By Mike Triplett & Kent Somers
For Sporting News
This has all the makings of another spectacular offensive display, with two of the game's most dynamic offenses and skilled quarterbacks going head-to-head. The Saints led the NFL in scoring at 31.9 points per game, and the Cardinals just won a 51-45 overtime shootout against Green Bay in the wild-card round.
Obviously, both teams plan on playing some defense Saturday afternoon, but there should be plenty of touchdowns. Saints QB Drew Brees finished second in the NFL's MVP voting, setting a league-record for completion percentage (70.62) while throwing for 4,388 yards, 34 touchdowns and a league-high passer rating of 109.6. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner was a little more Clark Kent in the regular season, but as usual he turned into Superman when the playoffs began, throwing more TD passes last week (five) than he did incomplete passes (four).
Everyone's curious to see how the Saints look after a lengthy hiatus�including the Saints. After a spectacular 13-0 start, New Orleans hasn't won a game in more than a month now. The Saints sustained their first loss against the now-scorching Cowboys at the Superdome in Week 15, then followed that up with a hangover loss at home against lowly Tampa Bay. And Saints coach Sean Payton mostly rested his starters in Week 17 at Carolina, favoring health and rest over momentum. We'll find out which is more important.
The Saints should, indeed, be a more healthy and complete team than they've been since midseason. Most important, starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter will be back at full speed. The Saints' defense was much better with Greer and Porter in the lineup the first two months.
Once again, most NFL observers were sleeping on the Cardinals after a sluggish regular-season finish. And once again, they saved their best for the playoffs. Arizona was flawless on offense last week, even without injured receiver Anquan Boldin. Warner and Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are a deadly combination, and several players add help around them, including rookie running back Beanie Wells, who has given the Cardinals a decent rushing attack. The Cardinals' defense is obviously shaky. They don't apply enough pressure, and they aren't deep in the secondary behind their top three playmakers. They were opportunistic last week, forcing two early turnovers to set the tone against Green Bay and then winning the game on a sack/fumble that was returned for a touchdown in overtime.
Cardinals Keys For Success
1. Tackle better in the secondary. The Packers scored 45 points last week, largely by making plays through the air. In almost every instance, a Cardinals defensive back missed a tackle. It wasn't just one person making mistakes. Everyone was at fault, but cornerback Bryant McFadden, particularly, was exposed. The Cardinals can't afford to be that sloppy again.
2. Protect Warner. Opponents that have given the Cardinals trouble have been able to pressure Warner without blitzing too much. The problem for the Saints is the Cardinals have an effective short passing game and now can run the ball. If they can run effectively Saturday, Warner should be able to make some plays downfield. 3. Make a big play early. Success early in the game gives the Cardinals confidence throughout. That's what happened against the Packers, when the Cardinals forced two turnovers on Green Bay's first three plays. That helped get the Cardinals in rhythm on offense, and it carried them to victory.
Saints Keys For Success
1. Start fast on offense. For most of the year, the Saints were threatening the 2007 Patriots' record for most points scored in a season. But their offense turned uncharacteristically sluggish in November and December, especially early in games. The Saints must score in this game, early and often, because it's what they do best and they're a much more effective team when playing with a lead. The Saints' running game becomes more efficient, and their opportunistic defense loves to pounce on desperate teams. Not that the Saints can't play catch-up, if needed. The Saints can score in bunches with Brees and his embarrassment of weapons.
2. Contain Wells. The Saints' run defense was their biggest weakness the past three months and hit rock bottom when they let the one-dimensional Buccaneers run all over them in Week 16. Fortunately, the Cardinals aren't a power-running team and finished 28th in rushing yards. But Wells has been coming on strong and broke off some big runs last week, so the Saints must bottle him up. The Saints' biggest issue has been keeping containment on the back side, allowing some big cutback runs. But they've been getting gashed up the middle at times, too, and everyone has missed tackles. Having the cornerbacks healthy should be a bonus here, because it will allow the Saints to take more chances up front and to use strong safety Roman Harper more frequently in run support. 3. Win the turnover battle. All teams strive for this, especially the playoffs. But it will be especially important in a game where every offensive possession could result in points. The Saints must look no further than last week�the Packers were done in by two early turnovers that put them in a 17-0 hole against Arizona. Then after Green Bay clawed back, the Cardinals forced another game-winning turnover in overtime. The Saints are pretty good with ball security. Brees will take some chances, but they're usually calculated risks. And the Saints' defense is an aggressive bunch that's also willing to gamble, which led to 39 takeaways this year (second in the NFL). It will help if the Saints can get pressure on Warner, who isn't mobile and can get rattled.
The Bottom Line
Neither team can afford to start slow or be sloppy with the football in this game, because the other offense will pounce quickly. The Saints need to prove they can flip the switch back on after their December struggles, but they've been at their best in high-profile games, most recently their Monday night rout over New England in Week 12. Arizona was obviously able to flip that switch on last week, just like they did on the way to the Super Bowl a year ago. But the Cardinals seem to have a slimmer margin for error now, with more question marks across the board, especially if Boldin is out or limited. ... Both teams are hoping it won't come down to the kickers, but it just might.
