2009 NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS

Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
January 3, 2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Nothing the Arizona Cardinals said Saturday resonated more persuasively than their actions during a 30-24 wild-card playoff victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Framed with some justification as one-dimensional, undisciplined playoff pretenders from the NFL's worst division, the Cardinals revealed themselves Saturday as much more.

"Obviously, people have said, 'Same old Cardinals, they should give up their playoff spot the way they've played the last couple weeks,' " veteran defensive end Bertrand Berry said. "That's fine. We understand that when we put our hands in between those stripes, we are a tough team to beat at home."

We now know what to make -- nothing -- of the Cardinals' slide from 7-3 to 9-7 over the final six games of the regular season. If anything, the slide invited ridicule that helped the Cardinals refocus.

The Cardinals were the more balanced team Saturday. They appeared more disciplined in following their defensive assignments. They were surer tacklers. They were more opportunistic. They were more resilient. And they finished more impressively than they had done all season, holding the ball for the final 4:15.

That is how teams win in the playoffs, even if the Cardinals didn't always win that way during the regular season.

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
January 4, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Philadelphia Eagles weren't supposed to be here, and that may be part of the reason they have just as good a shot as anyone to reach the Super Bowl. It seems so long ago that we buried this team following its December loss to the Washington Redskins.

In Sunday's 26-14 wild-card playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings, the Eagles served notice that they like playing on borrowed time. Coach Andy Reid made a good-faith effort (by his standards) to run the ball against a stout Vikings defense, but he eventually put the ball in the hands of Donovan McNabb. The perpetually embattled quarterback responded with a clutch performance, and Jim Johnson's blitz-happy defense did the rest.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
January 10, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The book on the Arizona Cardinals needs an overhaul, and fast.

Everything you thought you knew about this no-longer-forlorn franchise merits revisiting following the Cardinals' 33-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC divisional round at Bank of America Stadium.

The Arizona team that struggled against quality opponents outside the NFC West has suddenly defeated two of them in eight days.

The Arizona team that couldn't win on the East Coast handed the Panthers their first home defeat of the season.

The Arizona team that finished the regular season ranked last among NFL teams in rushing yards suddenly can run the ball in January, when it matters most.

2009 NFC PLAYOFFS

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
January 11, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Anything is possible. You've got your Miracle On Ice, your Lyle Lovett marrying Julia Roberts, and your Three 6 Mafia winning an Oscar.

But the Arizona Cardinals over the Philadelphia Eagles in next Sunday's NFC Championship Game? Put it this way: Tim Tebow and the Philippians have a better chance of strip clubbing with Pacman Jones.

It's not that the Cardinals aren't playoff worthy. Or that it's a fluke Arizona has reached the conference championship. It isn't. You don't beat Atlanta at home and then crush Carolina on the road by accident.

But the Falcons and the Panthers aren't the Eagles. Nobody is.

With their victory Sunday, the Eagles become more than a favorite and a little less than a sure thing when they face Arizona in the Jiffy Pop (aka University of Phoenix Stadium). I'm allowing for the miracle factor, partly to be polite and partly because the Cardinals aren't the same team they were five weeks ago.

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