Arizona Cardinals Are Finally Feeling Some Super Bowl Love
by Hawkwind on Jan 30, 2009 11:27 AM MST
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PrintFriday is normally the day that sports writers print/post their picks for the weekends' game and even though the Super Bowl is the only game in the world this weekend, they're still posting their picks today. I've got to say I'm pretty surprised by the love/respect that the Arizona Cardinals are getting. Maybe they're just trying to convince fans that it'll be good game or maybe they've all become ROTB readers and we've convinced them that these Cardinals are for real (I'd like to believe the latter). Whatever the reason, I hope that the players don't pick up a paper and they just keep the "us against the world" mentality.
- Sports Illustrated has ten guys picking the game and six of them are picking the Cardinals to win. Only one guy has the margin of victory (either way) by more than 7, and he picked the Cardinals to win.
- ESPN has 16 guys who picked the game and four of them pick the Cardinals, but only three guys have the Steelers winning by more than one score.
- Scouts Inc (same link but further down the page) has seven picks and two of them pick the Cardinals and the widest margin of victory is seven.
- The last of the ESPN picks that includes analysts and editors includes 12 picks and half of them are going with the Cardinals. The best description I've read so far was in these picks by someone named Sheldon Spencer who says the Cardinals will win 30-27 and "Neil Rackers wins the game with a 50-yard field goal in the final minute." (If it comes down to a long, long Rackers kick, I'll have a heart attack, no seriously.)
- Yahoo Sports has four picks with one guy backing the Cardinals, but they don't provide scores.
- USA Today has eight picks and they're split right down the middle at 4-4. Two guys have the Steelers winning by double digits and one guy has the Cardinals winning by 10.
By my grade school math that's roughly 43.4% of the picks going the Cardinals way. Not that it means a single thing to the game itself, but it's more than I would have expected. So what's the point of all this you might ask? Well it's your turn to put your prediction on paper (so to speak). Leave your prediction about who will win and score.
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Also for anyone looking for a great Larry Fitzgerald piece of memoribilia regarding the Super Bowl, check out his poster from EAS. You can order the poster from EAS for just $10 and all of the net proceeds go to his First Down Fund. His fund actively promotes the health and education of children of their families.
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28-27 Cardinals, Rackers wins the game with an extra-point but more importantly the go ahead score is a Warner-to-Urban TD for 27 yards with three minutes to play. The Cardinals defense holds the Steelers to only one first down on the next drive and on 4th and 1 Robinson stuffs Moore on a Wildcat Formation keeper.
Keep the "you against the world mentality???"
Anyone who isn’t from Pittsburgh, or previously a Pittsburgh fan, is rooting for the Cards!!!
Except
Barack Obama.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Bringing it home
20-19 Cardinals
One thing we all are forgetting is JJ Airrington. Call me crazy but the dude has been terrific all year. If his knee is healthy watch him burn the Steelers D over and over on a screen play coming off an all out blitz. JJ will earn himself a new contract this week and hopefully its with the Cardinals.
Pittsburgh
doesn’t really come on free fire blitzes very often, because they get enough pressure with their zone blitz. Leave it to the Whiz to figure out how to beat them, though.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
'I hope that the players don't pick up a paper and they just keep the "us against the world" mentality.'
Meaning that lots of people are now picking the Cards and the “root for the underdog” mentality of the casual fan so I hope the Cardinals are still using the “us against the world” mentality that they started the playoffs with and haven’t relaxed their resolve.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Good luck
Well, I am a norwegian Vikings fan, but I really, really hope you win sunday.
So again, good luck.
BK
I know that it should be a low scoring game.
That’s what my head tells me, and that’s what everyone out there who’s seen a Pitt game is saying.
But I think the Cards Offense is crazy, and we average 30 points per game. Why not this game as well.
Cards win
in a close game, 24-20. I see it as a seesaw struggle of teams who offensively have polar opposite strengths, but the Cardinals’ playcalling gets the job done at the end.
Arizona expatriate in Missouri
Denmark picks the Cards
On the biggest Danish NFL-site (which by the way is quite small) 4 of 6 experts and bloggers pick Cardinals while 46% of the users do the same.
I believe that’s a combination of “root for the underdog” and “root for the attractive offensive football” (Most of the Danish press would like the Danish national soccer team to play that way too – unfortunately without much succes)
good luck Card's fans
I’m glad you guys got to experience the joy of winning the NFC and the excitement of the Superbowl 43 hype machine. There is now one less team to have never experienced this. You guys are no longer stuck with the likes of Detroit and Cleveland.
You should be savoring all of this excitement and attention because one way or the other it’s almost over. You’ll be left with absolute joy or utter heartbreak. Just understand that the Steelers will be bringing the pain all day every play.
I am confident in the Steeler’s players and coaches but I will not be making any predictions.
GOOD LUCK!
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Phew, that's a relief...
…to know the Steelers will be bringing the pain every play. I was worried they’d be bring the blonde wigs and feather boas and were going to play like the London Silly Nannies of Family Guy™ fame.
Indeed it’s nice to make the Big Game, especially when it really wasn’t in the thought process at the start of the season. Cleveland, Detroit, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Houston will get their moments to shine on the big stage soon enough. This season has proved better than most that any team can get hot at the right moment and make the playoffs (Chargers, Eagles) and advance to the Super Bowl (Cardinals); still, consistency of management and coaching will get you there more often than not (Steelers, Colts).
No prediction? Hmmmmm…confidence in coaching does not necessarily translate into confidence in victory.
I’ve been wanting an OT Super Bowl for a long time and I just have to figure it will happen the year my Cardinals are playing: 26-23 and certain RotB members profess undying love for Neil Rackers after a bitter start to the season.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
My head tells me Pitt should win,
but my heart says go with the Cards. I don’t see the Steelers blowing anyone out, and though it seems highly unlikely, the Cards have the firepower to do just that.
Steelers are kinda like the Panthers on steroids, and it’ll be close to being a Pitt home game. (All those annoying Steelers fans travel well) So…. another 33-13 Cardinals victory?
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
"it’ll be close to being a Pitt home game. (All those annoying Steelers fans travel well)"
I’m headin’ over to the NFL experience tonight just to represent. Should be a good time., I’ve been freakin’ out all day. Then on to Yboy City. Can’t wait to celebrate this badass game coming up with Steelers fans from all over the world.
Phew, that’s a relief to know the Steelers will be bringing the pain every play.
No prediction? Hmmmmm…confidence in coaching does not necessarily translate into confidence in victory.
Don’t discount the physicality the Steelers will bring.
I’m very confident in our talent. I think if they play Steelers’ football we’ll be fine. Maybe the Cardinals can take them off their game. We’ll see.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
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