Warner was so efficient because the Sparklekittens had ZERO pass pressure. However, if they can run the ball on us (a definite possibility) and set up the play action then Fitz gould go off on us. I think the game ends up being a shootout, the team with the fewest turnovers wins.

if the colts can just come up with some turnovers and none for the offense they should get the win. Our defense is gonna need to step up and we need powers and jackson at full strength. if our d can get some pressure on them it should be a W. but im really scared of fitz going off and ripping us for a couple tds and 150 yards. but fortunatley are pass d hasnt been the issue the last few years. we only gave up 6 tds passing last year. go colts lots of scoring in this one

Spread-pass attacks, which is what the Tampa-2 is built to stop. They match up well with the Cardinals. I don’t trust the Cards D to either get pressure or control the RUnning Game. THey are good against the pass, but Peyton, Reggie and Dallas are so locked in right now. Zona crowd will be crazy, but this is a great matchup.

• that the Colts might actually win the TOP battle this time, and they’ll do it with a strong running game.

• that they’ll still do very well in the passing game too

• that Warner will still have a high completion percentage; it’s not like our D is going to break up all the high percentage passes he was throwing sunday. Nor should we care. Let them have the 0-4 yard routes.

• that the Colts run D will do just fine

• that Arizona will pass protect and protect the ball better than we hope they will…

• but that we’ll still get a turnover or two

and that’ll be all we need.

Health is a very big issue though. Brackett, Hayden, and Powers (in that order) really really need to be healthy for this game or everything changes. My analysis of the last game tells me that Jennings is being unfairly scapegoated, but I’m still not comfortable with him going up against the Cards. And if Hayden AND Powers can’t go, I’m really really not comfortable with things. Brackett being out would be just as bad as having the two corners both out as well. All three, and that’s a friggin disaster.

I still think they can win in that scenario, but it’ll be a frustrating game like last night instead of a 40-20 stomping that I can see if people are healthy. If the D is healthy I think Coyer has a lot of freedom to get creative to trick Warner into a pick or two without a big risk, as well as to run a few well timed clever blitzes.

Rolle and Toler, their returners, fumbled once each

Toler isn’t actually a returner. A punt hit him when Rolle decided not to catch and and didn’t yell anything to his cover team coming down the field.

I can’t see their running game having more than 125 yds

I can’t see that either considering that we had the worst running game in 2008 and right now we’re 25th in the league. I would assume that we see our running game much like you guys see yours. Any production we get from them is a plus but ultimately the games are decided by the right arm of our QB’s.

Like the first two games of the year did. The first two teams we faced were teams that like to max protect and generally run the ball. In those two games, we’ve given up like 400 yards rushing and like 200 yards passing. I can live with that as long as we are winning games.

The Cardinals are a dangerous team, but this is STILL the same team that went 9-7 last year while getting pummeled by a Brady-less Patriots team by 38 pts. They still have one of the best QB’s in the league and arguably the best duo of WR’s in the game.

However, this actually plays right into the Colts style of play. The Colts have been either the best or in the top 5 passing defenses for several years now. They simply do not get beat in the air very often. Thru 2 games, zero passing TD’s. Only 3 TD’s given up in 2 games. That says alot for a team that has a very questionable run defense.

Now, people will point to the Miami game and say oh well the Dolphins ran all over the Colts. People also forget to look at the way the Dolphins lined up. They were literally lining up with 6-8 people on the offensive line. The Colts meanwhile were lining up 4 linemen. This was a mix match period. The Colts stayed true to their style of defense, gave up very few plays, and managed to keep the game close. The defense was not at a 100%, they made several bad penalties (which continued drives for the Dolphins) and ultimately could not get off the field.

This will not be the case with the Cardinals. Their defense CANNOT match up with the Colts even without Gonzo on the field. They have no pass rush, they can’t match up with Clark at all, and a receiving RB will have a field day against this team. If anything, this is one of those games that reminds me of the 2007 season opener against the Saints.

The Cardinals will put up points, but they won’t be a team that can score at will against us. People will say oh they scored so many more points against Jacksonville than you did. Jax is a division game for us, those are ALWAYS more difficult for teams that play each other regularly. Look at the Texans….they played the Titans tough and won, but got blown out by the Jets. Division games cannot be used as an example.

I expect this game to be good, but in the end, too much offense led by Peyton Manning. If he doesn’t throw for 300 yards, I’ll be shocked…