Cardinals-Lions Preview: NFC West Crown Still Pending

You have to like the Cardinals chances to bounce back after losing on Monday Night Football to the 49ers despite the short week and having to travel East. They haven’t lost two games in a row this season and have won five of their eight games on the road.

They are facing a Detroit Lions team that not only has just two wins, but is without their starting QB, RB and possibly WR. Matthew Stafford is still out with an ailing shoulder, Kevin Smith is on IR, and Calvin Johnson is questionable.

There are some Cardinals injuries of note that will most definitely affect the outcome of this game and maybe more. While it appears Larry Fitzgerald is healthy enough to start and play after suffering what looked like a bad knee injury last game, Safety Matt Ware will not.

Ware has officially been placed on IR with a knee injury, paving the way for third round draft pick Rashad Johnson to make an impact. To date, most of Johnson’s action has been on special teams. We will get to see how prepared the rookie is to spell Ware when the Cardinals go to their five and six-DB sets.

With kicker Neil Rackers nursing a partially torn groin and now ruled out for Sunday’s matchup with the Lions, new acquisition Mike Nugent is thrust into an important role. Not only is Rackers adept at forcing touchbacks with his long kickoffs, he has only missed one field goal all year, and is arguably the best onside and pooch kicker in the league.

Nugent was signed primarily because of his familiarity with Punter Ben Graham, who was his holder when both played for the Jets.

Nugent’s accuracy to date may be a source of concern for fans. The second round draft pick in 2005 never lived up to his lofty selection. He has a career accuracy percentage of 78.6%, and was released earlier this year by the Buccaneers due to misses.

Starting Tackle Mike Gandy has been ruled out for the Lions game as well. He has been battling a pelvic injury that hasn’t healed properly, and you could tell as much in his limited participation against San Francisco. Jeremy Bridges will start in his place once more.

Finally, one of the biggest questions on the tongues of many Cardinals fans is can our young running backs play a game without fumbling the ball? Bob Baum calls it fumble fever, which is fair given the fact that all three backs that touched the ball last game fumbled, and there were five fumbles in all.

Workload twins Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells have now combined for nine total fumbles on the year with six of them lost. Even wideout Anquan Boldin has struggled, with three fumbles and two lost on the season.

Maybe this is the game the Cardinals regain their focus and get themselves prepared for another postseason run.

This article also appears on NFLTouchdown.com

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Saints, Bengals, and Cardinals: Can You Believe It?

Note: I wrote this article after Week 13, but thought I would share it on B/R anyway.

I must admit it is pretty satisfying to see the Patriots, the team of the decade and winners of three Super Bowls, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, winners of an all-time most six Super Bowls, struggling as of late and in danger of missing the playoffs.

The Steelers seem to keep chugging along no matter who the coach is. All those years with Chuck Noll, then Bill Cowher, and now Mike Tomlin, and every single one has a ring.

Give it a break would ya?

It finally looks like they are.

I was pulling for Tom Brady and the Patriots their first go around, the year of the infamous Snow Bowl/Tuck Rule versus the Raiders, but after awhile, their domination got a little tiring.

Both may very well be playing themselves out of the playoffs altogether. Besides, its nice to see some other teams get a chance.

The Saints, Bengals, Lions, and Cardinals form perhaps the losingest quattro in league history, at least as far as reputation, and most of it is also quantifiable with stats as well.

But not this year, not now. Three of these are not just respectably good, but some of them are the teams to beat in the NFL this season.

Of this historically un-feared foursome, the Lions will be the last team to get up off the mat.

The Cardinals rise last season was no fluke, as evidenced by their 8-5 record and their thorough beat down of a previously 10-1 Vikings team several Sunday nights ago. Many were claiming that Minnesota was the most complete team in the NFL, but their weaknesses have been exposed by the annually under-appreciated Cardinals.

If you aren’t a fan, you may not realize that Arizona’s rise to prominence has been a consistent building process that began with former coach Dennis Green. Green’s lack of success in the standings was disappointing, but he helped lay the foundation with the selection of some of the main cogs in the Cardinals’ current starting lineup.

Under Green, the Cardinals drafted Larry Fitzgerald, Karlos Dansby, Darnell Dockett, and Antrel Rolle, all Pro Bowl caliber talent. Green is also responsible for guard Deuce Lutui, a solid four-year starter.

