Well, as some of you may recall, I asked the Real Arizona Cardinals to Please Stand Up last week that talked a little bit, in no particular order, about some of my thoughts on the game. One of my points in asking the question was to get the team to play up to their potential. The Cardinals responded with a great win at the Meadowlands in NYC, so i decided to continue this week with another post asking the Cardinals to keep being the team we hope they can be. 

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Well, here we are two wins in  a row,  3-2  and approaching a big game in last year's dreaded eastern time zone. While it's just one game, I see this as the type of game that winning or possible even losing in a hard fought game would establish the Cardinals as an NFC force. On the other hand losing (ala last years Patriots game) would mean the Cardinals are just a team in the hunt to win the worst divsion in the NFC. Barring a solid win or a dismal loss, this game won't mean any more than any other, but I am hoping the team takes this opportunity to stand up and show us what we all beleive they could be. Will the Real Arizona Cardinals Please Stand Up?

Other thoughts on the upcoming game in no particular order:

The Giants have some injuries that could assist the Cards, but they are also coming off a humbling loss in New Orleans, so they should be primed to play. The Cards have Boldin with a possible injury and Breaston who seems to be playing through his injury quite well.

The Giants are a 7 point favorite.

I am looking forward to seeing the Cards run D against the Giants RB's.

Weather for Sunday at Meadowlands High 53 Low 41, 20% chance of rain, 13 mph winds. Game time temperature should be around 50. Meadowland is known (or at least rumored) to have a wind effect. The wind will not be helpful to the Cards.  

Cardinals have been dismal in the Eastern time zone in the past, but this is a night game.

Manning actually has a better road win percentage than at home (interesting). See http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=1447#more-1447 for a rather interesting analysis and theory on why the Jets and Giants have some of the worst home win to away win ratios in football.

Last match up Nov. 23, 2008, NEW YORK GIANTS 37 CARDS 29 

Since reallignment of the divisions the Cards and Giants are 2-2

Cards have lost 3 in a row on the road playing the Giants and last beat the Giants in the Meadowlands in 1999 (ouch!).

Previous Meetings (last 10 years)  record 4 W - 6 L

Sept. 11, 2005, At NY Giants L 19-42

Nov. 14, 2004, NY Giants W 17-14

Sept. 29, 2002, N.Y. Giants W 21–7

Dec. 15, 2001, At N.Y. Giants L 13–17

Nov. 11, 2001, New York Giants L 10–17

Nov. 26, 2000, N.Y. Giants L 7–31

Sept. 3, 2000, At N.Y. Giants L 16–21

Nov. 28, 1999, At N.Y. Giants W 34–24

Oct. 10, 1999, N.Y. Giants W 14–3

With the trade deadline approaching and the Eagles having no real need for Vick, let's say they put him out there as trade bait. Vick is getting $1.6M ($100,000 per game) for this year with a team option for $5M next year. The huge PITA demonstrations have not occurred and there really doesn't seem to be a huge PR hit to the Eagles in having signed Vick. Vick also appears not to be a very good fit for the Eagles. 

Several teams are really struggling and need a spark. Several coaches are on the hot seat. Some teams are performing well, but could use a wildcat. 

Pick an NFL team that you are the GM or coach of and explain what you would be willing to give up for Vick and why?

Said the packer fan as he approached the Metrodome right before he was crushed by AD on his way to the endzone or the Williams wall on the way to Aaron Rodgers.

But seriously, I logged on DN thinking there would be a ton of trash talk brewing and sadly haven't found enough fire to start the fermentation process on some good mead. Where is everybody? Are ya'll just saving it for 5:30 (arizona time). Where is REVENGE4FARVE and everyone else. It's only 2 1/2 hours away. I have to leave work early to plant my butt on the sofa for this one. This is the game we've all been waiting for, so let's start a game score prediction thread. Prize is for bragging rights and my belly button lint from wearing my old Fran Tarkenton jersey during the game (er, you have to pay shipping if you really want the lint). 

Pick the winning team and the final score for both teams. The winner of contest will be determined first by picking the winning team, second by closest to the winning team's score and third (if necessary) by closest to the losing team's score.  Your prediction has to be in before kickoff or it doesn't count. 

Packer fans can play (I guess) although I suggest picking the Vikings if you want to get past the first criteria. :-')

I'm going with 24-17 Vikings.  

We all have opinions about whether Farve coming to Minnesota is a good or bad thing and frankly I'm getting a little tired of reading about it so I wanted to change the focus of the discussion to what criteria will you personally use to judge whether the Farve deal was a success or failure at the end of the Vikings' season?

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Wow! Playing in the Superbowl and settling in to the new stadium got the Arizona Cardinals a 51 place jump from 84th to 33rd in ESPN's (fairly meaningless and arbitrary)  Ultimate Standings of 122 pro sports franchises.  You can look at all the teams here.

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