Kurt Warner

With the retirement of Kurt Warner, Leinart now steps into the starting quarterback role of a team whose run at division titles is in flux. His back-up? Derek Anderson. *vomit* Larry Fitzgerald sprained his MCL in the first preseason game, but he should be ready for week one. Early Doucet will fill part of the void left by Anquan Boldin's trade to Baltimore, but make no mistake: this won't look like

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They will be a scary match-up for whoever wins tomorrow's Dallas/Minnesota contest.

Kurt Warner got beat up all day for Arizona. On an interception in the second quarter, Warner was planted trying to go for the Saint ball-carrier and needed to be taken to the locker-room. Matt Leinart came out and led the Cardinals on a quick drive to set up Neil Rackers with a 51-yard field goal. Rackers actually missed it twice, thanks to a last-second Saints time-out. The Cardinal defense gave up 90 points in their two playoff games, eventually putting too much pressure on Warner and the offense. While Warner returned to the field to start the second half, you could tell he was unable to throw the ball deep due to his chest injury. It will be interesting to see if this sour note causes Warner to retire or to come back for one last run. 

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Quarterback Kurt Warner has a knack for playing his best football in the playoffs and last week was no exception. He is expected to be without receiver Anquan Boldin for the second straight week, but that will be a game-time decision. He'll still have Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston on the outside, so he'll be just fine. Arizona shocked Green Bay with their commitment to the running game last week, gaining over 150 yards on the ground. Concerns arise when discussing their defense, but as we saw in overtime last week, they can make plays when they need them. Darnell Dockett, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Adrian Wilson all have thr ability to affect the outcome.

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ona's only turnover, caused by a Charles Woodson strip.

A report earlier in the day had Arizona's Kurt Warner leaning towards retiring at the end of the season, but he may want to reconsider after tonight's performance. He completed 29 of his 33 passes for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns, which tabulated to a 154.1 QB rating. (Which proves the ridiculousity of that stat, how is that line not perfect?) Expect another shoot-out in New Orleans next week at the Superdome when the Cardinals come to town.

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ent, but that was their problem going into the playoffs last year when they went to the Super Bowl! Kurt Warner will likely be without receiver Anquan Boldin, but the Cardinals are 5-1 without Boldin. Larry Fitzgerald will have a monster game either way. Now that rookie RB Beanie Wells is playing a first-round pick, the Cardinals have a semblance of a ground game. The biggest injury is to corner Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, who is questionable with knee and toe issues. If he's not 100%, the other 10 guys on defense have to pick up the slack.

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he first half of the Bengals disaster, with Chicago’s defense unable to provide opposition to Kurt Warner and the explosive Cardinal offense. With four first half touchdown passes (two to Larry Fitzgerald), Warner all but obliterated any chance of a second straight win for Lovie Smith. Chicago looked lost defensively, as if they did not expect Larry Fitzgerald to be Warner’s top target. Nice job guys. With Anquan Boldin a late scratch, Fitzgerald caught 9 passes, most of which were 8-12 yards in length. The Cardinals didn’t need Boldin, with Warner finishing the game with 5 TD’s through the air. What didn’t help was losing corner Charles Tillman and safety Al Afalava through the course of the game, leaving an already struggling secondary without key performers.

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Arizona’s Kurt Warner is playing like his All-Pro self, but Anquan Boldin won’t be near 100% for this one, so Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston need to pick up the slack in the receiver corps. Eli Manning and his Giants are looking to take out their anger after being embarrassed by the Saints in week six. Whichever defense can create the most QB pressure will win the game for their squad. My fake money’s on the Giants. 

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Maybe Kurt Warner isn’t done yet. 

(2-4) Oakland Raiders 13
(3-2) Philadelphia Eagles 9 

Who saw this coming? The Eagles had been lighting up the scoreboard all season while the Raiders were struggling to just complete passes. Everyone is complaining about Andy Reid failing to commit to the run. Hello McFly! Reid hasn’t committed to running the ball in the nine years since he’s had Donovan McNabb! This is how Reid rolls: through the air.

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nother team in his wake as he tore apart the Cardinals secondary for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Kurt Warner was harassed all night looked older than he really is.   

(2-1) Dallas Cowboys 21

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Colts (2-0) at Arizona Cardinals (1-1)

Can you say “shoot-out?” Peyton Manning versus Kurt Warner, suspect defense against suspect defense. Sunday night should be plenty exciting. Of course, now that I’ve said that, it’ll be a defensive struggle. Indy looks prime to stay unbeaten.

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dropping their opener to San Francisco, the Cardinals need this game to keep pace in the NFC West. Kurt Warner best find his offense again, or the Cards will be two games behind in the West race. Jacksonville’s owner is apparently already on Tim Tebow watch, thanks to their craptacular ticket sales and impending TV blackouts.

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Apparently the booth officials clearly saw Kurt Warner’s last play as a fumble in the 20 seconds they had before Pittsburgh’s offense took the field. I can’t remember the last time a fumble / incomplete pass call DIDN’T get a review. Those are as automatic as an extra point. The replays I’ve seen show

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eeks of so-called experts and reporters breaking down each team's strengths and weaknesses and what Kurt Warner's favorite food is and what Big Ben likes in music and dislikes ...it's nice to have the game just a mere 24+ hours away. I do like the hype to an extent, but once you hit Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Super Bowl weekend...you're ready for the game!

