Post by End Zone on Oct 21, 2020 14:44:46 GMT -7
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Forum’s 7th Game Day thread of 2020. The Sunday Night Football (SNF) Game Day Thread is dedicated to, “The Gunfight at the OK Corral,” that occurred at Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881. This legendary shootout was probably the most glamorized in the famous history of the American Wild West. I selected this event for the following reasons. First, the fight occurs in the former hardscrabble Arizona Territory. Second, the fight involves desert-dwelling, tough-acting, and proud men and their salty women, none who backed down to like-minded, muscled, sweaty competitors, and certainly not to provisional forces of law and order, traveling know-it-all preachers, and slick salesmen. Third, the fight is for clan survival at gritty, dry, and hot living spaces, and for clan claims to top-dog Alfa male status within the territory. The Arizona Territory is renowned for its gold and silver rushes of the late 1800s, the best known being the 1870s stampede to the precious metal bonanzas of Tombstone at southeast Arizona, which attracted hundreds of hardworking miners and outlaws seeking fame and fortune. There is another rush ongoing real-time—for the Lombardy Trophy! And lastly, the fight mirrors the battle that the Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals will endure for 3-plus hours on Sunday night, October 25th.
This SNF game is about confirming Alfa male status at the NFC West Division, already known as the NFL’s toughest Division. Under the guidance of Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Arizona Cardinals football team has returned from a 5-year trek through the desert wilderness and is now aching for this Division fight in order to prove its NFL elite team status. On Sunday night at 820 pm, the Arizona Cardinals team is ‘all in’ for the biggest game of the year. For me, a former Navy jet-jock, I say, “Fight’s On!,” all the way to the end on Sunday night. For the Arizona Cardinals, I say, “Fortune Favors the Bold – Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat!” all season. Go Cardinals!
What is there to know about the Seattle Seahawks football team? Since the Seahawks are visiting the Cardinals, this discussion will be briefer than my usual spiel. The Seahawks, compared to the Cardinals, are new NFL members, joining the League in 1976 as an expansion team and then owned by the Nordstrom family. The team was initially aligned to the NFC in 1976. Then from 1977-2001, the Seahawks were re-aligned to the AFC and AFC West. The team was re-re-aligned (crazy stuff, eh?) to the NFC West in 2002. Team colors are college navy, action green, and wolf grey. Team nicknames have slightly changed over time: The Hawks, The Blue Wave (1984-86), and the Defensive backfield of the last decade -- the famous Legion of Boom (2011-2017). The team owner is Jody Allen (via Paul G. Allen Trust) and GM is John Schneider. The Head Coach is the colorful Pete Carroll since 2010. The team is a persistent playoffs contender and has made many playoff appearances (18 total) beginning in 1983 and through 2019. The Seahawks have played in the Super Bowl 3 times, winning it all one time in 2013. For the morbidly curious, there is the Head Coach pass play call and Patriots INT leading to the embarrassing Seahawks Super Bowl loss in 2014. Here’s the link to that 4th quarter last second Seahawks flameout and shocking New England victory at the Arizona Cardinals then UofP Stadium: . The Seahawks team flamed out and many saddened fans metaphorically crashed and burned on that Super Bowl day. (Jet-jock speak: a flameout is when a military jet engine quits working, and then the pilot bails out or dies).
The Seahawks have 11 former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Franco Harris, Steve Largent, Carl Eller, Warren Moon, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, Kenny Easley, Kevin Mawae, and Steve Hutchinson. Who doesn’t remember those great’s names? Those names are the definition of NFL All-Pro!
Seattle fans are a likeable bunch, referred to by several names: 12th Man, 12th Fan, and the 12s. I’ve had multiple Seahawks friends across the decades and all were kind, generous, and respectful people. I’ve sat in their Seahawks’ bars wearing my Cardinals jersey and was as safe and comfortable as if sitting a Cardinals’ fan bar. If I was forced by threat of death to convert, it would probably be to the Seahawk fanbase. The Seahawks are the only NFL team in the entire US Northwest, attracting fans from many western and northern tier states and many fans from western Canada. The team’s and fan’s biggest rivalries include the NFC West teams (Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams), the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos. Seahawks fans “travel well and often to competitor cities.” Buy a Seahawk fan a beer if you get a chance. I’m sure a favor will be returned.