Ken Whisenhunt is a methodical coach, and his team’s steady improvements in his first three seasons reflect that patient, calm approach. The Cardinals went 8-8, 9-7 and now sit at 8-5 with a Super Bowl berth already under their belts.

The Bengals had more success in their past than the Cardinals, making the playoffs in 1970, 1973, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1988, and 1990, but outside of the Ken Anderson and Boomer Easiason-led teams and their two Super Bowl appearances, most people remember the futile ’90’s decade when they were the the laughing stock of the league.

It wasn’t until Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003 that they began to turn things around.

After two 8-8 seasons, 2005 saw a Cincinnati team develop into one of the league’s best. They had a great young quarterback in Carson Palmer, and were so solid all around that they appeared to be putting together a contender for years to come.

They went 11-5 and won the AFC North, only to lose in a wild card game to start the playoffs. Worse than that, they lost Palmer on only the second play of that game, an injury that took a couple of seasons to fully heal.

Partially due to that, the Bengals dropped off of the national radar until this season. But all has been forgotten, as they are back with a 9-4 record, boasting one of the best defenses in the league.

The 2009 Saints need no introduction. Drew Brees is finally getting recognition for being one of the game’s best quarterbacks, and Sean Payton’s play calling is so good it’s frustrating.

They have an endless supply of speed on both sides of the ball and the addition of both Greg Williams and Darren Sharper have ignited the team to the highest level of play in team history.

Even if you are too young to have seen it for yourself, any rabid NFL fan has surely seen the pictures of Saints fans with brown bags over their heads from back in the day. They were mockingly referred to as the ‘Aints, with good reason.

Their misery started in 1967 as an expansion team, and it took two decades before they could lay claim to a winning record. They had some exceptional teams in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s that made the playoffs four times, but nothing compares to the way they are playing now.

Now back to the Lions. I think Detroit has put themselves into position to make a run, I really do. Matthew Stafford has proven his moxy and leadership; he just needs more experience. He has an incredibly strong arm and any quarterback in the league would love to have Calvin Johnson to throw to.

I have a good feeling about coach Jim Schwartz. After what he did on the defensive side of the ball for Tennessee, you have to like his chances.

So Lions fans, I ask you, has your team finally started the ascension?

You will be the last losingest team to get up off the mat.

This article also appears on Undrafteds.com

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NFL Week 15 Picks: The Chosen

Week 14: 10-6; Season prediction tally: 138-70

I am dubbing this Undrafteds.com Upset Week.

Below I have picked the most upsets for any week yet so far, for me personally that is—five in all.

I figure if they pan out, I’m a genius, and if they don’t, hey at least I had fun trying.

Thursday

Indianapolis at Jacksonville —I realize Jacksonville is average at best, but so is San Francisco and they just dominated Arizona. Crazy things happen in these divisional games.

Especially since Indy needs to lose and Jax is still in the playoff hunt.

Pick: Jacksonville

Saturday

Dallas at New Orleans —I’m taking Tony Romo and the Cowboys to break their December curse, and the Saints’ defeat-less string.

Pick: Cowboys

Sunday

Arizona at Detroit —If the Cardinals don’t show up for this one, I’m parachuting from the rafters onto Ford Field and leading them to victory.

With a win and a San Francisco loss to Philadelphia, Arizona will be NFC West champs for the second year in a row.

Pick: Cardinals

Cleveland at Kansas City —Did Cleveland actually look halfway decent, or did the Steelers just play an awful game? I really don’t know.

What I do know is Josh Cribbs needs to touch the ball more, and if the Browns knew what was good for them they would let Cribbs pass too.

Can Cleveland win two in a row though? No.

Pick: Chiefs

San Francisco at Philadelphia —Well congratulations 49ers, you scored touchdowns on drives of eight and 16 yards versus the suddenly hapless Cardinals and you won your Super Bowl.

Now that is over and the teams that are really in playoff contention are getting prepared for the real Super Bowl.

Pick: Eagles

Chicago at Baltimore —Chicago stinks. Ray Rice is going to tear them to shreds.

Pick: Ravens

New England at Buffalo – Now it is Buffalo’s turn to have their Super Bowl. The Bills should have won in that Week One matchup, and look to break a 12-game losing streak to the Patriots.

