So, Dave, I guess it's ON!

[pinky]

I'm betting that the Eagles offense that shows up next week will be better than the one that went to Minnesota.

[db44]

Even if that's the case, the Giants D should be better that you faced yesterday. Both teams played the Vikings well, the Eagles coming out with a big win, the Giants losing on a last-second field goal. Still, the Giants had nothing to play for and had a number of starters out for either whole or half the game.

I'd be lying if I said the Eagles didn't scare me., I was hoping to see Arizona this weekend. Oh, well. However, I still have faith in the Giants and think they should win. Some have said McNabb is ready for a bad game. That or ready for an injury, which has been the norm over the last few seasons as you know. I like him, but still wouldn't mind if he's off his game this weekend. ;)

[Stopanimalabuse]

Minnesota's quarterback looked horrible. I don't know what to expect. Philadelphia's defense is very good so I feared them more than Arizona, but divisional rivals do bring out the best in some teams. I'm looking forward to it.

[pinky]

It should be a good game, given the results of the two previous ones.

On a side note, my son is very mad right now. It seems the Rutgers band has been asked to perform at halftime, and the director has accepted. Quite an honor for the band, but Greg would much rather stay behind and watch the Eagles win! ;)

[db44]

I'm hoping the Giants pull off another couple of wins... I'm booked for Tampa.

[pinky]

It'll be worth the trip anyway, even though you won't have a team there.

Bruce is doing halftime.

[Annoyedlistner]

It'll be worth the trip anyway, even though you won't have a team there.

I hope neither one of your teams is there.....I hope its the Panthers....GO CATS!

[pinky]

Preferable to the Giants, certainly. ;)

[db44]

Whatever. :p

[pinky]

We're beating New York, because Eli's a dork.

[Annoyedlistner]

We're beating New York, because Eli's a dork.

I hope you do beat NY...Id love for the panthers to beat the Eagles here in Charlotte :)

[pinky]

Which is why I'm rooting for the Cards.

Just in case we do beat the Giants. If the Giants somehow win, I'll be looking to turn back the clock and have the Panthers win.

[Annoyedlistner]

I hope this doesnt happen....but what if the eagles and panthers loose?......Dave does that mean you have to go into hiding in AZ?

[pinky]

I hope it doesn't turn out that way. But if it does, at least I don't hate any of the AFC teams left.

[db44]

If this game continues this way and the Giants win tomorrow, it may get a little hairy here. It's hard to say. There hasn't been a game this important for the Cardinals since they were still in Chicago (before even St. Louis). AZ fans are famous for two things: It's a society here of transplants, and of band wagoners. So most people are fans of other teams, but suddenly there's a lot of red pride out here in the valley.

Up until now, any grief I got was from Redskin fans on the streets, not that they had anything to shout about. But things may be different this week.

[Annoyedlistner]

The freakin panthers didnt show up last night....I dont know what the hell was wrong with Jake.....5 freakin INTs....im disgusted.

[pinky]

Birds of prey vs pretty little songbirds!

Sorry, Dave. (NYAH! NYAH!)

[db44]

I said in F&R for some reason, meaning to post here, that Delhomme did his best Chad Pennington impersonation.

I can't say Im surprised. I was, and most of my Giant fan friends out here, cautiously optimistic about it all. Giants looked pretty darn good on defense for good stretches, but they prepared it seemed only for Westbrook. Once McNabb started throwing, it was over.

What annoyed me about the Giants was the play selection on 4th down in the fourth quarter. Eli barely ever runs it, why, if even the commentators are saying it, did they have to try the QB sneak. The Jacobs run was a little better, but still, not what I would have liked.

[pinky]

On a side note, the Rutgers marching band was invited by the Giants to play at halftime, because the organization was impressed with how good they sounded at their bowl game. Now, if you remember, my son is in that band. He was SERIOUSLY not happy about having to go perform, since it meant he would miss the game.

So he did the next best thing: As they were leaving the field, he left an Eagles flag on the 40 yard line. :roll:

Damn, he makes me proud!

[Stopanimalabuse]

Bad Eli showed up. The offensive line struggled at times, their all pro kicker misses two important field goals, and the play calling was very suspect. Claire's going to hate me saying this, but I thought the Giants gave the Eagles the game. Their defense played well, but I didn't think McNabb was much better than Eli. The Giants players seem to feel the way I do from the article I read earlier. The Cardinals were 3-7 vs. non-divisional opponents. If you're not at least .500 vs. non-divisional opponents, you don't belong in the playoffs IMO. I wasn't too impressed with the Cardinals or Eagles this week so I probably won't be watching the game on Sunday. Even being rivals, I'm hoping Philadelphia wins just because the Cardinals should never have made the playoffs.

[Stopanimalabuse]

And the Giants either have to get a dome or they should look for a new quarterback.

[pinky]

They should probably do both. :p

I agree that, all things considered, Donovan wasn't all that great. But the difference was that he made the critical plays, Eli didn't. Why in the world they gave the ball to Eli to try to sneak on 4th and inches, when the entire world knows he can't do that, is a mystery, so I have to agree that the play-calling was weak.

