Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick are serviceable enough at tight end, Troy Bienemann will help as a backup.

The offensive line is the unit that has improved the most since Whisenhunts arrival, that can be attributed mostly to line coach and former Redskins great Russ Grimm. The projected starters include Al Johnson at center, Reggie Wells and Deuce Lutui at guards, and Mike Gandy and Levi Brown at the tackles. They are stronger and smarter, and will continue to improve. The Cardinals will need it if they expect to make a run at the playoffs.

Breakdown of the defense:
The defensive line had major setbacks last season due to injuries and a lack of depth. Darnell Dockett was impacted probably the most, as he had 8 sacks in the first half of the season and after the injuries hit he only had 1 in the last 8 games. Mostly due to the starters playing much more than they should have. This is the reason the Cardinals made it a point to sign Travis Laboy, who will compete with injury prone Bertrand Berry at defensive end/outside linebacker. They added even more depth by drafting Calais Campbell out of the U in the second round and Iowa's Kenny Iwebema in the fourth. Alan Branch and Gabe Watson will see playing time, Branch could ultimately emerge as a starter.

The linebacking core was hurt by the loss of Calvin Pace(via free agency to the NY Jets), but the front office acted swiftly by signing two backers (Clark Haggans and Matt Stewart). They will be a nice compliment to regulars Karlos Dansby and Chike Okeafor. Arizona also signed LSU's Ali Highsmith as an undrafted free agent.

The Cardinals used their first round pick to get one of the highest rated corners in the draft, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He is a playmaker with tremendous potential to become one of the best corners in the league. He will compete for a starting gig with incumbent starters Eric Green and Rod Hood. The drafting of Cromartie gives the Cardinals options, as they now move Antrel Rolle to free safety, a move will improve the unit and give Antrel the chance to show he is a better player than he has played. Their best player on defense is easily Adrian Wilson, the Pro Bowl player is their anchor. The depth of this unit is the only reason this unit will not be great.

Special Teams Breakdown:
Kicker Neil Rackers has been declining since his Pro Bowl season in 2005 but he still looks to be one of the better kickers in the NFC. With Scott Player losing the job at punter last year, and Mitch Berger not kicking any better, the Cardinals signed Dirk Johnson and they hope he can be a manageable punter until they can find someone suitable to be their permanent punter. Steve Breaston emerged as a good kick returner last season, showing off his speed and breakaway ability, but needs to minimize mistakes. J.J. Arrington offers help of kickoff duty.

Season Schedule:(all time PST)
Sep. 7 @ San Francisco 49ers 1:15 p.m.
Sep. 14 MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:15 p.m.
Sep. 21 @ Washington Redskins 10 a.m.
Sep. 28 @ N.Y. Jets 10 a.m.
Oct. 5 BUFFALO BILLS 1:15 p.m.
Oct. 12 DALLAS COWBOYS 1:15 p.m.
Oct. 19 BYE
Oct. 26 @Carolina Panthers 10 a.m.
Nov. 2 @St. Louis Rams 11 a.m.
Nov. 10 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers 6:30 p.m. (MNF)
Nov. 16 @ Seattle Seahawks 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 23 NEW YORK GIANTS 2:15 p.m.
Nov. 27 @ Philadelphia Eagles 6:15 p.m. (NFL Network-Thursday Night)
Dec. 7 ST. LOUIS RAMS 2:15 p.m.
Dec. 14 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 21 @ New England Patriots 11 a.m.
Dec. 28 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2:15 p.m

Season Outlook: 8-9 wins
The NFC West is still one of the worst divisions in football and should only help the Cardinals in improving their record once again. This may be one of the toughest non-division schedules I have seen, with them having the NFC East, New England, and the Vikings. Where each game could easily be losses. I look for them to make noise in the first half, but fall apart in the second where they have to play the Giants, Vikings, @ New England, @ Philly, and there last game at home against the Seahawks. If they want to make the playoffs they will need to win almost all of their division games and steal a couple in the second half against better opponents.Overall the defense needs to improve as they lost a couple close games for the team, if they can improve and stop offenses in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals will compete for the NFC West divisional crown.

Teach's Thoughts: A "Matt Leinart Beer Bong Day" might cause franchises the sports world over to rethink giving out bobblehead dolls. Plus, it makes sense. What person living in the Arizona desert isn't thirsty for beer, water, or even wins?