Pick: Bills

Miami at Tennessee —A 7-6 Dolphins and 6-7 Titans clash. Two teams clinging to playoff aspirations, should be a great game.

Both squads are capable of being much better than their records. I am going to go with the home team.

Pick: Titans

Houston at St. Louis —Unless last game was an aberration, the Texans have finally found their groove.

Pick: Texans

Atlanta at N.Y. Jets —The Jets need this one more than the Falcons, since their playoff hopes are more realistic.

Pick: Jets

Oakland at Denver —It is really hard to believe Charlie Frye is deemed a better choice to start at QB this week over Jamarcus Russell, given that they are both horrible options.

Pick: Broncos

Cincinnati at San Diego —The Bengals have had a good run, but the Chargers are one of the hottest teams right now.

Pick: Chargers

Green Bay at Pittsburgh —The Steelers are reeling, losing to Cleveland, Oakland and Kansas City during their five-game losing streak. That is pretty ugly.

Green Bay still seems vulnerable to me though, and Pittsburgh will at some point get embarrassed enough to play harder. I think.

Pick: Steelers

Tampa Bay at Seattle —Tough choice here, but since coach Jim Mora has been calling out some of his ‘Hawks for being well, wusses, I think they will come out fired up.

Pick: Seahawks

Minnesota at Carolina —The Vikings looked to be back on track by beating a good Cincinnati team last game 30-10. Have to side with them here based on that.

Pick: Vikings

Monday

N.Y. Giants at Washington —Washington hates New York, and the Giants are beatable right about now.

Pick: Redskins

This article also appears on Undrafteds.com

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Arizona Cardinals Need to Be Doubted to Win

While all teams have their fair share of ups and downs, no team can turn on a dime quite as masterfully as the Arizona Cardinals.

One week after making one of the most complete teams in the league look like a JV squad,  beating the then 10-1 Vikings convincingly in prime time, they returned to the field wearing flip-flops and sun hats, sipping piña coladas through curly straws.

Well okay not really, but they may as well have because they certainly didn’t show up to play football against the 49ers last night.

After the Vikings game, ESPN’s Mike Sando said : “The Cardinals outperformed the Vikings in every important dimension: offense, defense, special teams, coaching, intelligence, and overall orneriness.”

In the 49ers game, the script was completely flipped.

The Cardinals could do nothing right it seemed. The 49ers suddenly looked like Mike Singletary‘s 1985 Bears.

Arizona handed San Francisco seven turnovers. That’s really the only stat you need, but I’ll hand out some more anyway.

How do you hold Adrian freaking Peterson to 19 yards rushing on 13 carries last week, then let Frank Gore gash you for 167 yards on 25 carries in the very next game?

The only sensible answer I can come up with is because the Cardinals need to be doubted to win. When they finally earn the respect from everyone, they have nothing to play for apparently.

Last season they started 7-3. Outside of Cardinals Nation, no one saw that coming.

Yet at 7-3 they started to gain too much respect, so they dropped four of their next six games on purpose—three in dismal, embarrassing performances—which was as it turns out a perfect fit for the Cardinals game plan all along.

It set the stage for their improbable Super Bowl run.

They were called the worst playoff team in history at the onset of the postseason. I mean how many 9-7 teams are very good to begin with, let alone make it past the first round of the playoffs?

It worked out superbly wouldn’t you say?

First they beat the favored Falcons because no one gave them a chance.

Then they beat the Panthers in Carolina—we all knew the Cardinals had no track record of winning on the road and had already lost to the Panthers once, so the game had all the makings of a Cardinals loss. Wrong.

Well surely they would succumb to the Eagles, right? Nope. Doubt the Cardinals, and they will win.

Fast forward to last night.

For the first time in my life, I heard every single one of the talking heads on ESPN propping up the Cardinals after their dismantling of the Vikings.

I heard things I thought I would never hear. “The Cardinals can play with anyone in the league.”

I should have known right then and there that something was amiss, because as soon as the Cardinals are favored in a game, any game, they will lose.

They need to be doubted to win.

It is not a mystery. It is what it is. It is a proven fact.

Google it.

This article also appears on NFLTouchdown.com

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Arizona Cardinals’ Ascension to Elite Almost Complete

As we prepare for the Cardinals-49ers Monday Night Football matchup, with a chance for Arizona to claim its second NFC West crown in a row with a win, lets take a look back at the season to date to see what we have learned.