Okay, now for game discussion. ESPN predicts a 58.0% chance of a Seattle victory, 41.7% chance of Arizona victory, and 0.3% chance of a tie. ESPN has a math issue, but I’ll let them figure out how to add. The Vegas books are giving the Seahawks -3.5 points in our house. That’s the big betting house money doing the talking, not the real fans mortgage money. The O/U is pumped up to 56.5 points, relatively high in my view given the other Sunday games’ O/Us which are mostly in the high 40s. The Cardinals held NYJ and DAL offenses to 10 points in the last two games. I don’t see Seattle scoring just 10 points ever; but, a 6-6 tie did happen in 2016, so expect the unexpected again on Sunday. The Seahawks are 5-0 so far in 2020, winning 3 games at home and 2 on the road. The SNF game will be the Seahawks first NFCW contest of the football year. The Seahawks are coming off a good Bye week, and the team is relatively healthy and in good shape on O/D/ST. (S) Jamal Adams and (G) Mike Iupati are listed as questionable as of Friday. For the Cardinals, the team is 4-2, with a home record 1-1. Notable dinged players include (CB) Dre Kirkpatrick, (DE) Jordan Phillips, (LB) Dennis Gardeck, (LB) and Kylie Fitts . All are questionable as of Thursday.
The Seahawks lead the head-to-head series by a whisker, 21-20, and 1 tie (remember there was that horrible 6-6 OT game on October 23, 2016). The Seahawks and Cardinals split Division games in 2019, winning one in each other’s stadiums. About home field advantage? There is none when these two teams play football. Memorable moments from the Cardinals win at Seattle on December 22, 2019, include a RB Kenyan Drake 80-yard run in the 1st quarter and a WR Larry Fitzgerald 21-yard TD pass in the 2nd quarter. Arizona’s defense came to play at Seattle, holding the Seahawks to 13 first downs and 224 total net yards. QB Russell Wilson played the entire game, completing 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards, while RB Chris Carson ran 8 times for 40 yards. QBs Kyler Murray and Brett Hundley split duties due to the former’s muscle strain mid-game, while RB Drake ran 24 times for 166 yards.
I strongly caution fans on the 2020 season statistics. Historically, the four NFCW teams play each other the hardest and statistics and records go out the window at the kickoff. The key 2020 statistics (Seattle #s v. Cardinals #s): Points per game 33.8 v. 27.7; Points allowed 27.0 v. 18.7; Yards passing 300.4 v. 247.8; Yards rushing 115.4 v. 161.0; Total offense 415.8 yards v. 408.8 yards; Passing defense 376.6 v. 248.2; Rushing defense 100.8 v. 119.7; Total yards allowed 477.4 v. 367.8. The Seahawks beat MIN 27-26, beat MIA 31-23, beat DAL 38-31, beat NE 35-30, and beat ATL 38-25. Seattle’s best defensive effort was 23 points versus MIA, while the Cardinals held three teams (WAS, NYJ, and DAL) to 15 or fewer points. The Cardinals and Seahawks offenses can score, as proven so far in 2020. Thus, the O/U is approaching 60!
What do I expect on Sunday night, the 43rd game between the teams? Bottom line: A hard-fought physical and emotional game with playoff implications for both teams will be played. All players know what is on the line at mid-season. The Cardinals (4-2) are on the rise, with very good defensive efforts against the Jets and Cowboys in the last two road games and an offense that is explosive most series due to QB Kyler Murray’s speed and initiative. If Kyler solves his passing accuracy issues, that will help my blood pressure a lot, and increase scoring threats. Kliff Kingsbury does not take his foot off the gas ever and his truck has no brakes. Expect KK to call an imaginative game. I really like what he’s doing with the offense in 2020 compared to 2019. Expect the unexpected.
I’ll ensure the injury report and active roster are posted prior to 8:20 pm kickoff. At this point in the season, the player active roster-PS roster merry-go-round is spinning fast. Injuries can be about possible COVID disease too. Players must pass game day and pre-game COVID tests. Predict much roster churn at the last minute.
Sunday night October 25th weather at Glendale, AZ, will be pleasant with kickoff temperature at 84F, partly cloudy skies, and low humidity. Roof will be closed, due to player comfort and safety. A few fans will be in attendance, the first time fans can attend a home game this year.
Game kickoff is at 8:20pm EDT. Watch on NBC and NFL’s Red Zone. Listen to local AZ radio and mobile devices at Sirrus FM. The game is broadcast nationally. State Farm Stadium at Glendale will have some fans and family members in attendance. I still expect piped-in crowd noise to enhance the fan’s game experience.
