Have we learned nothing?
 

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?

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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.

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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.

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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.

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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.

Re: Have we learned nothing?
 

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).