Statement Games, Part II

So here we were today, Sunday, November 23, 2008. The New York Jets led the AFC East division of the National Football League by one game, and were in Tennessee, facing the undefeated Titans, the best team in the AFC. The Arizona Cardinals led the NFC West by four games, and played host to the reigning NFL champions and the consensus pick for the best team in the entire league thus far, the New York Giants. Did I hear someone say statement game?

The Jets/Titans game came first. The first half was a defensive struggle, but the Jets had dominated time of possession, as their offensive line was controlling the game. They pulled away in the second half, holding onto the ball for 40-plus minutes, and handing the mighty Titans their first loss of the season. Brett Favre played a great, if not exactly flawless, game. However, it was the domination by the Jets' offensive line, and the subsequent effective running game which were the keys to the Jets' victory. To the rest of the league, the Jets boldly made a statement and placed themselves squarely into the Super Bowl conversation.

The Cardinals/Giants game came next. The Giants are undoubtedly the best team in football, excelling in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. The Cardinals were able to play with them for the most part on offense and defense, but it was special teams which clearly showed the difference. The Giants continually ran back kicks to put them in excellent field position, giving them short fields and leading to touchdowns. The Cardinals' special teams were not bad, but were definitely outclassed. Two mistakes by Kurt Warner, a fumble and an interception, both in Cardinal territory, were huge, and led to Giants scores. An onsides kick with about four minutes left should have been recovered by the Cardinals, but was not. The final score was Giants 37, Cardinals 29. The Cardinals probably played good enough to beat any other team in the league today, but not the Giants. The Giants are playing at a different level than any other team. No one else is even close. The statement made by the Cardinals today is that they are a good team, able to hang tough with the best team in the league, but not quite good enough yet to beat them. Clinching the division will have to wait at least one more week.

Am I concerned? Not at all, the Cardinals will definitely be a factor in the playoffs. Maybe today's loss will be the springboard to their reaching another level, just like the Giants' last game of the regular season loss to the Patriots last year clearly pushed them to a higher level, good enough to win three playoff games on the road, and then beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. We'll see if today's loss has the same type of effect on the Cardinals.

And the Jets? They look like the real deal, baby. They just might be the best team in the AFC. How in the world did they ever lose to Oakland?