Cardinals-Packers: More Points To Ponder
by Undrafteds on Jan 8, 2010 10:07 PM MST
Email
PrintThe Cardinals crushed Minnesota and handed them their second loss of the season when people were saying the Vikings were the most complete team in football, beat the Giants and handed them their second loss of the season when people were saying they were the best team in football, and lost to Green Bay when they weren't playing.
The Packers lost to Minnesota twice in what were arguably their two most meaningful games of their year, beat Dallas when the Cowboys were playing their worst ball of the year, and lost to a Pittsburgh team that couldn't beat Oakland, Kansas City or Cleveland in the weeks leading up to their matchup.
These are some of the reasons I like the Cardinals chances to come out on top this weekend.
Arizona's Special Teams has excelled this season in key areas. Kicker Neil Rackers has only one missed field goal all season, though he was near the bottom in attempts in part because the Cardinals are No.1 in red zone TD percentage.
Though he was snubbed for the Pro Bowl, punter Ben Graham has had a Pro Bowl-caliber, NFL record-tying year with 42 punts inside the opponents' 20 to tie the 49ers' Andy Lee for most in one season, while averaging 47 yards per punt which was good for seventh-best in the league.
"The Hyphen" LaRod Stephens-Howling has totaled over 1,200 return yards on kickoffs and while returning all but two of the Cardinals kickoff returns this season, one of which he ran back for a 99-yard TD, not to mention his stellar downing of punts and tackling in kick coverage.
For the green and gold, kicker Mason Crosby has missed nine field goals, punter Jeremy Kapinos has placed only 15 punts inside the opponents' 20, and the Packers have used nine different players on kickoff returns.
Although Anquan Boldin will either play gimpily or not at all, second year WR Early Doucet is starting to come into his own and show why he was considered a relative steal in the third round of last year's draft. He overtook Jerheme Urban as the fourth receiver by mid-season, and has shown more confidence in recent weeks. If Q can't go, look for Doucet to be in position to make some crucial plays for us on Sunday.
Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have amassed almost 1,400 yards and 15 TDs while averaging 4.36 YPC collectively.
And those are some more random points to ponder.
38 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
espn unanimously picks green bay to win
http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks
10 out of 10. didn’t expect that. go Kurt!
They’re actually making four unpredictable games look boring
We are red, we are white, we are Danish Dynamite!
beat the cowboys durring their worst football?
or did they whoop the cowboys after the boys had a 4 game winning streak including a w against the eagles, falcons and a blow out against the seahawks. did they beat the cowboys during their worst or best?
how is that worst than a few weeks later losing to an awful giants team, then beating a saints team who already clinched a bye?
also when the vikings beat the packers they were giving up almost 10 sacks a game. now they have decent pass protection. hence going 4-4 then only losing 1 ridiculous game there on out. and NO ONE said that the giants were the best team in football this year.
I’m not trash talking I’m just saying this article pretty much completely untrue. the pack had to play the cowboys and the vikings both at their peak.
Whats up Moss
Keep in mind that this is an opinion piece. As a presumed Packers fan, I would expect you to not like anything negative implied about Green Bay. Sometimes I write from an objective point of view, and other times I write from a clearly biased point of view. I am a Cardinals fan and I am banging the drum, finding the weaknesses in the Pack that mass media may or may not be pointing out (I barely pay attn to the mass stuff).
That said, what I am looking at for the ‘Boys is they were 6-2 before the Pack game. The could only muster 7 pts, which you would say is b/c of Green Bay’s stellar D, and I say, okay, fair enough, lets move on to the next game. The ’Boys again only managed 7 pts and escaped with a 1-pt victory over Redskins. after that they beat the Raiders, but then dropped two straight to the Giants and Chargers. So starting with the PAckers game, the Cowboys lost 3 of their 5 games in the stretch to which I am referring, and their offense stumbled for many games before they figured it back out again. TO ME = that is their worst stretch of football this season.
As far as the Giants, you must have missed that part of the season, because EVERYBODY was calling the Giants the best team in football when they were 5-0. They dropped a game to the Saints to make them 5-1 going into the Cardinals matchup, but the majority thought was that the Saints game was an anomaly and the Cardinals were supposed to get theirs handed to them. No one gave the Cards a chance of beating the mighty Giants. Except for me anyway, I wrote an article describing why the Cardinals would beat the Giants.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/276266-why-the-arizona-cardinals-will-beat-the-new-york-giants
http://undrafteds.com/
like I said… I wasn’t smack talking. I know the packers have weaknesses. mostly in pass protection (though improved) and a secondary full of injuries. the problem is in using 2 or even 3 degrees of separation to observe up coming match ups. some of this observations being based on who beat whom who eventually beat another whom while gaging the quality of these teams in a way that’s convenient to the cards. it just seems iffy at best to me.
