Probably about the same number as those who watched last year's Super Bowl, maybe a little less because the NFL wouldn't be hyping the hell out of one of the two teams. Chargers/Cardinals would be excellent for football. It's about time the death grip of the Patriots, Colts, and Steelers was broken. There are 29 other teams. They're just as deserving. Why the heck would they fire Fox? When the QB throws five picks it's not a reflection of coaching. Penny threw four picks last Sunday: should we fire Sparano? Jake Delhomme DOES stink, though. It might be time for Carolina to consider a QB change. Carolina may host the next "McNabb/Kolb" QB controversy.
You don't think Carolina was out coached? Fox has been on the hot seat for awhile now. Carolina under achieves.
Fox was on the hot seat going into this season. No longer. Earning the 2 Seed with a revitalized defense and one of the NFL's best rushing attacks--meaning the team is now playing the way Fox has wanted them to play for years--means he's off the hot seat. Delhomme is on the hot seat. He's the reason why the Panthers lost, not John Fox. There was no outcoaching: Arizona scored off turnovers. That's not a function of coaching, that's a function of poor QB play and great DB play.
Fox is the guy that has failed to upgrade the Qb position for many years, and I must say, it looked like Carolina went into this game thinking they were gonna win just by showing up. no adjustments during the game.
I was discussing with my friend on how the Cards could possibly beat Carolina by the slimmest chances in pre-game. I came up with this: 1. Keep up the defensive intensity they had against the run with the Falcons and maybe minimize the run game impact. 2. Larry Fitzgerald, Larry Fitzgerald, Larry Fitzgerald. Just one of the most complete WR's I've seen. Height, hands, speed, route-running, and toughness. 3. Keep Steve Smith's production to a minimum by putting that tall and speedy CB named Rodgers-Cromartie (my early Dolphin hopeful until he shot up the draft). Steve Smith can play bigger than his size but if you push the issue with his size, you will win. 4. Delhomme is turnover prone. 5. Make sure Warner's turnovers are mitigated. Cardinals did this: 1. 75 yards rushing and Panthers had to abandon the run. Not even close to what I said. They didn't just minimize it, they shut it down. 2. 8 catches, 166 yards. A good day for 6'3+ WR's today. 3. 2 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD mostly in garbage time. There was one play Delhomme had Smith bracketed, DRC elevated to knock it away from the smaller Smith ahead of him. 4. 5 picks and a fumble, wow. 5. 1 turnover allowed.
"Failed to upgrade?" Delhomme was considered by EVERYONE to be the upgrade. Remember 2003? Now they'll sit down and figure out if Delhomme needs to go. Keep in mind, one poor game won't be enough to get rid of him--again, Pennington threw four picks against Baltimore and he's not going anywhere. That's bad execution, not bad coaching. What should Fox have done, gone for it on 4th down every time? THAT would be bad coaching.
We are feeling great. Actually I don't know how to feel, should I be happy with this, or should I not be content and only be satisfied with winning the NFC, or have to wait until we are super bowl champs to be happy. this is a wierd spot for us Cards fan to be in. I have a smile from ear to ear right now. I hope the Iggles win tomorrow so we get a home playoff game, with the dome closed, finfan is exactly right, that toaster over gets loud!!! Thanks for all the nice things said about the Cards in this thread, I am loving life right now, or should I still be waiting for next week or 3 weeks away.........don't know what to do with myself.
Pennington to Delhomme is apples to oranges. I've thought for two years they should Draft a Qb. come on, this team was not prepared for this game. blocking schemes stunk play calling stunk Delhomme should have been benched they really never got the running game going the list is just about endless. lets just wait and see if Fox gets the axe...
In a playoff game? Huh? Josh McCown does not give the Panthers a better chance of winning the game than Jake Delhomme does. And if Delhomme is benched and McCown helps the Panthers come back and win, are you really sticking with McCown, thus making the NFC Championship Game his first start with your team? Come on, calphin.
It would have immeasurably hurt. If Fox had benched Delhomme and inserted McCown, all that would have resulted, win or lose, would be a QB controversy. He would then be guilty of the poor coaching you accuse him of, because he would have whimsically ruined the team dynamic that got them to the second round of the playoffs to begin with. Real life ain't Madden.
I know the game is long over... Just need to congratulate the cards and their fans... I didn't really give them a chance coming into this game, i thought Carolina would easily win this game... Good for Arizona, it's nice to see them have some success. Delhomme... wow... just wow. He was totally out of it. Still can't believe the cards dominated this game the way they did.
Delhomme played possibly the worst big game I've ever seen a Qb play. I watched that entire game at a bar in South Carolina, the fans were just shell shocked. The Cards played a good game but really the Panthers wouldn't have beat the Lions with Delhomme playing like that. He misread, made horrible throws and just plain blew that game for the Panthers. He won't be back next year, his career is over after that game.