What have we learned? I don’t have to tell any of you that we can all watch every snap and come away with very different versions of what we saw. So maybe it is more appropriate to say, what have I learned?

I have learned that the 2009 Cardinals are a new improved version of the 2008 Cardinals. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it?

More precisely, the 2008 model was good enough to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in team history, but inconsistent and unreliable, especially at the most inopportune times such as the excruciating Steelers’ game winning drive.

Last year, the teams primary weaknesses, arguably of course, were giving up the big play way too often, not winning on the road, and general inability to run the ball.

This year the Cardinals are not giving up nearly as many big plays on defense, are 5-1 on the road, and have increased their team yards per carry average from 3.5 last year to 4.1.

But it goes further than the numbers.

This team has demonstrated that they are more mature and resilient. Arizona is more focused and physical.

Additionally, key players have simply gotten better with each passing week.

An alarming number of players are playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level. Defensively, Antrel Rolle, Adrian Wilson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Karlos Dansby, and Darnell Dockett should at least get consideration.

Not to mention special teams warrior LaRod Stephens-Howling, punter Ben Graham, and kicker Neil Rackers.

Offensively, the usual suspects Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald could all be locks for the Pro Bowl.

Forget about the Pro Bowl for a minute though. Calais Campbell, Lyle Sendlein, Deuce Lutui, Reggie Wells, and Tim Hightower have all improved.

Don’t bother doing the math, I’ve already done it: that is 13 out of the starting 22 that are either playing at a Pro Bowl level or have in the least improved their game.

On special teams, Graham and Rackers have played nearly flawlessly, and LSH has been an upgrade on kick returns and return coverage.

This team has more character, even when they lose. In my not so humble opinion, the Titans game was a huge character win despite the loss.

Matt Leinart had some things to prove that day, and he did. There were more players making plays in that game than most I’ve seen.

True, the Cardinals again let a QB execute another two-minute drill to perfection—their Achilles heel—and lost the game, but they can’t win them all can they?

As I recall the 12 games played to date, by my count the 8-4 record can be broken down as follows:

Of the four losses, two were well played games that ended in a loss (Week One vs. 49ers and Week 12 vs. Titans), and two were games that the Cardinals simply laid an egg (Week Three vs. the Colts and Week Eight vs. the Panthers).

Of the eight wins, all of them had at least two quarters of dominating play by Arizona.

Finally, I have to talk about head coach Ken Whisenhunt for a moment. He has a methodical, patient approach, and his teams’ progress is a reflection of that.

In his first season he took an under-achieving talent-laden squad to their first 8-8 record in many moons. Last year they improved to 9-7, but caught fire and made it to their first-ever Super Bowl.

This year their weaknesses have been shored up even moreso—defensively they are more consistent and the rushing attack is better—and the Cardinals have cleared yet another hurdle.

Now, the Cardinals are becoming one of the elite teams in the NFL right before out very eyes.

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Cardinals-49ers Preview

These teams faced off in the season opener at Arizona which San Francisco won 20-16.

As many of these early season game results typically do, it set off gloom and doom forecasts for the Cardinals while promoting a 49ers turn-around season scenario from the masses.

My oh my how time changes everything.

San Francisco enters this contest all but eliminated from the playoffs at 5-7, while the Cardinals are riding a new found maturity level and resilience unmatched in team history to a commanding 8-4 record.

In Game One, the 49ers ran the ball often but not well, as Frank Gore was impressively bottled up by the Cardinals. He gained an alarmingly meager 30 yards on 22 carries, which turned out to be one of the brighter spots of the game for the Cardinals.

Shaun Hill was the QB in that game and he too was held in check for the most part, except for the game winning drive—the Achilles heel for the Cardinals. Hill passed for 72 of his game total 209 yards on that touchdown drive.

Fast forwarding to the present, and Gore has only received 32 carries in the last three weeks as the 49ers have moved away from a rush-first team to a pass-first one.

Former overall No.1 draft pick and perceived bust Alex Smith has apparently resurrected his career with some strong play, and Shaun Hill as the No.1 QB seems like a distant memory.

Arizona’s offense was out of sync in that first game, which in retrospect seems fitting considering the team was adjusting to life after Todd Haley, last year’s offensive coordinator who left the club in the off-season to become head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

No disrespect to Ken Whisenhunt, who built his career on the strength of his ability to call plays, but clearly that first game was the first part of an adjustment period for the team.