Scoring prediction: Cardinals 31 - Saints 34
For Sporting News
This has all the makings of another spectacular offensive display, with two of the game's most dynamic offenses and skilled quarterbacks going head-to-head. The Saints led the NFL in scoring at 31.9 points per game, and the Cardinals just won a 51-45 overtime shootout against Green Bay in the wild-card round.
Obviously, both teams plan on playing some defense Saturday afternoon, but there should be plenty of touchdowns. Saints QB Drew Brees finished second in the NFL's MVP voting, setting a league-record for completion percentage (70.62) while throwing for 4,388 yards, 34 touchdowns and a league-high passer rating of 109.6. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner was a little more Clark Kent in the regular season, but as usual he turned into Superman when the playoffs began, throwing more TD passes last week (five) than he did incomplete passes (four).
Everyone's curious to see how the Saints look after a lengthy hiatus�including the Saints. After a spectacular 13-0 start, New Orleans hasn't won a game in more than a month now. The Saints sustained their first loss against the now-scorching Cowboys at the Superdome in Week 15, then followed that up with a hangover loss at home against lowly Tampa Bay. And Saints coach Sean Payton mostly rested his starters in Week 17 at Carolina, favoring health and rest over momentum. We'll find out which is more important.
The Saints should, indeed, be a more healthy and complete team than they've been since midseason. Most important, starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter will be back at full speed. The Saints' defense was much better with Greer and Porter in the lineup the first two months.
Once again, most NFL observers were sleeping on the Cardinals after a sluggish regular-season finish. And once again, they saved their best for the playoffs. Arizona was flawless on offense last week, even without injured receiver Anquan Boldin. Warner and Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are a deadly combination, and several players add help around them, including rookie running back Beanie Wells, who has given the Cardinals a decent rushing attack. The Cardinals' defense is obviously shaky. They don't apply enough pressure, and they aren't deep in the secondary behind their top three playmakers. They were opportunistic last week, forcing two early turnovers to set the tone against Green Bay and then winning the game on a sack/fumble that was returned for a touchdown in overtime.
Cardinals Keys For Success
1. Tackle better in the secondary. The Packers scored 45 points last week, largely by making plays through the air. In almost every instance, a Cardinals defensive back missed a tackle. It wasn't just one person making mistakes. Everyone was at fault, but cornerback Bryant McFadden, particularly, was exposed. The Cardinals can't afford to be that sloppy again.
2. Protect Warner. Opponents that have given the Cardinals trouble have been able to pressure Warner without blitzing too much. The problem for the Saints is the Cardinals have an effective short passing game and now can run the ball. If they can run effectively Saturday, Warner should be able to make some plays downfield. 3. Make a big play early. Success early in the game gives the Cardinals confidence throughout. That's what happened against the Packers, when the Cardinals forced two turnovers on Green Bay's first three plays. That helped get the Cardinals in rhythm on offense, and it carried them to victory.
Saints Keys For Success
1. Start fast on offense. For most of the year, the Saints were threatening the 2007 Patriots' record for most points scored in a season. But their offense turned uncharacteristically sluggish in November and December, especially early in games. The Saints must score in this game, early and often, because it's what they do best and they're a much more effective team when playing with a lead. The Saints' running game becomes more efficient, and their opportunistic defense loves to pounce on desperate teams. Not that the Saints can't play catch-up, if needed. The Saints can score in bunches with Brees and his embarrassment of weapons.
2. Contain Wells. The Saints' run defense was their biggest weakness the past three months and hit rock bottom when they let the one-dimensional Buccaneers run all over them in Week 16. Fortunately, the Cardinals aren't a power-running team and finished 28th in rushing yards. But Wells has been coming on strong and broke off some big runs last week, so the Saints must bottle him up. The Saints' biggest issue has been keeping containment on the back side, allowing some big cutback runs. But they've been getting gashed up the middle at times, too, and everyone has missed tackles. Having the cornerbacks healthy should be a bonus here, because it will allow the Saints to take more chances up front and to use strong safety Roman Harper more frequently in run support. 3. Win the turnover battle. All teams strive for this, especially the playoffs. But it will be especially important in a game where every offensive possession could result in points. The Saints must look no further than last week�the Packers were done in by two early turnovers that put them in a 17-0 hole against Arizona. Then after Green Bay clawed back, the Cardinals forced another game-winning turnover in overtime. The Saints are pretty good with ball security. Brees will take some chances, but they're usually calculated risks. And the Saints' defense is an aggressive bunch that's also willing to gamble, which led to 39 takeaways this year (second in the NFL). It will help if the Saints can get pressure on Warner, who isn't mobile and can get rattled.
The Bottom Line
Neither team can afford to start slow or be sloppy with the football in this game, because the other offense will pounce quickly. The Saints need to prove they can flip the switch back on after their December struggles, but they've been at their best in high-profile games, most recently their Monday night rout over New England in Week 12. Arizona was obviously able to flip that switch on last week, just like they did on the way to the Super Bowl a year ago. But the Cardinals seem to have a slimmer margin for error now, with more question marks across the board, especially if Boldin is out or limited. ... Both teams are hoping it won't come down to the kickers, but it just might.
Scoring prediction: Cardinals 31 - Saints 34