SUPERBOWL PREVIEW: ARI @ PIT 3:38 PM (EST) KICKOFF
February 1, 2009
Superbowl Matchup: Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Overview: Today is the day. Play the perfect game and you’re Superbowl champs. Lose the turnover battle or commit costly penalties and you’ll have all summer to mull the championship that could have been. Three gritty playoff victories have the 9-7 Cardinals competing for the franchise’s first championship since 1947, but Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will test the Cardinals offensive line with aggressive blitz schemes, hoping to disrupt Kurt Warner’s improbable playoff run.
Offensive Keys:
* Protect Kurt Warner. The Cardinals offensive line must provide Warner with adequate protection to scan the field and make accurate reads. Given time, Warner operates the team with surgical precision.
* Run the football. The Cardinals need to average 4.0 yards per carry to keep the Steelers from dictating the pace of play.
* Control the ball. Long sustained drives and turnover-free ball will be required to keep the ball out of Ben Rothlisberger´s capable hands.
Defensive Keys:
* Pressure Big Ben.
* Shut down Willie Parker.
* Create turnovers.
Predicted Outcome:
* It’s a dog fight, and the Cardinals need to play perfect football, but if Kurt Warner plays well, throwing for over 250 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT, the Cardinals have a chance to win. From that point on, it’s up to the defense, who must rise to the occasion to match Pittsburgh’s physical style of play.
* Final Score: Cardinals beat the Steelers 23-16.
WK 4 PREVIEW: ARI @ NYJ 1:00 PM (EST) KICKOFF
September 25, 2008
NFL Week 4 Matchup: Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets
Overview: Win now, or you might have to wait awhile. With tough games coming up against Buffalo (3-0) and Dallas (3-0) in Weeks 5 and 6, the Arizona Cardinals have a must-win situation when they face Brett Favre and the (1-2) New York Jets.
The Cardinals offense hopes to rebound after a sub-par performance in a 17-24 loss to the Redskins last week, but the real problem was generating defensive pressure. Although nursing a sore ankle, Brett Favre will pick the Cardinals secondary apart unless pressured early and often by Clancy Pendergast´s blitz schemes.
Offensive Keys:
* Protect Kurt Warner. Facing motivated ex-teammate Calvin Pace, the Cardinals offensive line must provide Warner with adequate protection to scan the field and make accurate reads. Given time, Warner operates the team with surgical precision.
* Spread the field. Sweeps, reverses, and misdirections do just as much to upset a defensive scheme as do long passes down the middle. The Cardinals were too formulaic against Washington and lost.
* Control the ball. Long sustained drives and turnover-free ball will be required to keep the ball out of Brett Favre´s capable hands.
Defensive Keys:
* Pressure Brett Favre. Bertrand Berry is out for the next 3-4 weeks (groin), so Darnell Dockett and Clark Haggans need to step up and make Brett Favre feel uncomfortable in the pocket.
* Shut down the hot reads. Favre will attempt to make the Cardinals pay with short slants and outlet passes WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, exploiting man coverage. Defensive lineman need to get their arms up and disrupt Favre´s throwing lanes.
* Create turnovers. The Cardinals have forced 0 turnovers in their past two games. Coach Ken Whisenhunt needs his team to generate turnovers if they intend to become a playoff caliber team.
Predicted Outcome:
* Kurt Warner finishes with 200 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INT against an aggressive blitzing Jets team.
* The Red Storm defense led by Travis LaBoy and Calais Campbell sacks Favre 3.0 times and forces 2 turnovers.
* In sloppy conditions, the Cardinals beat the Jets 24-16.
WK 3 PREVIEW: ARI @ WAS 1:00 PM (EST) KICKOFF
September 19, 2008
NFL Week 3 Matchup: Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Redskins
Overview: Heartbreak. For any Cardinal fan with a pulse, there’s no other way to describe last year’s 21-19 loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 7 last year. Want to feel angry all over again? Watch the heartbreaking missed extra point, missed FG as time expires, etc. on NFL.com here. Want to feel redemption? Beat the 1-1 Washington Redskins on their home turf for the first time since 1998. If the Cardinals win this game, they’ll start the season 3-0 for the first time since 1974, and establish themselves as the team to beat in the 2008 NFC West.
Offensive Keys:
* Win on the ground. “Heresy!” you may say after Kurt Warner’s perfect 158.3 quarterback rating last week. Yep, sorry to say, but unless you want Warner getting blasted by Jason Taylor, Andre Carter, and a blitzing LaRon Landry, Cardinals RBs Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower need to rumble for a combined 120 rushing yards to keep everyone honest. No joke.
* Protect Kurt Warner. If given time, Warner will dismantle the blitzing ‘Skins with quick passes to the hot read. However, if blockers miss assignments and Kurt gets knocked around back there, it could be a long day.
