This here match up is one never could have imagined 5 or 6 weeks ago. But this is the NFL and paraity in the leauge is clearly evident. I have watched every Eagles game that has been played in the past 15 years and consider myself rather knowledgeable when it comes to this team. Everyone's immediate reaction draws them to think of the game previously played this year on Thanksgiving. That game resulted in a 48-20 win for the Eagles. You have to factor in everything that affected the outcome of that game. The Cardinals had just came off a loss to the Giants in an extremely hard fought game. They then had to Philadelphia on 3 days rest and play a very and i mean very pissed off Philadelpia Eagles team. The previous week, the Ealges just got embarassed by the Ravens and just benched their face of the franchise QB McNabb. The circumstances just did not line up well for the Cardinals and that was clearly evident as the Eagles destroyed the Cardinals in that game. Now I am not saying throw that game away but to compare what happend in that game would not give you an exactly correct read of what really is going to happend this Sunday.
Eagles Offense vs. Cardinals Defense
We all know how great the Arizona D has been playing since the start of the playoffs. I will take no credit away from them what so ever but I think their has been a trend the past two games that will change this coming Sunday. The two teams the Cardinals have faced so far were run first, throw second teams. Alanta with Turner and Carolina with Stewart and Williams. I think both the Falcons and Carolina game planned heavily on pounding the rock and relying on the play action to hit it deep. Credit to Arizona for stopping the run in both games but we all saw what happend in the Carolina game. TO's obviously made Carolina abandoned their strength which is the run game and resort to the air which is clearly not their strength. Falcons with a rookie QB on the road in the playoffs just spells disaster which was basically what occured. Matt Ryan did not play to the level he was in the regular season and I think that had partly to do with the lack of running game they were able to create. The difference with the Eagles is they are not a run first team, they are pass first team. Andy will game plan with the pass first and incorporate the run just to keep the Cardinals honest. I think this game plan attacks the weakest part of the Cardinals defense which is their secondary. While they have a ton of athleticism with Rolle, Rodgers-Cromartie and Wilson, they lack experience esp. playoff experience. Wilson is a great safety but I would consider him more of a run stuffer than a pass defender. The reason I think this secondary will be exploited is because of the lack of pass rush Arizona will be able to create on McNabb. The Eagles O-line has kept McNabb fairly clean against really formadible d-lines in Minnesota and NY Giants. I consider these D-lines far better than anything Arizona puts out on the feild therefore McNabb should have plenty of time to throw the ball which will cause holes in the Arizona secondary. Also, Westbrook has not really had a breakout game yet this playoff. I know he had a 71 yard screen pass for a TD but if you eliminate that play he has had a very medicore playoff so far. I really look for Andy to spread Westbrook out to the slots and have him moving in motion to create mismatches in the pass game. Overall I would have to give the very slight advantage to the Eagles Offense over the Arizona Defense.
Cardinals Offense vs. Eagles Defense
I believe this is the most important part of the game for either team, if they want to advance to the Super Bowl. The Eagles defense has given up an avergae of 11 points in the past 8 games, while Arizona has lit up the scoreboard the past two playoff games. Something has to give here? Arizona has recently discovered a run game with Edge, which has opened up their extremely dangerous air attack. The Eagles just shut down arguably the two most dangerous rushing attacks in the playoffs, with the Vikings and Giants. I do not think Edge and the rushing attack pose much of a threat to the Eagles here. On the other hand the passing game is an obvious threat. Fitzgerald is a top 2 receiver in the game, in my opinion behind Andre Johnson. When I break this match up down, it comes down to the Eagles being able to create pressure. In a Jim Johnson defense it is obvious there will be blitzing and lots of it. He moves players all around and really leaves the QB guessing before the snap. I really think this creates a huge disadvantage for Kurt Warner. He is extremely unmobile and fragile. He will be throwing into one of the best secondaries in the leauge with Sheldon Brown, who in my opnion is one of the most underrated corners in the leauge, Asante Samuels whose play speaks for itself, Quentin Mikell also extremely underrated, and Brian Dawkins who is playing out of his mind lately. With the ability of Samuels to go one on one with Fitz and Sheldon to go one on one with an unhealthy Boldin, allows for Jim Johnson to let the dogs loose. Now what this will come down to is if the Cardinals pick it up more often than not, the Eagles will get beat. The Cardinals WR's are too good but if the rush gets to Kurt, turnovers will occur and we know what comes from that. When i look at this match-up I would have to say right now this is even. It all depends on the rush the Eagles can create.