John Hussey #35 will be the NFL Referee (White Hat) for the game. He is a highly respected official, promoted to referee in 2015. He officiated at several playoff games including Super Bowl XLV in 2011. His calls grade well among all officials – there are no controversies in his record of officiating. When not making the hard calls on the football field, he’s a sales representative for a logistics group.
Let’s all have a fun and entertaining game at our first home game in almost a month at State Farm Stadium on Sunday night. This is the last game of October and next weekend is a Bye for the Cardinals. No major injuries to any players. Go Cardinals! Win #5.
This SNF game is about confirming Alfa male status at the NFC West Division, already known as the NFL’s toughest Division. Under the guidance of Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Arizona Cardinals football team has returned from a 5-year trek through the desert wilderness and is now aching for this Division fight in order to prove its NFL elite team status. On Sunday night at 820 pm, the Arizona Cardinals team is ‘all in’ for the biggest game of the year. For me, a former Navy jet-jock, I say, “Fight’s On!,” all the way to the end on Sunday night. For the Arizona Cardinals, I say, “Fortune Favors the Bold – Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat!” all season. Go Cardinals!
What is there to know about the Seattle Seahawks football team? Since the Seahawks are visiting the Cardinals, this discussion will be briefer than my usual spiel. The Seahawks, compared to the Cardinals, are new NFL members, joining the League in 1976 as an expansion team and then owned by the Nordstrom family. The team was initially aligned to the NFC in 1976. Then from 1977-2001, the Seahawks were re-aligned to the AFC and AFC West. The team was re-re-aligned (crazy stuff, eh?) to the NFC West in 2002. Team colors are college navy, action green, and wolf grey. Team nicknames have slightly changed over time: The Hawks, The Blue Wave (1984-86), and the Defensive backfield of the last decade -- the famous Legion of Boom (2011-2017). The team owner is Jody Allen (via Paul G. Allen Trust) and GM is John Schneider. The Head Coach is the colorful Pete Carroll since 2010. The team is a persistent playoffs contender and has made many playoff appearances (18 total) beginning in 1983 and through 2019. The Seahawks have played in the Super Bowl 3 times, winning it all one time in 2013. For the morbidly curious, there is the Head Coach pass play call and Patriots INT leading to the embarrassing Seahawks Super Bowl loss in 2014. Here’s the link to that 4th quarter last second Seahawks flameout and shocking New England victory at the Arizona Cardinals then UofP Stadium: . The Seahawks team flamed out and many saddened fans metaphorically crashed and burned on that Super Bowl day. (Jet-jock speak: a flameout is when a military jet engine quits working, and then the pilot bails out or dies).
The Seahawks have 11 former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Franco Harris, Steve Largent, Carl Eller, Warren Moon, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, Kenny Easley, Kevin Mawae, and Steve Hutchinson. Who doesn’t remember those great’s names? Those names are the definition of NFL All-Pro!
Seattle fans are a likeable bunch, referred to by several names: 12th Man, 12th Fan, and the 12s. I’ve had multiple Seahawks friends across the decades and all were kind, generous, and respectful people. I’ve sat in their Seahawks’ bars wearing my Cardinals jersey and was as safe and comfortable as if sitting a Cardinals’ fan bar. If I was forced by threat of death to convert, it would probably be to the Seahawk fanbase. The Seahawks are the only NFL team in the entire US Northwest, attracting fans from many western and northern tier states and many fans from western Canada. The team’s and fan’s biggest rivalries include the NFC West teams (Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams), the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos. Seahawks fans “travel well and often to competitor cities.” Buy a Seahawk fan a beer if you get a chance. I’m sure a favor will be returned.
Okay, now for game discussion. ESPN predicts a 58.0% chance of a Seattle victory, 41.7% chance of Arizona victory, and 0.3% chance of a tie. ESPN has a math issue, but I’ll let them figure out how to add. The Vegas books are giving the Seahawks -3.5 points in our house. That’s the big betting house money doing the talking, not the real fans mortgage money. The O/U is pumped up to 56.5 points, relatively high in my view given the other Sunday games’ O/Us which are mostly in the high 40s. The Cardinals held NYJ and DAL offenses to 10 points in the last two games. I don’t see Seattle scoring just 10 points ever; but, a 6-6 tie did happen in 2016, so expect the unexpected again on Sunday. The Seahawks are 5-0 so far in 2020, winning 3 games at home and 2 on the road. The SNF game will be the Seahawks first NFCW contest of the football year. The Seahawks are coming off a good Bye week, and the team is relatively healthy and in good shape on O/D/ST. (S) Jamal Adams and (G) Mike Iupati are listed as questionable as of Friday. For the Cardinals, the team is 4-2, with a home record 1-1. Notable dinged players include (CB) Dre Kirkpatrick, (DE) Jordan Phillips, (LB) Dennis Gardeck, (LB) and Kylie Fitts . All are questionable as of Thursday.