* Play smart. Don’t beat yourselves with stupid offensive penalties. Washington poses the first defensive test for the Cardinals, so ball control on sustained drives will be key.
Defensive Keys:
* Shut down Clinton Portis. The Redskins want the Cardinals to commit extra defenders to stopping Portis’s 4.1 rush yard/attempt average, and then break explosive WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El over the top. If the Cardinals can stop Portis without committing safety help, the Redskins big-play offense will fizzle.
* Hit Jason Campbell. Knock him down, make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The Giants beat the Redskins in Week 1 by taking Campbell out of rhythm. Last week the Saints failed to get into Campbell’s head, and lost.
* Create turnovers. The Cardinals forced 5 turnovers (4 FFs and 1 INT) in Week 1, but forced the Miami Dolphins into zero miscues in Week 2. Let’s get back to the ball-hawking defense of Week 1.
Predicted Outcome:
* Kurt Warner finishes with 250 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT to balance 90 yards and 1 TD on the ground from Edgerrin James.
* Jason Campbell throws 2 interceptions, Antrel Rolle scores his first defensive TD of the year.
* The Cardinals beat the Redskins 34-23.
WK 2 PREVIEW: MIA @ ARI 4:15 PM (EST) KICKOFF
September 11, 2008
NFL Week 2 Matchup: Miami Dolphins vs. Arizona Cardinals
Overview: All eyes are on Kurt Warner as the Cardinals QB attempts to lead the team to its first 2-0 start since 1991. The Cardinals face a Miami Dolphins team that finished a league worst 1-15 in 2007, but narrowly lost 20-14 in Week 1 versus a much improved New York Jets team.
The Cardinals offense was brutally efficient, but not spectacular in a 23-13 win over the 49ers. The Cardinals controlled the ball for 37:05 (61.8% of the game), which helped limit the potent San Francisco offense to only 44 offensive plays (second fewest in Week 1).
Edgerrin James rushed for 100 yards in the opener, but with a team average of 2.8 yards per attempt (30th in the league), Warner needs to stretch the field with early completions to Leonard Pope and Anquan Boldin down the middle, and Larry Fitzgerald on the outside to keep physical Miami linebackers Channing Crowder and Joey Porter from crowding the line.
Offensive Keys:
* Warner needs to make quick reads and get rid of the ball. He held onto the ball too long in the opener and was sacked 3.0 times.
* Win the tough yards again inside. Tim Hightower is 2-2 on converting short 4th down conversions, but needs to improve on his 1.7 yards per carry average.
* Play smart. Don’t commit stupid offensive penalties.
Defensive Keys:
* Shut down tight ends David Martin and Anthony Fasano over the middle. Make Dolphins QB Chad Pennington beat you with throws to the WRs outside.
* Travis LaBoy, Bertrand Berry and Darnell Dockett must provide QB pressure, but can’t overcommit allowing Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown to capitalize on draws inside.
* Keep the ball out of Ted Ginn Jr.’s hands on punt and kickoff returns.
Predicted Outcome:
* Kurt Warner will finish with 250 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT in leading a balanced offensive attack.
* Led by 4.0 sacks, the Cardinals “Red Storm” defense will score its first defensive TD of the year.
* The Cardinals will edge the hard-running Dolphins 27-20.
WK 1 PREVIEW: ARI @ SF 4:15 PM (EST) KICKOFF
September 7, 2008
NFL Week 1 Matchup: Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Overview: It’s deja vu all over again, as the Cardinals return to the site of their heartbreaking 20-17 loss to the 49ers in Week 1 of the 2007 season.
The Cardinals 2007 playoff dreams were crippled by a second loss to the 49ers in Week 12, this time a gut-wrenching 37-31 OT home loss. The Cardinals (8-8) clearly outmatched the 49ers (5-11) on paper, but lost the turnover battle 6 to 1.
If the Cardinals intend to be 2008 playoff contenders, they must finish at least .500 against their first four opponents, who had a combined record of 19-64 (.297 winning %) in 2007.
Offensive Keys:
* Average 3.5 yards rushing per attempt to keep linebacker Patrick Willis honest against the run.
* Use Kurt Warner’s strong arm to exploit favorable matchups for Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin on the sidelines, and 6-8″ Leonard Pope up the middle.
* Eliminate turnovers.
Defensive Keys:
* Travis LaBoy and Darnell Dockett must pressure Mike Martz’s strong-armed QB J.T. Sullivan into mistakes.
* Use Adrian Wilson to shadow Frank Gore, who burned the Cardinals for a combined 214 yards (116 rushing) and 2 TDs in Week 12 last year.
* Win the battle for field position by shutting down punt and kickoff returns.
Predicted Outcome:
* The Cardinals “Red Storm” defense will pressure J.T. Sullivan into 2 interceptions.
* The offense will score just enough behind a Tim Hightower rushing TD and a Leonard Pope TD catch.
* The Cardinals will edge the 49ers 23-17.