The Arizona Cardinals are NFC West Champions!!! No Really, They Are...

by Hawkwind on Dec 8, 2008 7:23 AM MST in News Comment 19 comments

Congratulations to the Arizona Cardinals.

Congratulations to fans of the Arizona Cardinals.

After 33 years of futility, frustration and failure, the Arizona Cardinals have officially earned the title of "CHAMPIONS." Thirty-three years!?! How significant is that? Well consider that only four players on the roster were even alive the last time the Cardinals won their division. Current head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who should be nicknamed 'Savior', was not even a teenager yet and current coordinators, Todd Haley and Clancy Pendergast, were most likely perfecting their multiplication tables. So what's the point? It's been a really long time since the Cardinals could call themselves Champions and we won't even go into how long it's been since they hosted a playoff game (1947, for the record).

As for yesterday's game, the Arizona Cardinals did what they had to do to get a win. It wasn't the best game that the Cardinals have played but it was effective. Kurt Warner had another great game, completing over 72% of his passes for a touchdown and an interception. He spread the ball around evenly with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston each registering at least five receptions and combining for 225 yards. Those three guys have already made their case for being the best trio in the league and they just cement themselves as the pinnacle of the NFL every week. As for the defense, all they did was hold the Rams to 10 points, force three turnovers and score two touchdowns of their own. They didn't get a ton of pressure on Bulger but they forced two Steven Jackson fumbles and held the Rams' running game to just 85 yards on 24 carries (3.4 ypc).

In my mind, the defense was the story yesterday and two guys really stood out as having great games:

Gerald Hayes: Hayes is often the forgotten linebacker of the Cardinals but he played a great game. He not only led the team in tackles with 11, but he also caused both fumbles and registered half a sack. Six of Hayes' tackles were for one yard or less including his half a sack and one of the caused fumbles.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: DRC had some people questioning him early in the season, but he's proving that patience really is a virtue. He matched his season high with five tackles, but his play of the game was a 99 yard pick-six. DRC jumped in front of a Marc Bulger pass late in the fourth quarter and turned on the jets heading down the sideline. That marks his third interception of the season, all of which have come in the past four games, and he recorded two pass breakups. He now leads the team in interceptions and pass breakups.

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The Cardinals certainly still have more work to do this season, but for now being able to utter the word Champion is a special feeling. Savor this feeling Cardinals fans, it's been a long time coming. What did you do to celebrate (or are you still celebrating)? Who's ready to see a playoff game in Arizona?

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Cardinals Playoff Rarity

How many playoff games have the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Seahawks, Eagles, Buccaneers played in the new century? Hell, the POS Raiders?

17, 11, 11, 9, 12, 6, and 5 respectively.

How many playoff games have the Cardinals played in their entire 88-year NFL existence? The eighth one will be in January. 8 in 88. Crazy eights. A game in ‘47, ’48, ’74, ’75, ’82, and two in ’98. Let’s make it 8, 9, 10, and lucky 11 this season!

For the record, a bottle of Delirium Noel, a Belgian ale that technically should be called a barleywine at 10.0%. Yum.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Dec 8, 2008 8:20 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

congrats

Next three should be interesting to see if the team can improve some or if they stumble to the finish line. Regardless, I think the Cards will be a tough out in the first round at home.

by Blitzburgh on Dec 8, 2008 9:04 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Vikes and Pats will be good games

Considering how far the Cards have already come there’s so much they can still improve upon. Time to do that against a tough Vikings squad (T. Jackson starting? I haven’t looked for news yet) and a Patriots squad that effectively needs to win out it’s remaining schedule to make the playoffs.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Dec 8, 2008 9:11 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

DRC

Sure the game was over so his pick was kind of meaningless but does anyone realize that he’s tied for the lead among rookies in interceptions and he’s got the most passes breakups among rookies. Not bad for a kid who was supposed to have a huge learning curve and didn’t play much at the start of the season.

by RedBirds to the SB on Dec 8, 2008 9:37 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

INT was still a huge boost to the team's confidence

Their prevent defense was pretty porous and was giving me too many flashbacks of the Philly game. I’m glad DRC gave me a reason to hoot and scare the hell out of the wife and cats. The Cards’ defense needs to find their pass rush again using their front four. They cannot rely on Wilson or Rolle to catch the opponent by surprise as that formation will be easy to identify from film study. Clancy must be running out of tricks…time to devise some new schemes as the old ones are no longer effective.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Dec 8, 2008 9:56 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Time for the Young Guns

I think we should start some of our rookie D linemen the next couple of games.
Campbell – Iwebema etc would get some much needed experience and the other guys get a chance to recover from their niggling injuries. I think these guys will be motivated enough to get some pressure on and give us some more options.

What a feeling the first Division title in my time as a Cards fan and just the second playoff trip achieved!
Since my first game in Sun Devil – pre season 92 vs Bronco’s AFAIR this is a chance to finally be proud to be a Red bird!

by CardsIrish on Dec 8, 2008 10:25 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

First division title since I was born...

LMAO, cause to celebrate!!!!

by badmatty53 on Dec 8, 2008 10:56 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!

DRC is really playing like a first rounder should.
Recievers looking great as usual.
Non existant run?
Where’s more JJ?
I like CardsIrish’s idea, let some backups come in and tune up their game. Maybe not start, but definitely get more PT.

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Dec 8, 2008 11:26 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

JJ

i don’t have the stats in front of me, but didn’t it seem like he got almost all of his carries in the first half. He had the most success but they still refuse to give him much of an opportunity.

Who’s wife did he sleep with to keep him in the doghouse for so long?

by RedBirds to the SB on Dec 8, 2008 1:19 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Five attempts and still racked up decent numbers.

5 attempts, 22 yards, 4.4 avg, 16 yd run was the long
3 rec for 30 yds and a big one called back

They started out running the power formations early only to fall back to the horribly executed draws out of the gun for losses. Stick with the power formations and pound the rock AZ. Let’s seriously get this guy the ball more, he has earned every bit of it.

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Dec 8, 2008 1:50 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs