To get you ready for Week 15, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is your Arizona Cardinals/New Orleans Saints preview.2007 Records:
Arizona Cardinals: 6-7 (3rd in NFC West)
New Orleans Saints: 6-7 (2nd in NFC South)
Last Week:
Seahawks 42, Cardinals 21
Saints 34, Falcons 14
Why We Care: Well this is pretty easy. Though the NFC playoff battle is really just a race between gazelles to see who can get eaten by a lion quicker, it's still sort of fun to see them battle so intensely for what is an inevitable doom, correct? And if you're going to watch such a battle, wouldn't you rather watch the Saints and the Cardinals, who might combine for 750 passing yards, over a couple of grind-it-out teams relying on rushing and defense? Each of these teams is on the brink of the sixth playoff spot, so urgency is of the essence.
When the Cardinals have the ball: Saints fans will know if their personal deity is smiling on them depending on whether or not Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald play this weekend. Both are questionable, both are expected to be game-time decisions. Fitzgerald is expected to play, while Boldin is more tentative. All the injury help the Saints can get with these two is helpful; they're 31st in pass plays over 20 yards allowed and 23nd in plays over 40 yards. Of course, even with one of these guys out, Bryant Johnson is a talented, fast receiver in his own right. So the Saints will have their hands full stopping this passing game. Could be another disastrous day for Jason David.
When the Saints have the ball: The Saints are 11-0, including the playoffs, in games in which the team has run 30 times or more since Sean Payton has arrived. You'd think they'd run more knowing this, especially after seeing Aaron Stecker get a chance to tote the ball for a complete game. Without the headache and hassle of trying to plan the offense around Reggie Bush's unique skillset, and with a traditional back who can handle all responsibilities, the Saints' run game went much smoother. Whether Payton will choose to try that again is unknown, especially against the Cardinals' 11th-ranked rush defense.
Like the Saints, the Cardinals struggle on defense the same place they excel on offense -- through the air. They've given up 21 touchdowns so far, and even when the Saints run it you can expect a lot of passes. With half of their starting secondary out for the year, including one of the league's best players at any position in Adrian Wilson, New Orleans might take some shots downfield to shock the Cardinals' early.
The Edge: This is one of those "whoever wants it more" games. Both teams have shown maddening inconsistency this season, looking like world-beaters one minute and also-rans the next. But both teams have explosive offenses and good-enough defense with a coach the teams believe in. So, whoever wants it more ...
