Week Sixteen Reactions-What Are the Chances? (1/2)

Dec 22, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) celebrates his touchdown reception against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals Have Opportunity to Take NFC Wildcard Spot
To say the Arizona Cardinals are the sleeper team of 2013 would be the biggest understatement of the year (besides Kansas City). This season after 3 losing seasons with less than adequate Quarterbacks, the Cards went out and signed veteran QB Carson Palmer who has turned this franchise  and this offense around. Last season after cycling through QBs like Ryan Lindley, John Skelton and Brian Hoyer, the Cardinals had had about enough poor QB play and decided to put a face they could trust behind center. This season Palmer has done exactly what he was brought in to do; pass and win football games. Thus far he has done both of those objectives and to Cardinals’ fans’ delight, has given the city a 10-5 record going into the final game of the season. Although the road to this point hasn’t been as pretty as Cardinals’ fans had hoped (Palmer has thrown for 3,867 yards and 22 touchdowns, he has also managed to throw 21 interceptions), the Cards none-the-less have an opportunity to take the final NFC Wildcard spot and make a push for the Super Bowl. In answering the question what are the chances the Cardinals have gotten to this point, I’d have to lean to the ‘pretty great’ side. Coming into the season the Cardinals were massively underrated (partially to due with their yet unproven offense of Palmer and Mendenhall). However, as we the season has progressed we have gotten to see stars such as rookie Andre Ellington and WR Michael Floyd shine when the Cards have counted on them most. While Mendenhall has rushed for 640 yards and 8 touchdowns on the season, he has only averaged a miniscule 3.1 yards per carry as compared to Ellington’s 622 yards and 3 touchdowns on 109 carries (an average of 5.7 yards per carry). Due to the clutch play of Ellington and at times Mendenhall, Palmer and the Cardinals passing game has been able to relax and play a more balanced style of football. To this day though, one of the Cardinals’ main strengths has been their stout defense. Currently the Cards rank #1 in the league in rush defense (84.5 yards per game) and 6th overall in total defense (313.6 total yards per game) and 7th overall in total points allowed with 21.0 points per game allowed. However, coming into last week’s game against the NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals had about as much of a chance to win as I have at scoring a perfect score on the SAT (hey it can happen as long as I study them flashcards). The Seahawks have the league’s best pass defense and it definitely showed Sunday as Carson Palmer threw four interceptions. In the end though, the Arizona running game and clutch passing of Palmer would prove too much for the former NFC West Champs as Palmer and Michael Floyd would connect for the game-winning TD on a 31-yard pass with 2:13 remaining on the clock. What are the chances that the 9-5 Cardinals could have beaten the 12-2 Seahawks at home? Slim-to-none. Not totally unpredictable (I predicted it), but still pretty improbable. If there is one thing we can say from Arizona’s surprising 17-10 win over Seattle it is that these guys from Phoenix are no joke. Sunday’s game proved that the seemingly immortal, home-field Seahawks were not so immortal anymore. In reality it is a wake up call really, from now on Seattle has to treat every team like the Broncos or else they are going to get sent home early come playoff time. Back to the Cardinals though, Arizona has a legitimate chance to win out and take the final NFC West Wildcard spot. It will be a huge win against the 11-4 San Francisco 49ers (division rival) to whom the Cards have already lost to one this season. If the Cardinals can win this game and hope for a New Orleans loss at Tampa Bay, we could be seeing Carson Palmer and the Cardinals in the playoffs.