NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: Arizona Cardinals

To say that I was only a little surprised to see the Cardinals make it to a Super Bowl, is truly the understatement of the year. I was stunned, shocked, stupefied, aghast (and anything else I could find in the thesaurus).

The Cardinals indeed showed that on "any given Sunday," a team has an opportunity to win. They certainly proved so in the Super Bowl game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Had it not been for a Santonio Holmes touchdown catch with less than a minute left, we might have called the Cardinals Super Bowl champions. This situation can be described as the following:

• Hell freezing over
• Pigs flying
• Ross really ending up with Rachel
• Susan Lucci winning an Emmy
• Paris Hilton winning an Oscar
• Me winning Powerball
• Me dating a Supermodel

I think you get the point though.

The Cardinals have one issue working against them. In the past 10 seasons, only the 2006 Seattle Seahawks have made the playoffs the season after losing in the Super Bowl. However, the Cardinals do have a shot of making the playoffs again, given how weak the NFC West is.

First and foremost, they still have Kurt Warner, even though he's 38. Warner threw for more than 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, his highest total since the 2001 season. If Warner struggles, the Leinart pressure could be on him.

However, if Warner has another 4,000 yard passing season, he could be the first player in NFL history to pass for back-to-back 4,000 yard seasons after the age of 36. (Note: Jon Kitna and Warren Moon had back-t0-back 4,000 yard passing seasons when they were 34 and 35).

The Cardinals also have Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin (despite the contract issues). Fitzgerald is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Fitzgerald is indeed coming into his own as one of the top receivers in the NFL. This season should be another good one for the young receiver.

Now it's time for those yearbook questions (Predictions):

Most Defensive Guy (Defense MVP): Karlos Dansby
Most Offensive Guy (Offense MVP): Larry Fitzgerald
Best New Guy (Rookie of the Year): Beanie Wells
Favorite Coach: Not Todd Haley
Coolest Twitter Page: Darnell Dockett
Most Team Spirit: Any regular Cardinals fans?
Coolest Names (Top 3): Early Doucet, Wilrey Fontenot, Deuce Lutui
Most Likely To Succeed (Team MVP): Larry Fitzgerald
Record for 2009: 8-8

Tomorrow, I'll cover the Philadelphia Eagles.

My Super Bowl Pick

I hope you enjoyed my time away from the blog. I figured I would come back and give my final thoughts on the big game.

Why did I take the break, you might be asking...? I feel like there are people out there who can analyze, and to an extent overanalyze, the game on Sunday better than I can. So why hear what I have to say?

Is Kurt Warner a hall of famer? No, he is not a hall of famer. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but to get into Canton is to be among a Parthenon of Gods. I don't think Warner is at that level. It doesn't seem like that long ago, he fell off the face of the earth. He was replaced by a back-up in St. Louis and held down the fort until Eli Manning took the position in New York. Soon enough, the Cardinals will have to choose between Warner and former first round pick, Matt Leinart. I can't imagine Warner has much left in the gas tank.

I think Ben Roethlisberger is a good quarterback. He's not quite a hall of famer, though. Don't you try to play this bias on me. He's a tough guy, even if he is an awkward of a runner and gets hit too much.

This won't be a high scoring game. Don't fool yourself into thinking that is the case.

My pick: Steelers 17 - Cardinals 13

Enjoy the Super Bowl!

The Division Showdowns: Arizona at Carolina

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers- Saturday 8:15 PM ET on FOX

These two teams squared off in week 8 of the 2008 season. In that game, the Cardinals jumped out to a 17-3 lead. However, the Panthers would put up 21 points in the third quarter, as well as a field goal in the fourth quarter, to defeat the Cardinals 27-23.

Kurt Warner and his trio of receivers (Boldin, Fitzgerald and Breaston) dominated the passing attack for the Cardinals. Warner threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers never gave up more passing yards then in the game against the Cardinals.

It seems unlikely that the Cards will have the same kind of success. It seems harder knowing that the Panthers will focus much of their defense on the passing attack. However, the Falcons couldn't stop the Cardinals, so anything is possible.

The key for the Panthers is the running game. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are a true 1-2 combo punch. Williams and Stewart represent 2351 of the 2437 rushing yards for the Panthers this season. The Panthers ran for 30 touchdowns this season, best in the NFL.

The Cardinals are in the middle of the pack when it comes to giving up rushing yards. However, the Cardinals managed to shut down the Michael Turner attack, holding him to only 42 yards.

My Pick: The Cardinals have had their great deal of road woes this season. They're 3-5 on the road. So I don't think they could pull it off. I'm picking the Panthers.

Tomorrow, I'll profile the NFC match-up.

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: Arizona Cardinals

Today, we put the focus on the state where it is always hot, but the football team is always not. You guessed it, it's the Arizona Cardinals.

When I think of the Arizona Cardinals, I think, that is the franchise where careers go to die. Emmitt Smith and Boomer Esiason are the names that come to mind. Kurt Warner will be another name to add to that list once he calls it quits.

Last season, the Cardinals showed quite some promise and won quite a few games. They finished the season .500 for the first time since the Cardinals reached the playoffs in the '98 season.

Warner returned to old form, throwing for 3400 yards and 27 touchdowns. First round pick from 2006, Matt Leinart only played five games, he missed the rest of the season with a collarbone injury.

The showdown this training camp will be between Warner and Leinart. The question that needs to be asked is, do you go with the veteran who led most of the way last season, or do you go with the young upstart quarterback that is the future of this franchise. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt has a lot on his plate.

Now I know Leinart can't be mentioned in this preview without bringing up the infamous party pictures from earlier this year. I won't delve any further into these pictures. We here at Oh No Romo prefer to take the high road. We're a football blog, not US Weekly Sports edition. There are some exceptions, but this Leinart story is irrelevant. Enough of this PSA, on with the football.

The Cardinals will open up the 2008 regular season on the road when they face division rival San Francisco 49ers. At home, the Cardinals will face Miami, Buffalo and Dallas. On the road, the Cardinals will face Carolina, Philadelphia and Washington.

Now it is time for the always popular, always strange burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Starter for 2008: Kurt Warner
  
  
• Finishes the 2008 season: Kurt Warner
  
  
• Number of games Leinart plays: 8
  
  
• Edgerrin James will: Run for 700 yards
  
  
• Leading receiver for Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald- 1178 yards
  
  
• Most interceptions: Antrel Rolle- 4 interceptions
  
  
• Coolest names (Top 3): Chike Okeafor, Roderick Hood, Al Johnson (Best damn Swedish Pancake place in Wisconsin)
  
  
• 80s song that best describes team: Old and Wise- Alan Parsons Project
  
  
• In 2008, the Cardinals will: Go 9-7