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SB Nation's resident Cardinals blog, Revenge of the Birds, breaks down the game-turning moment from Saturday's loss to the Saints, and what it means for the Cardinals:
After the Saints tied the game 7-7, Kurt Warner hit Jerheme Urban in stride, who was hacked by Randall Gay to force the fumble and suck any momentum out of the Cardinals offense at that point. The Saints added two more scores and the Cardinals eventually saw them selves in a 21-7 hole. [...]
Personally I want to congratulate the Saints. They were the better team today and found ways to exploit the Cardinals' weaknesses. Losing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antrel Rolle certainly hurt, but that's no excuse for the lack of production on offense. The Cardinals can now enter offseason mode and so will we here at ROTB. Good luck to the Saints and represent the NFC well in the Super Bowl.
PS. I hate Jerheme Urban.
Of course, if Kurt Warner returns next season, the Cardinals figure to stay in the mix for the NFC playoffs next season. For all things Cardinals, make sure to head on over to Revenge of the Birds as Arizona plots their offseason course.
For more, look up our Saints blog, Canal Street Chronicles, and our Cardinals blog, Revenge Of The Birds.
New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Reggie Bush accounted for 217 all-purpose yards and two scores, including an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown, highlighting New Orleans' convincing 45-14 victory over reigning NFC-champion Arizona in a divisional playoff meeting at the Superdome.
The Saints emphatically answered any doubts regarding the effects of a three- game losing streak that spoiled their perfect 13-0 regular season record, as their defense forced two turnovers and posted a shutout in the second half.
The offense that led the league with 510 points was hitting on all cylinders, with Drew Brees tossing for 247 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-32 throws.
Marques Colston and Devery Henderson each caught a score and amassed 83 and 80 receiving yards, respectively, for New Orleans, which advanced to the conference title game for the second time in four years.
New Orleans will host its first NFC Championship on January 24, welcoming the winner of Sunday's Cowboys-Vikings matchup.
The NFC West-champion Cardinals took a step towards getting back to the Super Bowl with last week's memorable 51-45 overtime win over the Packers, but the club couldn't keep pace in another shootout.
Kurt Warner was briefly knocked out of the game and ended with 205 yards and an interception on 17-of-26 throws in possibly the last game of the 38-year- old's historic career.
Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells each rushed for a touchdown for the Cardinals, who were already without wide receiver Anquan Boldin (knee, ankle) and linebacker Gerald Hayes (ankle) before losing safety Antrel Rolle and Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to injuries in the first half.
Larry Fitzgerald was held to 77 yards on six receptions in defeat.
- Via Sports Network.
As expected, Arizona has been officially listed as inactive for Saturday's playoff game in New Orleans. Linebacker Gerald Hayes also will not play. As FanHouse's Chris Burke points out, though, wide receivers Early Doucet and Steve Breaston were able to shoulder the load last week.
In Boldin's absence last weekend, Arizona got a huge game from Steve Breaston (seven catches, 125 yards, one TD), as well as a surprising breakout performance from Early Doucet (six catches, 77 yards, two TDs). Both of those players will be called on to step up again.
And of course, quarterback still has one of the best wideouts in the game, Larry Fitzgerald, at his disposal.
Teams spend all season trying to secure the best record they can; first to make the playoffs, then win their division, then secure a home-field game, and utlimately get that first-round playoff bye. It’s conventional wisdom around the league, you want that extra-week because it allows your team to heal. On the flip side, it also can get you out of sync, especially if you end the year on a sour note. So instead of guessing, Revenge Of The Birds looked at the numbers from recent history.
- Teams that have had the first round bye have a combined record of 17-11. That’s 60% of the teams with first round byes that have advanced to the next round.
- More specifically, teams in the NFC with first round byes have a combined record of 8-6, but in the last two years NFC teams with first round byes are 0-4.
- In 2006, the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints were the last NFC teams to win with a first round bye, advancing to the NFC Championship game where the Bears won 39-14.
Looks like the NFC has been the land of upsets recently where it concerns first-round byes. Just what the Cardinals want.
[UPDATE]: Looks like Anquan Boldin could use a bye, as he's not expected to play this weekend for Arizona.
Video: Some Cardinals love in 2009.
In a somewhat shocking development, the New Orleans Saints have brought back their star running back from recent history, Deuce McAllister. He’s been out of football for a year, so it’s hard to imagine how you would use a player who hasn’t suited up this season in a playoff game. How much can you trust the guy, even though he will be familiar with all the playcalls and schemes? Well, it probably says more about the injury situation at running back for the Saints than anything else.
I have no idea how much playing time he’ll see, how effective he’ll be or even whether he’ll dress tomorrow but just from a morale standpoint, I love this move. Have the Saints re-signed the most popular player in Saints history and everyone’s favorite running back just to get the crowd even more pumped for the big game tomorrow?
[snip]
The bad news, if there is any here, is that questions could probably now be raised as to the health status of Pierre Thomas or more likely, Mike Bell.
Video: Deuce talks himself up from his peak days.
As exciting as the Cardinals game against the Packers was last week, there has to be one very big area of concern for Arizona – pass defense. The Packers torched the Arizona secondary, Drew Brees and his army of weapons have been planning their attack all week. If Sean Payton needs any helpers about what to do, he should turn to Revenge Of The Birds, they nailed down the problem. Cornerback Bryant McFadden and the right-side of the secondary were a disaster.
I wanted to get a better idea of where Aaron Rodgers had success throwing the Ball, so I created a passing chart. It shows his comp/att, yards, TDs/INTs, and the percentage of yards thrown to that area.