Week 17 "meaningless" loss
Hey you can believe anything you want about the 33 to 7 blowout. I happen to believe that a demoralizing beat down doesn’t build confidence going into the playoffs. By the way where did the Cards rank on offense and defense this year? Just curious, I know the Pack were in the top 5 in both catagories. Defense wins championships! See ya Sunday!
what will you do if after all this gloating Green Bay loses?
The sword cuts both ways Chad. You can likewise, get all amped up by looking at the 33-7 score if it makes you feel good. You’ll notice that the only ones calling it a demoralizing loss are outside of the Arizona cluubhouse. The Cardinals and Whisenhunt actually prefer that you get all hyped about a hollow victory. If your Packers get smacked in the mouth, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
http://undrafteds.com/
I guess I'll wait until next season....
But I like where GB is right now as far as few mistakes and execution goes. I’m not trying to run down the Cards, I just think you’re under estimating a very good GB team that had a shakey start but is finishing very strong. I don’t see this game being a blowout at all. It will probably go right down to the wire.
Go Pack Go!
That was the goal Chad
Whisenhunt knows what he’s doing. Did he send the starters back in the game when the score was getting out of hand? If you look at last year the Cardinals were destroyed by the Patriots and Vikings heading into the playoffs and that had no effect on their performance.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
All we know about this game is that...
A-Dub and Dockett will LAY. THE. WOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As long as the Cards come out stickin’ and play like the beasts they are in the post-season, I am a happy Red Bird fan.
Chirp Chirp
To be fair...
If the Cowboys were playing their worst football, then the same could be said of the Giants and Vikings when the Cards played them.
When the Cards beat the Giants, it was in the middle of their four game losing streak and during their 3-8 finish.
When the Cards beat the Vikings, it was in losing 3 of 4.
I think this speaks to how confidence and momentum really affects teams. Once the Cowboys lost to the Pack, they fell apart a bit, once the Giants lost to the Saints, they fell a part a lot.
I will say this, if there is a team that doesn’t seem to get caught up in all of that, it is the Cardinals having not lost two in a row all year. They lost all their preseason games, and that didn’t mean anything.
and once the Vikings lost to the Cardinals, they fell apart a bit
we can agree that anything, stats etc can be spun any which way you would like them to be;)
http://undrafteds.com/
one more thing
In Andrew’s article about pressuring on 1st down with blitzes.
Please Note:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Rodgers finished No. 2 with a 117.4 passer rating against the blitz.
The Packers are one of the best teams in yards after the catch. They do this particularily well on quick slants when a blitz is coming. With the blitz there is a lot of open space in secondary making the slant quite dangerous.
Special Teams is definitely the area of weakness for the Packers. They have had many huge returns against them, poor punting, a punt blocked for a touchdown agaist Tampa, 9 missed field goals, Many holding penalties on returns, and a few fumbles also.
Just something for you guys to chew on. Good Luck tomorrow
Special Teams
Has been the most consistant area on the Cardinals. Not just consistant but excellent. It could be the difference in the game.
NO RESPECT
Line is Packers by around 2 or 3. However, there are 19 (NINETEEN!!) supposed “experts” between ESPN and Sports Illustrated picking games this weekend – and guess how many picked the Cardinals… ZERO!! That’s right – 19 of 19 picked the Packers…
That’s bulletin board material if I ever saw it – pump them up, Whiz. Protect Kurt and this one is in the bag…
+1
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
Ok, hold on a sec.
This point has been made, AZ was the “worst” playoff team ever last year, right?
What where their stats last year? Only the offense was better overall really. They beat statistically better teams all the way to the SB.
Hey wait, we didn’t have a run game all year long and than all of a sudden, against the best teams in the league the Edge and Hightower tear it up? Larry did what? Warner is one of the top 3 post season QB’s ever?
Can I continue? How many times did we pick off and sack a guy in 1 game who was “untouchable” up until that point. A guy you in two games you couldn’t pick off or sack and only got to him 5 times?
My point being, none of this really matters. Stats, previous records, etc. Its all about the match ups and what team shows up that day (ask the Eagles when they lost to the lowly Raiders). I think Green Bay matches up against us too well. But in the same regards so do we. Both teams have elite QB’s. Both teams have elite CB’s (if you don’t think DRC is… just you wait). Ryan Grant – Beanie Wells (a rookie of the year candidate). Both teams have weak secondaries after the first CB… we can go on… etc, etc, etc.
