Arizona Cardinals Crucial Match-Up In Week 16 Prediction Of 2014 Season
By Earl Burnett
Oct 17, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) against Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
According to the schedules for all four teams in the West( outside of them beating up on each other) it does not appear that one of these teams will run away with the division. The Arizona Cardinals in our prediction poles are sitting at 10-4, but will that be enough as they head home for their final home game of the 2014 season against the reigning super-bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. This being their second meeting the Cards fell short in Seattle in our opinion because it was hard to believe that they would have beaten the Seahawks in their building two straight times. But what about at home? are the Cards tough enough by week 16 to stand toe-to-toe with the champs.
One thing that is complexed about a prediction is that you can’t account for injuries that effect the outcome, nor can you account for what games will be significant at the end of a season. For instance this game may or may not mean much as these two teams could be getting ready to face each other in the playoffs, or it could mean everything with a log-jam in the division standings, in which there could be one or two games separating the teams. Which ever the case the Cardinals will want to win this game at home and get that 11th win because it may be the difference between a first round playoff home game or missing the playoffs with a ten win season for the second year in a row.
But a home playoff game can only happen when the team wins the division, so will the Cards be in that position? After looking at the predicted standings for the other teams in the West (according to their respected schedules) we tally the Niners at 11-5 and the Seahawks 10-6. So this game for the Cards and next week to the Niners could mean the division title.
Ok let me give an explanation as to why this is possible, looking at the schedule for the Champs it does not look to good for them coming out of the gate with their first five games being pretty tough against teams that could possibly go into the 12th man circus and get a victory, Packers, Broncos,Cowboys, then two on the road to the Chargers and Redskins. Their last six games of their schedule are against the division opponents and then on the road with the Eagles, in this scenario timing is everything.
The division match-ups can go either way, home or on the road, which could mean a split with the Niners. The big games in-between their schedule are with the Panthers and Chiefs on the road. So a potential to lose 5 games coming into the Cardinals match-up is very possible, not to mention there is a good chance a super-bowl hold-over may be in their wake as well. The curse where the teams that have made it there don’t get back or have bad chemistry the next year and have bad seasons.
Neverthelesss, this game is a toss-up and both teams will probably be desperate for a win at this point, and the champs usually know how to win those games, so the Cards will lose their home finale and drop to 10-5 heading into San Francisco to finish the season.