MVN: Most Valuable Network

photo from azcardinals.com

Well the Arizona Cardinals heard all week that they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Saturday they showed the whole world that every sports writer and so called "professional football analyst" can be wrong. I was going to compile a list of writers that were doggin the Cardinals so you could all email them. But that would have taken me way too long. Those writers know who they are and you know who they are. They'll get their friendly emails from Cardinals fans I'm sure.

This whole playoff winning experience is just surreal to me. I'm suppose to be talking about the NFL draft right now, not the NFL playoffs. This is when I start thinking about next year not next week. I sat their in my seats during tonight's game and thought of all those awful moments Arizona's had over the years, I won't list them all. Now I'm talking about how the Cardinals could be playing for a chance to get into the Super Bowl. It's truly amazing, I don't know what other way to describe it.

On Friday My Keys to the game were...

1. Arizona must get off to a quick start. The Cardinals did just that by scoring first and establishing the run early. Making sure Atlanta didn't get any early momentum.

2. Get Pressure on Matt Ryan. The Cardinals sacked Ryan 3 times including a safety. For a while Arizona wasn't getting any pressure and that's when the Falcons were moving the ball. Once the Cardinals defense starting getting in the rookies face plays started to happen.

3. Contain Michael Turner. When Turner plays good the Falcons win, when he struggles they lose. The Cardinals held one of the best running backs in the NFL to a season low 42 yards. The run defense was a thing of beauty. If Arizona can somehow do that against Carolina or New York than they might have a chance next week.

4. Protect Kurt Warner. Great job offensive line! No sacks were allowed today. Levi Brown and Mike Gandy shut down the Falcons defensive ends and no one expected that. John Abraham was a non factor in this game. Warner was able to get into a rhythm finally because he wasn't being hit on every pass.

5. The run game has to show up. Wow did it ever! I was just hoping the run game would show up a little bit, but Edgerrin James and the offensive line played with a chip on their shoulder and put on a clinic. I wonder where this has been all season? The run game opened up the pass like we all hoped it would. Especially on the flea-flicker from Warner to Fitzgerald. It was 3 long run plays in a row by Edgerrin James that set up the big play. Play action was actually working today and that's all thanks to a run game showing up.

Sitting in the stadium at half time the air was taken out of me. Not only me but the whole crowd and the players just seemed flat after Arizona gave up their lead before the half. The Cardinals had played good football and were losing and it just felt like it wasn't going to be their day. Especially since the hot Atlanta Falcons offense was starting the half with the ball. But the whole game changed when Darnell Dockett blew threw the hole and caused a fumble, Antrel Rolle took it in for a touchdown and that was the play of the game. Everything swung the Cardinals way after that play. I don't know if the Cardinals win if Dockett doesn't force that fumble. Great job Darnell and great job defense!

Arizona will be playing in Carolina or New York depending on what happens with tomorrows games. I rather the Eagles win so the hope of a home NFC Championship game can stay alive, also because I think that game favors the Cardinals more than a game in New York against the Giants would. Either way I'm happy the Cardinals are still alive giving us fans hope for the future.

Announcement...

I will be a guest on a podcast show called "Fantasy Sharks Radio". It's a live call in show that will be on tomorrow (Sunday) January 4th at 12 ET. It's going to be an hour on the Arizona Cardinals and where this team is headed. We'll try and cover all the possible topics. To listen to the show you can go to http://blogtalkradio.com/Fantasy-Sharks. If you'd like to call in and talk Cardinals football the number is (347) 826-9620