At first glance, I couldn't really convince myself one way or the other on this game. I really didn't care much about it. The Cardinals failed to stop the Steelers from winning the Superbowl last year, and the Saints handed us our most resounding ass kicking of the year. So aside from Marques Colston being a regular starter on my fantasy team, I really am not a huge fan of either team.
Then I realized something, and I want my fellow Pats fans to come with me on this one. The number of AFC Superbowl wins over the last 9 years vs the NFC's wins. AFC wins 7 (Pats 3, Steelers 2, Colts/Ravens 1), NFC wins 2 (Buccaneers/Giants 1). While it's awesome for us to keep bringing up how much more awesome the AFC is than the NFC, even if the NFC won this year, they would have less the half of the titles the AFC has in the past 10 years. And the AFC would still be clearly superior.
Now, let's take a look at the teams left with a chance to win the Superbowl and how I as a Pats fan feel about them. Colts (loathe with the passion of a thousand suns), Jets and Chargers (genuine dislike as explained in my post on their game), Vikings (Fuck Brett Farve for fucking us over on the playoffs last year), Cowboys (are evil), Ravens (back to back years of bouncing us out of the playoffs, albeit different means), and the Saints and Cardinals (apathetic).
I actively don't want 5 of the remaining teams to win the Super Bowl. I probably wouldn't like the Ravens winning either, as I'm bitter about my playoff losses. That means that the only way that this Superbowl won't be incredibly painful for me, is for the Cardinals or the Saints to win. The Cardinals have already proved to me that they can't be trusted to stop a hated team from winning the Super Bowl and, to be perfectly honest, if they were to win the Superbowl it would just suck because they really aren't good. Like really, the fucking Cardinals?
I guess that just leaves the Saints. I know that they handed us an embarrassing loss, and that sucks, but in a way we as Pats fans can kind of identify with them. Unlike the bitchy Colts, who sat their starters in a bullshit attempt to take some sort of moral high ground over the Pats, the Saints handled their shot at the perfect season the way we did. No mercy, and crushing opponents until they genuinely lost. And can we really hate on a Saints team we are going to meet once every four years? The big reason why I think that Pats fans should give the Saints their support is that should the Ravens let the Colts get their momentum back, this Saints team is really the only team left I think is capable of stopping them. For that reason, I want the Saints to avoid the upset this weekend and continue along to win the Superbowl. Ugh, this is gonna be tough, but...go saints.... ick.
If you can do this to us, don't fucking lose to the Colts.
Real Talk
The talking heads on ESPN and NFL network are all crying upset about this game. I don't buy it. Saints might have lost their last three games, but unlike the Colts losses, I think the Saints took it as a humbling experience rather than something to get upset and panic about. I think they will show up Saturday ready to play and if that happens, the Cardinals don't really have a shot. I know this is a Cardinal team that upset its way into the Superbowl last year, but remember how they ended their regular season. They limped in on a losing streak, and went on to win the NFC championship game. Cardinals are a great passing team, but i don't see Beanie Wells or Hightower having huge games not to mention that the Arizona defense is the worst in the playoffs. The Saints not only have a great passing game, but a defense that scored 8 defensive touchdown this season, not to mention that they were 2nd in generating turnovers.
Cardinals O-Saints D
This is a high powered Cardinals passing game that proved last week that they can win shootouts. Kurt Warner looked fantastic, picking apart a very solid GB defense with 5 TDs and no INTs. Breaston and Fitzgerald are dangerous wide receivers and Doucet proved last week that he deserves some attention from the Saints' secondary. Beanie Wells averaged nearly 6 yards a rush, but if the Saints keep the passing game in check, things should be nowhere near as easy for Wells. The key to this matchup is one thing and one thing only. Turnovers. It's what the Saints defense does and it's what the Cardinals offense struggled with all year. For the Cards, Kurt Warner has got to make smart passes and trust his receivers to make tough catches. He can't put the ball where this potent Saints secondary can make a play on it, or they will make him pay. The receivers and RB's also have to hold on to the ball as the Saints are always looking to strip the ball. For the Saints D, they have to capitalize on the Cards mistakes and keep the passing game in check. They can't drop picks and they can't give up home run balls to the Cardinals receivers. The Cards are going to get yards, but creating turnovers or holding them to FGs is what is going to win this for the Saints. If the Saints can hold them to 24 points or under, they've done a great job in my book.
Saints O- Cardinals D
A huge mismatch, this is going to be an uphill battle for this Cardinals defense. This is a well-oiled, potent Saints offense. Drew Brees is an outstanding QB with all kinds of weapons at his disposal. Reggie Bush is a huge weapon when he's in the open field, and with Pierre Thomas healthy again, the Saints have options at RB. To be honest, outside of lackluster and apathetic play from the entire Saints O, I don't see the Cards D slowing them down at all. They will have to rely on some lucky breaks and just do their best to contain the Saints. If they can somehow keep the Saints under 28, this Arizona D will have done what it needs. For the Saints, they need to have a short memory and go out there and play like the last month of football never happened. If they play with confidence, they should have a field day with this Arizona defense.
Bottom Line:
Arizona is known for upsets and the Saints looked terrible coming into the playoffs, but the mismatch between the 'zona D and Saints offense is just too pronounced.
Saints by 17
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