Have we learned nothing?

[Absurdly Metro]

I can't believe so many people actually think the Cards will win this game. If an undefeated team sporting the highest scoring offense of all time couldn't defy the principle that "defense wins championships," what chance do the mediocre Cardinals have? Yet, from what I am reading today, MOST prognosticators and fans think the Cards will win??

Someone please help me understand this cuz I'm having a hard time seeing the Cards even keeping it close. Seriously, what is the rationale for this phenomenon?

 

[Disco Volante]

If an undefeated team sporting the highest scoring offense of all time couldn't defy the principle that "defense wins championships," what chance do the mediocre Cardinals have?

Defense
2006 Bears: 3rd (15.9 PPG)
2006 Colts: 23rd (22.5 PPG)

 

[Absurdly Metro]

Defense
2006 Bears: 3rd (15.9 PPG)
2006 Colts: 23rd (22.5 PPG)

Good point. Although I think the axiom actually states that "Defense wins Championships except when Rex Grossman is the quarterback."

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Defense
2006 Bears: 3rd (15.9 PPG)
2006 Colts: 23rd (22.5 PPG)

Just a few little wrinkles...

1) Bob Sanders missed most of the regular season-you saw how the Colts defense improved TREMENDOUSLY in the playoffs with him.

2) The Bears didn't have their 2 best defensive players in the playoffs-Tommie Harris and Mike Brown. Those losses made them look very ordinary.

3) The Bears had a CAKE schedule facing some really, really bad offenses throughout the year.

4) And less not forget how the Cards D played TREMENDOUSLY better ever since the 47-7 thumping in wk16...Whisenhunt gave an ultimatum to his team that whoever plays like bums again, they'll be benched for the playoffs.

Pt being that it's NOT WHO you play, but it's WHEN you play them.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

I can't believe so many people actually think the Cards will win this game. If an undefeated team sporting the highest scoring offense of all time couldn't defy the principle that "defense wins championships," what chance do the mediocre Cardinals have? Yet, from what I am reading today, MOST prognosticators and fans think the Cards will win??

Someone please help me understand this cuz I'm having a hard time seeing the Cards even keeping it close. Seriously, what is the rationale for this phenomenon?

Well-let's hope the Cards haven't been drinking the kool-aid. The bad thing about the media is not only do they over-sensationalize teams being finished when they're merely in slumps, but they OVER-praise teams that are on a roll as well.

Listening to the media, whether they praise or criticize you, is POISON to your ears.

 

[Disco Volante]

Just a few little wrinkles...

1) Bob Sanders missed most of the regular season-you saw how the Colts defense improved TREMENDOUSLY in the playoffs with him.

2) The Bears didn't have their 2 best defensive players in the playoffs-Tommie Harris and Mike Brown. Those losses made them look very ordinary.

3) The Bears had a CAKE schedule facing some really, really bad offenses throughout the year.

4) And less not forget how the Cards D played TREMENDOUSLY better ever since the 47-7 thumping in wk16...Whisenhunt gave an ultimatum to his team that whoever plays like bums again, they'll be benched for the playoffs.

Pt being that it's NOT WHO you play, but it's WHEN you play them.

Bears had the better defense that year and lost, bottom line.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

Well-let's hope the Cards haven't been drinking the kool-aid. The bad thing about the media is not only do they over-sensationalize teams being finished when they're merely in slumps, but they OVER-praise teams that are on a roll as well.

Listening to the media, whether they praise or criticize you, is POISON to your ears.

I agree. I think a great team becomes a little more vulnerable when they start believing their own press clippings. I was hoping that would be the case in 1985 when the Bears made that stupid Superbowl Shuffle video before the Superbowl. Obviously neither of this years teams are of that caliber.

 

[Disco Volante]

2007 Defense
Patriots: 4th (17.1 PPG)
Giants: 17th (21.9 PPG)

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I agree the Steelers will probably win this game but, how do you know the Cardinals defense can't shut down the Steelers offense enough to allow Warner and company to get something going? To me that Steeler Oline going against the AZ front 7 is going to be they key tonight.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

I agree. I think a great team becomes a little more vulnerable when they start believing their own press clippings. I was hoping that would be the case in 1985 when the Bears made that stupid Superbowl Shuffle video before the Superbowl. Obviously neither of this years teams are of that caliber.

Speaking of that game-I always wonder if ?Irving Fryar? hadn't dropped that TD pass on the Pats opening possession(after recoving a Walter Payton fumble), the Pats would have had the momentum for the rest of the game? Maybe? I know they got a FG to go up 3-0, but 7-0 could have been much different?

Yeah-it looked like early on that the Bears got drunk over their own kool-aid before the Super Bowl until they dodged that bullet. BTW-it's MUCH worse now b/c we have 24/7 cable with a VARIETY of sports networks/shows AND the internet. Back then, it was just CBS/NBC/ABC, and just a *little* dose of ESPN.

Anyhow-that's what happened here with Wade Phillips here in Dallas the last 2 years. Even HE himself got involved in the cheese-eating. At least Parcells kept emphasizing not to do so consistently(although it didn't help anyways).

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

2007 Defense
Patriots: 4th (17.1 PPG)
Giants: 17th (21.9 PPG)

To be fair to the Giants, they were getting their feet wet with a new scheme during the first part of the season. When we played them twice, it was in the first half of the year when their personnel looked lost at times. When we played them in the playoffs, they had Spags' scheme down pat even more than their peers in their phone books.

I know what you're saying, but at the same time, like I was saying earlier, it's NOT WHO you play, but WHEN you play them.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

I agree the Steelers will probably win this game but, how do you know the Cardinals defense can't shut down the Steelers offense enough to allow Warner and company to get something going? To me that Steeler Oline going against the AZ front 7 is going to be they key tonight.

Pitt's O-line is suspect. RG Kendell Simmons' injury was HUGE(he's the anchor of that line), and their RT Colon is a complete moron. LT Max Starks has played admirably, but he's no Marvel Smith.

I'm not sold on the Zona's secondary, but their active front 7 could very well give Pitt alot of fits. Big Ben better not hold onto that ball too long.