Also, third receiver Steve Breaston was inactive that day and his speed to stretch the field was missed, while Anquan Boldin was gimpy at best.

Fast forwarding to the present, Breaston and Boldin appear to be fully healed and the Cardinals have the look of a dangerous team that could make a deep run in the playoffs.

Their inconsistencies of the past are being replaced with more frequent occurrences of dominating play.

Arizona continues to improve its rushing attack, which is creating the kind of balance that successful teams need. Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells have combined to average 4.1 yards per carry, up from 3.5 the team averaged last season, and the Cardinals have lifted themselves out of the cellar in rushing yards per contest, up to 26th from dead last one season ago.

The Cardinals defense is tied for third in the NFL in sacks, tied for tenth in interceptions, and has become less prone to giving up big plays.

This is the 49ers Super Bowl. They would like nothing more than to play spoiler to a Cardinals team that could wrap up its second consecutive division title with a win.

For the Cardinals, their challenge is to stave off an emotional let-down after thrashing one of the best teams in the league last weekend.

They want to extract revenge upon their divisional foes, but it will not come without a fight.

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NFL Picks Week 14: The Chosen

Week 13: 9-7; Season prediction tally: 128-64

 

Thursday

Pittsburgh at Cleveland – Are the Steelers angry or embarrassed enough to turn things back around? I have to believe they are.

At least versus Cleveland. They should be able to run the ball well against the Shaun Rodgers-less interior of the Browns’ defense.

Pick: Steelers

 

 

Sunday

 

Green Bay at Chicago – I might be done picking the Bears to win for the rest of 2009.

Pick: Packers

 

New Orleans at Atlanta – Matt Ryan might be back for this matchup, but he would be presumably a touch gimpy, a tad rusty, and he was having a rough go of it even when he wasn’t those things.

Pick: Saints

 

Detroit at Baltimore – I don’t think Detroit will be able to keep Ray Rice down for a second game in a row.

Pick: Ravens

 

Denver at Indianapolis – I might be done picking the Colts to lose for the rest of 2009.

Pick: Colts

 

Seattle at Houston – Wow, hard to believe both of these 5-7 teams have so little to be positive about at the moment.

If Schaub plays, Houston wins.

Pick: Texans

 

N.Y. Jets at Tampa Bay – I still like Josh Freeman despite his five interceptions against Carolina. He did manage over 300 yards passing and had the team in scoring position all game last week.

The only problem is Darrelle Revis and the Jets are still in the playoff hunt. Who knows, Kellen Clemens might even come out fired up, with his rare opportunity for playing time.

Pick: Jets

 

Carolina at New England – Honestly I don’t know what to think of the Patriots anymore.

Carolina is capable of winning this one, no doubt about it, but I am thinking the Patriots will be more focused this week.

Pick: Patriots

 

Miami at Jacksonville – This has black and blue written all over it. There should be a plethora of smashed mouths in this game, between a 6-6 and the 7-5 home team.

Playoff implications on the line, with no room for error—neither team can afford a loss at this stage in the season. I’m going to stick with Pocket Hercules.

Pick: Jaguars

 

Buffalo at Kansas City – I am picking the home team. I am not sure why really.

Pick: Chiefs

 

Cincinnati at Minnesota – I think the Bengals will make it two losses in a row for the Vikings, because Arizona’s defense gave them fits, and the Bengals are arguably better and more consistent defensively.

Pick: Bengals

 

St. Louis at Tennessee – The Colts burst the Titans bubble, but the Rams won’t.

I am hoping Chris Johnson runs for 597 yards. Yes, that would break Eric Dickerson’s record.

Pick: Titans

 

Washington at Oakland – I love me some Bruce Gradkowski, but that Redskins defense is tough.

I wonder though about what possible momentum might exist for these two squads, both positive and negative?

Pick: Raiders

 

San Diego at Dallas – Is this a must win for Dallas? By the way Tony Romo and the Cowboys get slammed in the media for their history of losing in December, you might think so.

The funny thing is they are still 8-4. Well, I am not going to pick them to lose because of that. I am going to pick them to lose because the Chargers are on fire.

Pick: Chargers

 

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants – I think the Eagles are a better team.

