Arizona
(3-1)
Amazing
thing about the Cardinals… when Carson Palmer plays, they generally
win. (The thing is, unless there is a real reason for it, I don’t
like using injuries and health to predict a season. So, yeah,
using “if Palmer stays healthy” as an observation is out.)
You
tell me though… the only loss for Arizona came in a game where
they scored 22 points against division rival St. Louis. Other
than that… 31, 48 and 47. All while holding opponents to under
20 per game. That sounds good, really good, right?
Ok…
now consider three of the first four were at home, and they’ve
played New Orleans, Chicago and San Francisco along with St. Louis.
Slightly less impressive, right?
I
think we’re going on a roller coaster ride with the Cardinals.
Yeah, sure, they have the Lions on the schedule. And the Browns.
They also have the Steelers and Packers. Plus, they’re already
1-1 in the division with two games remaining against the Seahawks.
Maybe Seattle isn’t as scary as last season (more on that in a
second), the general idea is that this division could be chaotic
and up for grabs until the end.
Strong
defense. That’s a big plus. Good options on offense. I think the
Cardinals are going to hold on and take the NFC West. If they
can pull an upset over Pittsburgh or Green Bay, they might even
be able to keep pace with the NFC South leader for that second
seed and playoff bye week.
I
suppose I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take the NFC and head
to the Super Bowl. Stranger things have happened. I just get this
feeling that everyone talking big about Carson Palmer… and saying
that when Palmer plays, they win… are trying more to convince
themselves that the Cardinals are good than to convince us.
St.
Louis (2-2)
Zero
clue what to say about the Rams.
After
starting off the year with 34 points and a huge divisional victory
over the Seahawks, we’ve gotten two performances where they couldn’t
score (accomplishing the stunning 10 against Washington and 6
against Pittsburgh). Then, they go out and put up 24 points to
pull off a huge divisional road win over Arizona.
So…
yeah… unpredictable, inconsistent, with all sorts of questions
facing the offense.
I
loved the drafting of Todd Gurley, but we don’t have much there
yet. Heck, given the ups and downs, we don’t have much anywhere.
Hitting
the old reliable… the schedule… the Rams have a playoff opportunity
wrapped up if they can figure things out, score some points, and
learn how to win strings of games. I know, I know… duh. But check
out what happens in a few weeks. They start November with the
49ers… who they play twice from November on… and, from that first
meeting on, frankly only have a road game against the Bengals
as a matchup that looks truly difficult.
Unfortunately,
I think we’re going to see the Rams arrive at 8-8. They’ll beat
the 49ers and then lose to the Vikings. They’ll beat the Bears
and Ravens (all sorts of excitement results) and then lose to
the Bengals and Cardinals. And so on. That’s what we’ve seen so
far.
Seattle
(2-2)
Over
the years, I’ve done a ton of research into different things.
One item that became quite true over the past fifteen years was
a run where Super Bowl teams failed to make the playoffs the following
year. Honestly… other than New England… it just didn’t happen.
Play in the Super Bowl one year, make early January tee times
for the next.
Another
funny thing… and I can’t tell you if this trend continues… but
back around the years when New England was running off a perfect
regular season… as I recall teams didn’t make out too well after
playing the Patriots. It was like a hangover lingered after a
particularly difficult struggle.
Enter
the Seahawks. And while we could look at whether or not playing
the Patriots, in a game that ended in stunning fashion for the
Seahawks, let’s not. Instead…
Think
about how much time the Seahawks have invested, how many games
the Seahawks have played, beyond the normal demands in the past
two seasons. Six playoff games… and basically an extra ten weeks
of practice, games, and travel.
This
offseason, we began to see the difficulties hit from a payroll
perspective. Keeping players, losing players… who to bring in,
who to let go… and the formation of a roster.
They
brought in Jimmy Graham, and haven’t shown a single sign that
they intend to use him.
Defense
looks great… but, you know, Chicago and Detroit as the past two
opponents. Neither of those two teams could have found the end
zone with a map, compass, GPS, three experienced trail guides
and every offensive possession starting with field position that
qualified for first and goal.
This
is still a dangerous team. Funny thing though. Over time, luck
begins to even out. The ridiculous ending… where every possible
thing that had to go right against the Packers did go right… comes
back around with the ball bouncing another way in a different
game. And so far, it looks like other teams are positioned to
take some of the closer games.
San
Francisco (1-3)
Yeah.
I got nothing. This team is spiraling off the Golden Gate Bridge,
out of control, and there doesn’t seem to be much to really discuss.