As you can see, the Cardinals relinquished 253 yards and all four touchdowns to the right side of the field – the primary area that Bryant McFadden was assigned. If this tells us anything, it’s that McFadden needs help. If the Cardinals leave him on an island, Marques Colston or Robert Meachem will have a field day.
Players know where to go when they want to talk directly to the fans. Jonathan Vilma, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, decided to correspond with SB Nation’s Canal Street Chronicles by email. Vilma is one of the leaders of an opportunistic Saints defense and is ready for playoff action after having a bye last week. What could give the Saints the advantage this week, besides actual players, coaches, matchups – all that on-the-field-stuff? How about home-field advantage in the Superdome.
CSC: Which stadium is the most difficult to play in?
Vilma: It would have to be New Orleans. Our stadium is tough to play in. Once our crowd gets going it’s tough to play in there. I’m a Saints guy, and I’m on the defensive side and I’m hearing the hell that the Saints fans are giving the opposing offenses and it’s pretty tough. It’s a huge challenge to manage the defense with that noise, but I’d rather them be loud and pumped up and going than quiet, because if they’re quiet it means we’re getting beat.
Also, Vilma promises that once the season is over, everybody will get to know what they say in the Drew Brees pre-game chant.
In an effort to get closer to the truth about what will happen this weekend during the NFL Divisional Round Playoffs, we talked to bloggers representing all eight teams still left in the chase. For each participant, we asked the same batch of questions. This is the preview for the Arizona and New Orleans clash.
4:30 PM ET, January 16, 2010
Superdome, New Orleans
FOX
Give us a couple of reasons the Cardinals will win on Saturday.
The Arizona Cardinals showcased just how dangerous they were in one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history last week. Kurt Warner continued his string of playoff success, and is proving that he should be in consideration as the greatest playoff quarterback of all time. With Anquan Boldin possibly returning, the offense will create too many mismatches for New Orleans.
One guy from the opposition you would add to the Cardinals.
Umm, that's easy. I'll take Tracy Porter and throw him out there next to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. If we learned one thing last week, it's that the Cardinals need to address the cornerback position in the offseason regardless of what the Cardinals do in the playoffs. The Cardinals biggest weakness this Saturday will be corner, so getting Porter would shore up a huge need.
Who is the Cardinals MVP?
I'll go with an non-obvious answer, Beanie Wells. His numbers don't jump out at you but he's been the added boost the Cardinals desperately needed to the running game. The balance on offense was the primary reason the Cardinals won 10 games and the division. Wells is a down-hill runner with a nasty stiff arm that is a major threat to break a big run at any given time. Wells will be an overlooked reason for the Cardinals if they win on Saturday.
Who is the X-Factor?
Normally I'd say Wells, but since I just mentioned him, I'll think outside the box. At this point Steve Breaston is the Cardinals x factor. Most teams don't consider him a threat, and that's fine when they double cover Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin so Breaston can get wide open. Steve is the added threat at receiver that the Cardinals currently don't have - the burner. He's fast, fearless over the middle, and also is productive at returning punts.
Scouting report on the Saints.
The New Orleans Saints are undoubtedly a good team, but one reason they've had so much success is because of the lack of competition they've played. The only three teams they beat with winning records in 09 were the Eagles, Jets and Patriots. The Eagles and Patriots were embarrassingly knocked out of the playoffs last week, and Mark Sanchez was not playing as good then, as he is now. I can also confidently say the Saints defense has yet to face an offense like the Cardinals this year.
Give us a prediction.
Cardinals win 38-31
Give us a couple of reasons the Saints will win on Saturday.
The Saints should be close to full strength coming off the bye and have the advantage of playing at home. The Saints will return to early season form and put up tons of offense, just enough to beat the defensively challenged Cardinals.
One guy from the opposition you would add to the Saints.
Gotta be Larry Fitzgerald. He is just scary good and I shudder to think what he could do with Drew Brees tossing balls his way. Did it just get cold in here?
Who is the Saints MVP?
Usually when we ask this question on Canal Street Chronicles we also include the disclaimer *Other than Drew Brees* because he is so obviously the reason the Saints have been successful these last four years and the question is pretty pointless otherwise..
Who is the X-Factor?
On defense it's the line. If they can wreak havoc in the pocket and put the fear of God in Kurt Warner, the Saints have a great shot at winning. On offense, Reggie Bush could surprise everyone with a huge day and run away with the win.
Scouting report on the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have just come off one of the most impressive offensive performances in playoff history so naturally I'm worried about their incredibly powerful aerial attack which could include the double threat of Fitzgerald and Boldin. The good news is that their defense looked weak in the first round, a good sign for the the Saints who have the number one offense in the league. Also, they've got to be tired while the Saints should be well rested.
Give us a prediction.
Homefield advantage proves to be important in this one but it's a shootout nonetheless. Saints win 45-38.
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Saints Blog: Reggie Bush Was Splendiferous
Reggie Bush is who we thought he was! He is who he thought he was! And that's why the Saints took the field! As SB Nation's Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles explains, for one night at least, Drew Brees wasn't New Orleans' MVP:
But in a game where the Saints held the high-flying Cardinals to 14 points, it's clear the Saints defense deserves some praise too. Canal Street Chronicles singled out Jabari Greer as playing especially well on Sunday:
For more on the Saints as they prepare to host their first NFC Championship game, be sure to head over to Canal Street Chronicles.
Jan 17 1:51p by Matt O'Brien - 0 comments