The Arizona Cardinals had a chance on Sunday. All the way up to the opening kickoff. It was all over after that. The Cards were embarrassed at home, really for the first time in the Ken Whisenhunt era, losing 35-14 to the Minnesota Vikings. The score does not do this game justice in that it wasn’t really even that close. Without a couple of miscues of their own, the Vikings easily could be talking about a 49-7 victory in Glendale today.
I’ve harped on these things all season, however it was the same five things that have dogged this team all season long. Special Teams, turnovers, penalties, and poor tackling and a combination there within. Division winner or not, this team looks destined for a 8-8 or 9-7 finish and a quick exit from the 2008 NFL Playoffs.
You know the story by now, so I won’t belabor the point. I feel like I am writing the same story after each and every loss. I will say this. I am now realizing just how pathetic the NFC West really is. Arizona is 5-0 against the NFC West and 3-6 against everyone else. This team would be sitting probably at 4-10 or 5-9 right now if they were still in the NFC East. They aren’t thank God, but if this isn’t a wake up call for the Cardinals, then they might as well decline their playoff invitation and RSVP for the Pacific Princess cruise to Mexico in January. They sure looked like they had already sailed off into that sunset on Sunday. Their chances of any success in the playoffs did more than sail off, they sunk quicker than the Titanic, with the crushing at the hands of the Purple People Eaters.
Wait till next weekend in New England. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse…..
Scott Allen
AZScott