The Seahawks lead the head-to-head series by a whisker, 21-20, and 1 tie (remember there was that horrible 6-6 OT game on October 23, 2016). The Seahawks and Cardinals split Division games in 2019, winning one in each other’s stadiums. About home field advantage? There is none when these two teams play football. Memorable moments from the Cardinals win at Seattle on December 22, 2019, include a RB Kenyan Drake 80-yard run in the 1st quarter and a WR Larry Fitzgerald 21-yard TD pass in the 2nd quarter. Arizona’s defense came to play at Seattle, holding the Seahawks to 13 first downs and 224 total net yards. QB Russell Wilson played the entire game, completing 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards, while RB Chris Carson ran 8 times for 40 yards. QBs Kyler Murray and Brett Hundley split duties due to the former’s muscle strain mid-game, while RB Drake ran 24 times for 166 yards.
I strongly caution fans on the 2020 season statistics. Historically, the four NFCW teams play each other the hardest and statistics and records go out the window at the kickoff. The key 2020 statistics (Seattle #s v. Cardinals #s): Points per game 33.8 v. 27.7; Points allowed 27.0 v. 18.7; Yards passing 300.4 v. 247.8; Yards rushing 115.4 v. 161.0; Total offense 415.8 yards v. 408.8 yards; Passing defense 376.6 v. 248.2; Rushing defense 100.8 v. 119.7; Total yards allowed 477.4 v. 367.8. The Seahawks beat MIN 27-26, beat MIA 31-23, beat DAL 38-31, beat NE 35-30, and beat ATL 38-25. Seattle’s best defensive effort was 23 points versus MIA, while the Cardinals held three teams (WAS, NYJ, and DAL) to 15 or fewer points. The Cardinals and Seahawks offenses can score, as proven so far in 2020. Thus, the O/U is approaching 60!
What do I expect on Sunday night, the 43rd game between the teams? Bottom line: A hard-fought physical and emotional game with playoff implications for both teams will be played. All players know what is on the line at mid-season. The Cardinals (4-2) are on the rise, with very good defensive efforts against the Jets and Cowboys in the last two road games and an offense that is explosive most series due to QB Kyler Murray’s speed and initiative. If Kyler solves his passing accuracy issues, that will help my blood pressure a lot, and increase scoring threats. Kliff Kingsbury does not take his foot off the gas ever and his truck has no brakes. Expect KK to call an imaginative game. I really like what he’s doing with the offense in 2020 compared to 2019. Expect the unexpected.
I’ll ensure the injury report and active roster are posted prior to 8:20 pm kickoff. At this point in the season, the player active roster-PS roster merry-go-round is spinning fast. Injuries can be about possible COVID disease too. Players must pass game day and pre-game COVID tests. Predict much roster churn at the last minute.
Sunday night October 25th weather at Glendale, AZ, will be pleasant with kickoff temperature at 84F, partly cloudy skies, and low humidity. Roof will be closed, due to player comfort and safety. A few fans will be in attendance, the first time fans can attend a home game this year.
Game kickoff is at 8:20pm EDT. Watch on NBC and NFL’s Red Zone. Listen to local AZ radio and mobile devices at Sirrus FM. The game is broadcast nationally. State Farm Stadium at Glendale will have some fans and family members in attendance. I still expect piped-in crowd noise to enhance the fan’s game experience.
John Hussey #35 will be the NFL Referee (White Hat) for the game. He is a highly respected official, promoted to referee in 2015. He officiated at several playoff games including Super Bowl XLV in 2011. His calls grade well among all officials – there are no controversies in his record of officiating. When not making the hard calls on the football field, he’s a sales representative for a logistics group.
Let’s all have a fun and entertaining game at our first home game in almost a month at State Farm Stadium on Sunday night. This is the last game of October and next weekend is a Bye for the Cardinals. No major injuries to any players. Go Cardinals! Win #5.