I myslef will not be betting on this game because I do not like involving money in a game I alread have so much invested in. But I just thought i share my view of what will happen and what will need to happen for either team to succeed.
Eagles 24 Cardinals 22
Eagles Offense vs. Cardinals Defense
We all know how great the Arizona D has been playing since the start of the playoffs. I will take no credit away from them what so ever but I think their has been a trend the past two games that will change this coming Sunday. The two teams the Cardinals have faced so far were run first, throw second teams. Alanta with Turner and Carolina with Stewart and Williams. I think both the Falcons and Carolina game planned heavily on pounding the rock and relying on the play action to hit it deep. Credit to Arizona for stopping the run in both games but we all saw what happend in the Carolina game. TO's obviously made Carolina abandoned their strength which is the run game and resort to the air which is clearly not their strength. Falcons with a rookie QB on the road in the playoffs just spells disaster which was basically what occured. Matt Ryan did not play to the level he was in the regular season and I think that had partly to do with the lack of running game they were able to create. The difference with the Eagles is they are not a run first team, they are pass first team. Andy will game plan with the pass first and incorporate the run just to keep the Cardinals honest. I think this game plan attacks the weakest part of the Cardinals defense which is their secondary. While they have a ton of athleticism with Rolle, Rodgers-Cromartie and Wilson, they lack experience esp. playoff experience. Wilson is a great safety but I would consider him more of a run stuffer than a pass defender. The reason I think this secondary will be exploited is because of the lack of pass rush Arizona will be able to create on McNabb. The Eagles O-line has kept McNabb fairly clean against really formadible d-lines in Minnesota and NY Giants. I consider these D-lines far better than anything Arizona puts out on the feild therefore McNabb should have plenty of time to throw the ball which will cause holes in the Arizona secondary. Also, Westbrook has not really had a breakout game yet this playoff. I know he had a 71 yard screen pass for a TD but if you eliminate that play he has had a very medicore playoff so far. I really look for Andy to spread Westbrook out to the slots and have him moving in motion to create mismatches in the pass game. Overall I would have to give the very slight advantage to the Eagles Offense over the Arizona Defense.
Cardinals Offense vs. Eagles Defense
I believe this is the most important part of the game for either team, if they want to advance to the Super Bowl. The Eagles defense has given up an avergae of 11 points in the past 8 games, while Arizona has lit up the scoreboard the past two playoff games. Something has to give here? Arizona has recently discovered a run game with Edge, which has opened up their extremely dangerous air attack. The Eagles just shut down arguably the two most dangerous rushing attacks in the playoffs, with the Vikings and Giants. I do not think Edge and the rushing attack pose much of a threat to the Eagles here. On the other hand the passing game is an obvious threat. Fitzgerald is a top 2 receiver in the game, in my opinion behind Andre Johnson. When I break this match up down, it comes down to the Eagles being able to create pressure. In a Jim Johnson defense it is obvious there will be blitzing and lots of it. He moves players all around and really leaves the QB guessing before the snap. I really think this creates a huge disadvantage for Kurt Warner. He is extremely unmobile and fragile. He will be throwing into one of the best secondaries in the leauge with Sheldon Brown, who in my opnion is one of the most underrated corners in the leauge, Asante Samuels whose play speaks for itself, Quentin Mikell also extremely underrated, and Brian Dawkins who is playing out of his mind lately. With the ability of Samuels to go one on one with Fitz and Sheldon to go one on one with an unhealthy Boldin, allows for Jim Johnson to let the dogs loose. Now what this will come down to is if the Cardinals pick it up more often than not, the Eagles will get beat. The Cardinals WR's are too good but if the rush gets to Kurt, turnovers will occur and we know what comes from that. When i look at this match-up I would have to say right now this is even. It all depends on the rush the Eagles can create.
I myslef will not be betting on this game because I do not like involving money in a game I alread have so much invested in. But I just thought i share my view of what will happen and what will need to happen for either team to succeed.
Eagles 24 Cardinals 22
hno:
