A Look at the NFC Playoff Picture from the Arizona Cardinals Perspective
by cgolden on Nov 13, 2008 7:05 AM MST
in General Arizona Cardinals News
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PrintIt's probably to early to print Arizona Cardinals playoff tickets but a four game lead with seven to play has me thinking, 'what if." I normally not one to get ahead of myself but with a 6-3 record, I simply can't help myself. First I will say that the Cardinals still have plenty of work to do before they can start worrying about playoff seeding. This weeks game against a suddenly healthy Seahawks game can not be over looked, especially considering that it's on the road. If they don't win that game, they'll be faced with two very difficult games (NYG and PHI) that could leave them staring 6-6 in the face. Bottom line the Cardinals have to continue playing well if they want keep pace in a tough NFC.
Here's what the playoff picture looks like after week nine and a quick note on the top teams remaining schedules (after the jump):
1. New York Giants (8-1) - The Giants remaining schedule is pretty tough considering that every team is over .500. After this weeks match-up with the Ravens, every remaining game will be against a NFC team vying for the playoffs including three NFC East opponents and Arizona, Carolina and Minnesota. Four of their final seven games are on the road.
2. Carolina (7-2) - The Panthers have an easier schedule than the Giants but the surprising strength of the NFC South keeps it from being too easy. They've got the Lions this week followed by road games at Atlanta and Green Bay. Next is back to back home games against Tampa and Denver. Then they go on the road to finish the season with consecutive road games against the Giants and Saints. They face three losing teams in the final seven (DET, GB & NO) but four of the final seven are on the road.
3. Arizona (6-3) - I'm pretty sure that we all know the Cardinals schedule for the remainder of the season. But just to make sure we're looking at apples to apples, the Cardinals will face three losing teams (SEA twice and STL) and four of the final seven are at home.
4. Chicago (5-4) - Looking at the Bears schedule makes you wonder if they're not the team that's poised to finish the season very strong. They face six losing teams in the final seven including GB (twice), STL, JAC, NO and HOU. Obviously the Packers will play the Bears very tough but still. The only winning team that they face with a winning record is Minnesota who's 5-4. Four of their final seven are on the road.
5. Tampa Bay (6-3) - The Bucs have a pretty easy schedule to finish the season with four losing teams on the schedule (DET, NO, SD & OAK). They're most difficult games will be at Carolina and at Atlanta in consecutive weeks. They play at home against Minnesota this week and they'll be at home for four of the final seven.
6. Washington (6-3) - The Skins would seem to have a easy home stretch, especially if they can get by Dallas this week at home. They'll face three losing teams (SEA, CIN & SF), but four of their final seven are on the road.
Other teams still very much in the race: Atlanta (6-3), Minnesota (5-4), Dallas (5-4), Philly (5-4), Green Bay (4-5), New Orleans (4-5)
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Have to figure the NFC Norse will beat themselves up
Chicago, Green Bay and Minnesota have the potential to work against each other and keep the division winning record less than Arizona’s. So the Cardinals securing a #3 seed is looking pretty strong; it would be nice to have the first home playoff game in 61 years be against the lowest seeded playoff team. If it came down to the Redskins at home, I like our chances.
Catching Carolina is going to be hard. They have the head-to-head tie-breaker which means the Cards need to finish the season with one more victory than them. Considering who they’re playing and how well they’ve played on the road in recent years, I don’t think a BYE is likely. Still, to have a chance the Cardinals have to take two of the next three. Two road games in colder climates than Arizona makes me really nervous. Lose the gloves Kurt if they get wet! Play with some sappy pine cones just before kick-off!
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
two of the next three
I’m assuming if we’re talking about beating the Seahawks and then one of the next two. With that in mind, which game would be a bigger accomplishment: beating the Giants at home or Philly on the road?
Initially I thought the Giants would be but when you consider that we’re talking about the Eagles on three days rest and a long trip over there, it might be more impressive to Philly. Of course for playoff seedings though, I’d rather beat the Giants.
Agree Philly on the road is a tougher game
The Cards are known to beat good teams at home, and it is well known that they lose back east. I would be thrilled to beat either of these teams, and extremely dissappointed in a loss this Sunday.
I could see Carolina losing up to 4 and the Cards winning 5 max which is exactly the scenario it will take to earn the number 2 seed. Not very likely, but possible.
by AJ BirdWatcher on Nov 13, 2008 7:34 PM MST up reply actions
you're probably right
I debated listing the 4-5 teams but Green Bay is still alive so I went ahead and added both.
I remember thinking...
in the preseason looking at our schedule and saying if we could be 4-4 or 3-5 by midseason we’d have a shot at a run. It’s even prettier than that sitting at 6-3 with very winnable games to come. I love not having to duck in shame half way through a season because my beloved Cardinals completely imploded and all my lofty pre-season predictions seemed like foolish zealotry to an incompetent franchise. Finally all our brethren with be rectified and we will not have to look back to a 1998 Plummer induced upset anymore for vindication.
:-)
Go Cards!
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt, or God?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
it is crazy, right
Most of time by now we’d be talking about the draft (or at least much more about it) and how we need to re-tool in the off season. Now we’re talking about playoff seedings. When was that last time Cardinals fans could do that?
The sheer number of dirty/rude looks in my car the past three days ...
… has gone through the roof. I have a couple of Cardinals things on my vehicle (window cling and license plate frame) that generally only brought looks of pity. Yesterday I got behind an SUV with a personalized plate of “49r<3r” (<3 is a heart symbol) so got over to see the person’s disposition. I pulled up next to them at the next to at a light. The driver was a young gal that I admit to smirking a bit at the sight of. She looked at me with curiosity and I started to laugh which caused her to turn away with a frown on her face. So I got ahead of her so she could see the Cardinals stuff and at the next light she looked over and stuck her tongue out at me! LOL. She laughed when I laughed but I could tell she wasn’t amused at all with the MNF results. Yeah, I’m lovin’ the Cards’ current position.
As for talking about playoff seeding, it would have to be ‘82 as the only year. That was the strike-shortened season when half the league made the playoffs, including the Cards with a “mighty” 5-4 record. The ’70’s teams had to win the division to make the playoffs at all and you had to have the better record to have a home game. ’76 and the expansion was the first Wild Card season (I think) and the Cards were the first 10-win team to not qualify for the playoffs that year. In ’98 the Buccaneers were in the driving seat for the final Wild Card and bombed out while the Cards won three in a row to sneak in…barely.
So a “commanding” edge for the playoffs, you’re talking ’75. Before some of us were born and others were still watching Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
75? wow, I figured you'd probably know
Let’s see in ‘75 my parents were too young to drink (was the age still 21 back then) and I wouldn’t grace them with my presence for another six years.
Lomax era the Cards had a great offense but that was about it.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
I got the Cardinals dice hanging from my rear-view mirror and I got Arizona Cardinals with the Logo above it on my back window. Been sportin’ it the last couple years. Im finally proud.
Yeah my Cardinals antenna ball is pretty sun rotted...
hope I get some more gear for christmas this year from the inlaws.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt, or God?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Yeah its some red and black dice with the Cardinal logos on it. NFL shop has everything, or in most malls in AZ at least, there are some sporting stores with Cardinals stuff. My girlfriend says its easy to get me gifts, she just gets anything with a Cardinal logo on it.
My girlfriend says the same thing!
Too bad she’s always broke.
by AJ BirdWatcher on Nov 14, 2008 3:46 PM MST up reply actions
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