Pick: Eagles

 

 

Monday

 

Arizona at San Francisco – If San Francisco were a stronger team, I’d feel better about their chances here. Arizona is coming off their most impressive performance of the season, and would appear to be primed for a let-down game.

The problem is that this is a revenge game for the Cardinals, who lost to the 49ers in the opener, and DB Nate Clements, who usually plays the Arizona receivers better than most, will not be playing.

Pick: Cardinals

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How Did the Arizona Cardinals Crush the Minnesota Vikings?

The two most important stats of the game: Adrian Peterson toted the rock 13 times for 19 yards, including an 11-yarder, and Jared Allen was blanked entirely from the stat sheet. No solo tackles, no assists, no sacks—no nothin’.

Jeremy Bridges deserves the game ball without question. To step in and play left tackle, a position he had never played, against one of the most feared defenders in the league and completely shut him down is miraculous.

I know that Bridges received help from Ben Patrick and Tim Hightower and others, and that Allen was double-teamed for the majority of the contest, but Bridges did his job and Allen was dominated. That was an effort not many Pro Bowlers can muster, performed by a career back-up.

Maybe Anquan Boldin hasn’t lost anything. Q turned in a two-TD effort while running after the catch like the Boldin of old.

I had publicly questioned his form recently, trying to recall the last time I saw him running angry and breaking tackles. Last night proved to me that he still owns the fire, and apparently is fully healthy for the first time all season.

It was great to see Larry Fitzgerald become a focal point of the offense once more, and he produced with a season-high 143 yards, including his longest reception on the season with a 34-yarder.

When Tim Hightower fumbled the ball away on the second play of the game to give the Vikings excellent field position, it was easy to moan and groan and wonder if it was a sign of impending doom.

Now that the game is over and we have more clarity when rehashing details, there is a positive spin to that blunder.

Before fumbling, Hightower had run straight up the Vikings’ gut for 10 yards on the Cardinals’ first rushing attempt.

This set the tone for the game, that the No. 4 rushing defense was beatable and nothing to shy away from. The Cardinals totaled 113 yards on the ground against a team that had been allowing an average of only 84 per game.

Tim Hightower continued his aggressive play by punishing defenders in his wake, and providing a lethal stiff-arm on his 32-yard romp.

Down 7-0 after handing the Vikings a scoring opportunity right out of the gate, Steve Breaston’s 64-yard punt return was the spark that turned the game in the Cardinals favor.

That makes two games in a row Arizona has gotten a big return from special teams.

Punter Ben Graham, who is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, continued that pace by placing two of this three punts inside the Vikings’ 20, with a long of 52.

Flying under the radar is Neil Rackers, who has missed only one kick all season, PAT’s included. He is now 15 for 16, with his only miss being a 45-yarder in Week 2.

Tony Dungy accurately surmised that Arizona won this game in the trenches, and I agree. It wasn’t just Bridges who played a phenomenal game, as the Vikings, the NFL leaders coming in with 40 sacks, had zero.

Defensively, Darnell Dockett was his usual unstoppable force, at one point shoving Pro Bowler Steve Hutchinson aside like a feather and tackling Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

Calais Campbell made his presence known with constant pressure and his fifth sack of the year, and 34-year old Bertrand Berry registered two sacks to bring his total to five.

ESPN’s NFC West blogger Mike Sando said it best : “The Cardinals outperformed the Vikings in every important dimension: offense, defense, special teams, coaching, intelligence, and overall orneriness.”

Arizona is now 1-1 versus the top three teams in the NFL, and have for the moment moved past the Vikings as one of the teams to beat.

This article also appears on Revenge Of The Birds

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Cardinals, Vikings: Comparing Strength Of Schedules

Some contend that Minnesota is the most complete team in the NFL.

No one will deny that the Vikings have been the better overall team to date, but how much better are they than the Cardinals?

Let us microscope the Vikings’ and Cardinals’ schedules and results to get a better feel for just how much actually separates them this season.

Disclaimer: Make no mistake, this has no hope of being unbiased. I am a Cardinals fan and have not watched every snap of the Vikings’ games, so I am surely missing some key points in their analysis. I have however watched every second of Arizona ball.

Arizona:

1. San Francisco L  16-20 (0-1): Hard fought game, division rival.

It can be said that with the departure of Todd Haley, the flow of the Cardinals’ offense wasn’t quite in sync with Ken Whisenhunt’s first time out calling plays in awhile.