I also think the Eagles made better adjustments at half time, and so they came out in the third and really performed.

As for the Cardinals, they were pretty much outplayed the entire game. If Delhomme hadn't been so bad, the Panthers would have won that game.

[db44]

Well, you kind of hit the nail on the head there Claire. It wasn't all Eli as much as horrible play-calling by Gilbride, as I said above. When it's not a goaline stance, I hate the mentality of trying to push through the line, especially when you're going to use someone as small as Eli Mannig? I would have liked to see them spread it out there. If you're running, go to the outside or hand it off to Jacobs. The second try was a little more sensible, but it was obviously too late then.

[lions1mew]

Birds of prey vs pretty little songbirds!

Sorry, Dave. (NYAH! NYAH!)

We shall see Pinky ... we shall see *nods*

[pinky]

It won't be another 48-20 spanking, but it'll still be a win.

[lions1mew]

Uhm in case you haven't got the memo Pinky ... you are leaving your home and coming to ours ... try reversing that score this time *nods*

[pinky]

Because home field has been SUCH an advantage this year. :p

[db44]

Home field, bad weather, playing a late game Sunday then traveling in a short week. Even Andy Reid knows Thanksgiving was unfair.

The best thing Arizona has going for it though is an underestimation of what they can do. I'd be shocked if Philly isn't favored. Will they get overconfident, like Atlanta and Carolina? Hmmm.

[lions1mew]

Excellent point Dave *looks at Pinky* overconfidence oozing there in Pantsillvaykneeyuh?

[pinky]

If what they're saying is any indication, the entire team knows this game will be much harder than Thanksgiving.

No overconfidence. Just determination.

[Stopanimalabuse]

They should probably do both. :p

I agree that, all things considered, Donovan wasn't all that great. But the difference was that he made the critical plays, Eli didn't. Why in the world they gave the ball to Eli to try to sneak on 4th and inches, when the entire world knows he can't do that, is a mystery, so I have to agree that the play-calling was weak.

I also think the Eagles made better adjustments at half time, and so they came out in the third and really performed.

As for the Cardinals, they were pretty much outplayed the entire game. If Delhomme hadn't been so bad, the Panthers would have won that game.
I think they should wait a year to see how Eli does. I don't think he'll be worth the money he probably will be asking for. The difference to me was that the Giants' interceptions didn't give the Giants great field position, while one of the Eagles' interceptions put them at the 2 yard line. Regardless, I think Pittsburgh's defense is too dominant and if Ben can finally play well, I don't see anyone beating the Steelers. I think Pittsburgh defeats Philadelphia in the Super Bowl, 24-13.

[Stopanimalabuse]

Uhm in case you haven't got the memo Pinky ... you are leaving your home and coming to ours ... try reversing that score this time *nods*
You're the first Cardinals fan I've seen on any message board. It's good to see they have fans who stick to their team through all of these years.

[db44]

Birds of prey vs pretty little songbirds!

Those songbirds seemed to have the Eagles number...

[lions1mew]

*beams*

Super Bowl is gonna be a RED time! The Cardinals showed they could come back from adversity in the second half and come out on top! Doesn't matter if it's the Ravens or the Steelers ... RED will rule!

*happy dances*

[db44]

Heh. Just about two months ago, weren't you trying your best to make AZ a BLUE state? :p

[pinky]

Congratulations to the Cardinals.

Depending on who wins the game in progress right now, I may be rooting for them in 2 weeks.

[db44]

Are you a west PA hater then?

[lions1mew]

Dave ... sports and politics ... two very VERY different things LOL

[pinky]

Are you a west PA hater then?

Oddly, I used to be a big Steelers fan. I was in grad school at Pitt back in the days of the Steel Curtain, there for their first Super Bowl win.

Now, I just don't like them. They had the title handed to them a few years ago, and it'll probably happen again this year.

So it looks like I'm rooting for the Cardinals.

[db44]

Dave ... sports and politics ... two very VERY different things LOL

Let's see, For me:

Football: Big Blue.

Baseball: Navy blue pinstripes.

Hockey: Blueshirts.

Nope, I'm blue through and through. You're the turncoat. :tongue:

I'm pulling for AZ too at this point though.

[pinky]

Well, the way your teams are playing these days, I can understand that you're blue. :p

[Stopanimalabuse]

I hear the refs helped Arizona out at the end. As a Browns fan, it may be weird, but pulling for the Steelers. I even used to be a Cardinals fan when I was very young, but I just can't root for a team 3-7 vs. non-divisional opponents.

[pinky]

Well, it could have been an interference call just as easily as the non-call it was. But it shouldn't have come down to that. The Eagles were outplayed for a good portion of the game.

It feels really strange saying this, but the defense let the offense down in this one. For I can't remember how many years, it's been the other way around in Philadelphia.

[Stopanimalabuse]

From the highlights, it looked like the Eagles single-covered Fitzgerald a lot and even left him open some plays. I think Pittsburgh will double him and we won't hear his name mentioned very often in the next game. My prediction:Steelers 35, Cardinals 10.