So look Pack fans. Get outta here. You guys sound just like every other team that has clamored on these boards telling us how they are going to rip us a new one. Until you do, your talk is cheap.
They are who we thought they were!
im not sure
how many untouchables youve touched. im sure you are thinking of the career interceptions leader brenda favera. not saying aaron rodgers is untouchable, just trying to say that hes pretty decent against the blitz.
and an fyi, the packers have TWO pro bowlers in their secondary, and another at the linebacker position…. Woodson, Collins, Matthews
I never said you guys will be ripped apart. I think it will be a good, high scoring game. After the 500 yards passing given up to the Steelers I think its possible for your team to do the same.
And yes there are many previous examples that show that any team can win on any given sunday. Giants over Pats two years ago in the super bowl is the best one.
Just like you guys, I want my team to win and would be quite disappointed with a loss. BUT, I dont control the game and anything can happen tomorrow.
Warner with 500+ yards, maybe!
the cardinals have two pro bowlers in their seconday too
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
by Andrew602 on Jan 9, 2010 4:14 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
DRC? LOL
Especially with the injury, I don’t think Rodgers and Driver & Jennings are losing sleep thinking about going up against the “legendary” DRC. My understanding is that he’s a talented guy that takes too many chances, making some big plays and giving up some big ones. Looking at the stats, his six INTs came against Garard, Schaub, Eli, Stanton, Culpepper, and K Null of the Rams (whoever that is). That’s a pretty elite group of guys he’s picked off LOL. It’s going to be like Thanksgiving, ‘cause I’m looking for Rodgers to “carve up” that secondary. I didn’t think there was a worse CB in the league than our own Jarret Bush, but I think Michael Adams has proven me wrong.
As far a Wilson goes, he’s a nice player, but he can’t be everywhere. And when Finley splits out wide in the red zone and Wilson comes over to man-up on him, I like Finley’s chances at that jump-ball.
One thing I will concede is that our special teams are terrible and will likely cost us down the road this year. Fortunately, we’ll be able to overcome those shortcomings this week.
How were there tickets still available for this game as late as Thursday (or possibly later)? A pretty solid group of fans. Arizona residents better be appreciative that Packer fans travel so well or else they wouldn’t get to watch their play-off game on TV. Funny, I can’t imagine that would be an issue in Green Bay.
Fans? Not an issue. All season long ticket sales have come down to the wire. We are just bargain shoppers. ;)
DRC is statistically the third best CB in the league right now. Behind Revis and Woodson. Do your homework.
And Adams play on Sunday can’t be compared because he didn’t have a pass rush to help him out. Any QB with that much time will shred pretty much any D.
We can go on.
Like I said. Get outta here.
They are who we thought they were!
by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 10, 2010 12:51 AM MST up reply actions
Every game is sold out.
BTW how’d you like that pick DRC got on the first play from your invincible QB.
"You guys sound just like every other team that has clamored on these boards telling us how they are going to rip us a new one."
Like the 49ers?
Tampa Bay anyone? At least the 49s are a respectable team with very good defense and an emerging offense.
They are who we thought they were!
by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 10, 2010 12:52 AM MST up reply actions
Packer fan, not convinced in my team yet. I hope for the best and I won’t be happy if Packers lose, but remembering the arse kicking you gave the Viqueens would make it easier to take. I’m afraid I’m going to see that D show up tomorrow.
Cowboys fan
Just here to wish you guys well for tommorrow’s game. I think it is going to be a hell of game!
ponder this.....
The Cardinals do have talented players and are capable of making a run as they proved in last years playoffs. But statistically, the special teams unit you mention is the only area where the Cards rank higher than the Pack. There is quite a disparity in both offemsive and defensive rankings whether we are talking running or passing game. Yes, the Pack did surrender a league leading 53 sacks while the Cards amassed 43 sacks with their defense, however, the Pack did seem to correct much of their protection problems in the 2nd half of the season. What jumps out at me is the fact that the Cards played in what is arguably the worst division in the NFC (SF< Seattle<SL combined record of 14-34), only played 3 teams that qualified for the playoffs(1-2 against them) and still only finished 10-6. They haven’t proven anything to me. I’m not gonna be a Packer homer and say that GB is gonna kick butt today. I expect a great game but if the best you can come up with is that the Cards special teams is superior, the Cards are in for a long day.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