Held Frank Gore to 30 yards on 22 carries.

2. @ Jacksonville W 31-17 (1-1): The Cardinals’ nemesis last regular season was winning on the road. In their first attempt, they completely dominated Jacksonville for three quarters.

Jacksonville’s 17 points were a little deceiving as it came up against prevent defense.

Held Maurice Jones-Drew to 66 yards on 13 carries, but 36 came on one run.

3. Indianapolis L 10-31 (1-2): After a promising start to the game, this was a poor all-around effort by the Cardinals.

They were flat and out of sorts in all phases for most of the game.

Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Pierre Garçon embarrassed Arizona, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in particular.

4. BYE WEEK

5. Houston W 28-21 (2-2): Arizona again completely dominated for three quarters.

When they went to prevent defense, Matt Schaub and company mounted a comeback.

A goal-line stand by Arizona prevented the Texans from tying to force overtime.

6. @ Seattle W 27-3 (3-2): Arizona completely dominated this game from start to finish.

One of their most complete wins in team history.

Held Matt Hasselbeck to 112 yards passing and Seattle to 14 yards rushing on 11 carries.

7. @ NY Giants W 24-17 (4-2): In a signature win, the Cardinals stymied the Giants who were 5-1 before this game, by forcing four turnovers and holding last year’s best rushing team to 107 total yards on the ground.

The Giants could only muster three second-half points.

8. Carolina L 21-34 (4-3): Another poor all-around effort by the Cardinals, who were dominated by the previously stagnant Panthers, in a revenge game.

The Cardinals had embarrassed the Panthers last postseason on their home turf, to which the Panthers returned the favor.

Arizona came into the game with the top ranked run defense, but were exploited for 270 ground yards.

9. @ Chicago W 41-21 (5-3): Cardinals rebound nicely by dominating the Bears. It was 31-7 at halftime.

In prevent defense, the Bears got back into the game. Matt Leinart helped them out by throwing an INT on his only attempt, and was immediately replaced with Warner.

10. Seattle W 31-20 (6-3): Seattle gave it everything they had, playing maybe their best game of the season, only to lose by 11 points to a superior team.

11. @ St. Louis W 21-13 (7-3): With Kurt Warner at the helm, the Cardinals were cruising with a 21-3 halftime lead.

He suffered a concussion at the end of the second quarter however, and the still rusty Leinart was unable to lead the team to points.

The defense held strong and mopped up, securing the win.

12. @ Tennessee L 17-20 (7-4): Playing the hot Titans, who had won four straight, without Warner.

Leinart improved, and the Cardinals held a 17-13 advantage with two minutes remaining before Vince Young’s now instant classic, 18-play 99-yard drive, won the game on the last play of the game for Tennessee.

An all around well-played game by both sides.

 

Minnesota

1. @ Cleveland W 34-20 (1-0): Okay so the Vikings beat the Browns.

If there is a negative here it is they gave up 20 points to the second-worst scoring team in the NFL.

2. @ Detroit W 27-13 (2-0): Slayed the mighty…err, a…Lions.

3. San Francisco W 27-24 (3-0): Barely escaped with a win on the final play of the game, a fantastic desperation heave perfectly placed by Brett Favre and wonderfully received by journeyman Greg Lewis in the end zone.

Hey a win is a win, even if it is by the hair on a chinny-chin-chin.

4. Green Bay W 30-23 (4-0): The Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre Bowl I. The Vikings survive by a touchdown.

5. @ St. Louis W 38-10 (5-0): A dominating victory by the Vikings.

6. Baltimore W 33-31 (6-0): The Vikings get the ‘W’ when the Ravens miss their attempt at a game-winning field goal on the last play of the game.

7. @ Pittsburgh L 17-27 (6-1): The Steelers hand the Vikings their first ‘L’ in a defensive battle.

8. @ Green Bay W 38-26 (7-1): The Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre Bowl II. Minnesota holds off Green Bay who scored 23 second-half points.

9. BYE WEEK

10. Detroit W 27-10 (8-1): Wow they beat Detroit again.

11. Seattle W 35-9 (9-1): Well at least the Cardinals aren’t the only ones who can utterly dismantle the Seahawks.

12. Chicago W 36-10 (10-1): Again, at least the Cardinals aren’t the only ones who can pile on a crumbling squad.

 

Conclusion

 

Using this breakdown as evidence, you can see that Arizona has put up dominating performances in five of their seven wins. Minnesota also has put up five or six.

