The way Arizona Cardinals’ coach Ken Whisenhunt is whining this week it makes you wonder if he is trying to play possum or if he could really be that worried the Packers beat his team up in two meaningless games. My guess is the Cards are playing possum thinking they will just turn it on this week and whip the Packers in the game that counts. I can see their side of the scenario and understand their reasoning behind it.
Whisenhunt isn’t an idiot. His track record is stellar. You don’t take a perennial loser like the Cardinals and take them to the Super Bowl on a fluke. But the Cardinals are the class of the NFC West, which is like being the top of the bottom. They took advantage of that lack of respect last year and won the NFC. They won’t be flying under the radar this year. The Cardinals won their division again this year because they are the only halfway decent team in it.
The NFC West is no-man’s land. There are no rivalries like the other NFL divisions, I mean, nobody gets excited about Seattle versus St. Louis or anybody Seattle plays period. The Cardinals and 49ers are working on a rivalry only because the 49ers kick the division winners ass every time they play them but can’t do anything else. The Cardinals don’t know what it is like to face the likes of Minnesota or Chicago four times a year, year after year. I think that is a big factor in the Packers’ favor this coming week.
Granted, the Packers haven’t faced a killers row of opponents this season, but like the Cardinals of last year, there is no reason why the Packers can’t ride their momentum to a playoff win or two. Now, I know you never forget a thing I say and I did say I would prefer the Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs. Nothing that has happened over the last few weeks has changed my mind on that.
I know you need to be careful what you wish for and I am. Those on the Cardinals’ side probably feel like this is the best match-up they could have to start the defense of their NFC title. Talk about a lot of intrigue for a wildcard playoff game. You’ve got to love the NFL.
My gut feeling is the Packers have the confidence that it doesn’t matter who they are playing in the first round of the playoffs, they will be fired up. If we do indeed get it done, that feeling is not guaranteed next week no matter who we play. I’m not afraid to admit I don’t want to face the Vikings in the playoffs if we don’t have to. Not that we can’t beat them, but like Vikings’ fans who for sure don’t want round three, I don’t want to experience the agony of that defeat.
The Packers will know where they are going when they take the field Sunday. I wonder what kind of affect that will have on the team. Do they want the Vikings, which I think in their heart of hearts, they do, or do they want to go to New Orleans? Whisenhunt said last week his team was affected by the outcome of the Vikings’ game and the Cardinals played like it. Hopefully the thought of a trip to Minnesota would bring out the best in the Packers. I’m more worried about the team being disappointed if they have to go to New Orleans.
Good stuff Maynard!