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37-year old Kurt Warner is leading his second team to a Super Bowl and will be the key to any Cardinal upset. Well, he could be the key if the offensive line protects him against Dick LeBeau’s blitzing linebackers. Pittsburgh plays a 3-4 defense, meaning three linemen and four linebackers. In that type of defense, you’re typically going to rush at least one linebacker in passing situations. The Steeler linebackers excel at sacking the quarterback, and defensive MVP James Harrison isn’t the only concern for the Cardinal offensive line. Every Steeler linebacker is a playmaker and makes the man beside him that much better. Keeping Warner upright is of the utmost importance, because he’s known to have a fumbling problem as he gets pressured up the middle. As long as Russ Grimm’s offensive line lets Kurt step up in the pocket, he’ll be accurate and quick on his deliveries. How else are Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston going to be able to get all of their touches? Another important note will be the running of Edgerrin James out of the backfield. His production could offset the pass rush by keeping the defense on the heels and not on their toes. If he fails to make any significant ground or offensive coordinator Todd Haley gives up on the run, Arizona will be in a load of trouble. Troy Polamalu will be stalking in the secondary, ready to snap up an interception of any forced or pressured Warner throws. If Arizona falls behind early, it will be an almost insurmountable climb out of the hole.

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is season by beating up on the mediocre teams in their division and winning the NFC Championship.

Kurt Warner beat out Matt Leinart for the starting job in the preseason and had a near MVP-level performance for the year, totaling over 4500 yards with 30 touchdowns. For a 37-year old quarterback who is supposed to be the decline, that’s mighty impressive. Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston each had over 1,000 receiving yards, making their case for the best receiver corps in the NFL. Fitzgerald has been a freak in the post-season, but Boldin has been hampered buy a hamstring problem which resulted in a lot of time on the sidelines and an altercation with O-Coordinator Todd Haley. The Cards boasted the league’s worst running attack with a rotating cast of veteran Edgerrin James, rookie Tim Hightower and fourth year man J.J. Arrington never establishing any rhythm. James has come on late to provide a decent balance to the offense, due to his fresh legs and professional attitude. The defense had been suspect for much of the year, never being able to consistently hold up against the run, despite the play of Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antrel Rolle form a talented and youthful cornerback tandem and their play has only improved down the stretch.

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xpectations and then some!  After jumping out to a 16-0 lead due to the gritty play of Rams QB Kurt Warner, the Titans began clawing back behind Eddie George (two TD runs, one on sheer driving leg power at the goal line that Titans fans will likely never forget).  With the score tied at 16-16, it was one of those classic duels where the high-flying Rams were struggling against the staunch Tennessee D.

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Arizona has proven time and again that they can ride the arm of Kurt Warner, or the legs of Edgerrin James or Tim Hightower. Time and again we have seen Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin l

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ughest in the NFC.  After the Vikes, the Giants couldn't do anything against them and only the Kurt Warner-Larry Fitzgerald combination could post any points (and that was only for about one half!).

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n't the case...

The Cardinals held the Falcons running game to minimum production as Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and the offense made big plays when necessary. Up next was the Carolina Panthers. A team that had one of the top three running back combos to go along with a stiff and tough defense. With the game in North Carolina, the Cardinals were once again doubted by many even with the home win against the Atlanta Falcons a week earlier.

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165 yards) for the rest of the game.  Throw in the tremendous pressure that the defense put on Kurt Warner and the Arizona receivers, and a blowout was almost inevitable.

If the Vikes are going to keep winning, this is the type of game they need to play week in and week out.  Only a tremendous opposing defensive effort keeps AD under 100 yards these days, and the passing lanes should be (and were the other day) wide open for many QB-WR connections.  Like I have said before on this blog, the Vikings really only need to do two things to have an excellent chance to win each week: First, they need to at least keep the defense honest by throwing a few passes.  Peterson has the ability to single-handedly dominate a game, but every once in awhile opposing defenses completely sell out to stopping him and thus the pass threat still needs to exist.  Secondly, the Vikes need to get a lead (or at least not get too far behind).  With a lead, the Vikes are perhaps the best team in the NFL of chewing up clock time with their punishing running backs.

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ge this coming weekend, though, when the Vikes head to Arizona to take on the Cardinals.  With Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Bolding leading the Cardinals offense, the Vikes will NOT be able to have too many 3-and-outs and offense and get away with it...the Cardinals are going to score points, especially at home in a place that the Vikes have never fared too well in the past.

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Two - have a quarterback that is in the top 5 in the league – Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, etc. Three - have a top 5, dominating defense.-the Bucanneers, the Ravens, the Steelers. Now, if you have two or three of these things then you are well on your way. If you don’t have any, well – you get better on defense, get a better quarterback, and/or get a better coach. Why do you think that the league was so engaged in the Bret Farve saga that ratings even went down on “As the World Turns” during the summer?  Or why did the Kansas City Chiefs take a flyer on often injured Joe Montana (oh yeah-they made it to the playoffs didn’t they). Why do you think that people like Parcells and Bill Cowher, and retreads like Joe Gibbs and Dick Vermeil are courted like Queen Guinevere in a short skirt? This is how you create the culture that other franchises have and the Houston Texans don’t.   

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