Arizona’s opponents are 55-66, and Minnesota’s are 45-76.

So what is the point of this process, and what does it all mean?

While it would be simple-minded to attempt to draw only one meaning from all of this data, I would like to point out that these two teams are more evenly matched than the media would have us believe.

Game on.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Picks Week 13: The Chosen

Week 12: 12-4; Season prediction tally: 119-57

 

Thursday

N.Y. Jets at Buffalo

Both teams are on massive one-game winning streaks.

Seriously though, doesn’t it seem like Buffalo has kicked things up a notch under interim coach Perry Fewell?

Pick: Bills

 

Sunday

Tampa Bay at Carolina

I’m going all Josh Freeman with this pick. I am really impressed with how good he looks as a pro.

Untested Matt Moore is set to replace the injured Jake Delhomme for Carolina, and the Bucs’ D has played well recently.

Pick: Buccaneers

 

St. Louis at Chicago

Jay Cutler might just blow up this game to attempt to atone for a season gone awry.

Pick: Bears

 

Tennessee at Indianapolis

I’m rolling with VY and the Titans. They are really playing well, and the Colts are due.

Pick: Titans

 

Philadelphia at Atlanta

Toss-up of the week. Philly is 7-4 but barely got by Washington. Atlanta is 6-5 but barely escaped Tampa Bay. Coin flip, and the winner is…

Pick: Eagles

 

Oakland at Pittsburgh

Steelers should win with or without Big Ben.

Pick: Steelers

 

Detroit at Cincinnati

Matthew Stafford likes to throw 50/50 balls, which Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph will eat up.

Pick: Bengals

 

New Orleans at Washington

Very tempting to pick the Redskins in this one. They might have a better D than New England and could pose some problems for the Saints. Plus, isn’t this their Super Bowl?

Still, after seeing Drew Brees out-Brady the Patriots as the Saints embarrassed them (Man, was that fun to watch or what?), it is hard to envision them falling here.

Pick: Saints

 

New England at Miami

Ricky Williams has filled in admirably for Ronnie Brown, but they are still a weaker team without two bruising RBs at their disposal instead of one.

Plus, the Patriots aren’t in the habit of losing two straight.

Pick: Patriots

 

Houston at Jacksonville

I think Houston has more horses, but beware of Pocket Hercules. It will take a monster game from Matt Schaub, but I think he can do it.

Pick: Texans

 

Denver at Kansas City

Denver rebounded nicely from their four-game losing streak to win handily on Thanksgiving night. Kansas City is playing better but still needs work.

Pick: Broncos

 

San Diego at Cleveland

Cleveland stinks, and now they lost literally their biggest defender for the season, Shaun Rodgers.

San Diego is getting zero press this season, but they are suddenly 8-3, the third best record in the AFC.

Pick: Chargers

 

San Francisco at Seattle

The 49ers are trying to make the NFC West race interesting and certainly can with a win here and an Arizona loss, which will put them only one game out of first with a head-to-head matchup next weekend.

I like the ‘Hawks to play spoiler.

Pick: Seahawks

 

Dallas at N.Y. Giants

Ordinarily I would be expecting a Giants resurgence right about now.

After seeing them play the Broncos, though, all phases seem to be floundering. Not a quick fix.

Pick: Cowboys

 

Minnesota at Arizona

Minnesota is scary good, and Brett Favre is amazingly playing the best ball of his career. Think about that one for a moment.

Still, they have to lose sometime, and Arizona has four big reasons to get amped up:

1) Favre made Arizona’s defense look pathetic last season as a Jet, passing for six TDs without breaking a sweat.

2) Minnesota blew out the Cardinals around this same time last year on the same field. They can’t let that happen again.

3) Minnesota is the team to beat in the NFC, and hardly anyone expects Arizona to survive this matchup. That is when the Cardinals are at their best.

4) The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing loss they feel they should have won.

Pick: Cardinals

 

Monday

Baltimore at Green Bay

I’ll take the Packers by a whisker because the Ravens barely beat the Steelers against an untested backup QB on their own field.

Pick: Packers

 

This article also appears on Undrafteds.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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