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Arizona Cardinals Win The Super Bowl?

It's Time to Rise Up Red Sea

Jan 13, 2016

Crawling into the playoffs last year, the injury-plagued Arizona Cardinals had little hope to go on a Super Bowl run. If Andre Ellington hadn't been lost for the year ... if Carson Palmer hadn't torn his ACL ... if Drew Stanton hadn't hurt his knee. The Cardinals lost five of their final seven games and it's not an excuse to say injuries were the main factor. Arizona had the impossible task of trying to win a playoff game on the road with a third-string quarterback and Ryan Lindley wasn't up to the task. They lost to the Carolina Panthers 27-16 and had the fewest total yards in a playoff game in NFL history - 76. It was embarrassing to say the least

Fast forward one year...

13-3. NFC West Champions. The #2 seed in the NFC. A first-round bye. A healthy quarterback (stay healthy Carson Palmer). This year, the Cardinals are hungrier than ever. 3 games, 12 quarters, 180 minutes of football stand in the way of the Arizona Cardinals if they want to win Super Bowl 50

Here is how they can do it...

First, Arizona is perhaps the most complete team in the NFL. The Cardinals have ranked in the top five in offensive and defensive efficiency for 15 straight weeks and are projected to have the most efficient offense and third-most-efficient defense of any playoff team this postseason.

It’s easy to focus on Arizona’s most recent loss, to the Seahawks, but that is one game in a 16-game sample. In their other 15 games, the Cardinals were the most dominant and consistent team in the NFL. Entering Week 17, Arizona had an NFL-best plus-13.7 scoring margin and won six games by at least 23 points, tied for the most in a season since the 1996 Packers.

Although some quarterbacks have had better six- or seven-game stretches than Carson Palmer, no quarterback was more consistently efficient over the course of the entire season. He led the league in Total QBR and became the first player since Tom Brady in 2007 to post an above-average QBR in each of his first 15 games. You know what the Cardinals' record is over the last two years in games Carson Palmer starts? 19-3. If he hadn't torn up his knee last season the Cardinals could very well be the reigning champs. Palmer is healthy now and leading an offense that's one of the league's best. Arizona has weapons everywhere, and Palmer, under the guidance of head coach Bruce Arians, loves taking shots. That defense, No. 3 in the NFL according to Football Outsiders, ain't bad either.

Lastly, Arizona’s path to the NFC title game is heavily favorable. By finishing as the No. 2 seed in the NFC, the Cardinals avoid Seattle in the division round; the Seahawks are perhaps Arizona’s biggest threat in the playoffs. Instead, the Cardinals will face the Vikings, Redskins or Packers. The Cardinals are given at least a 75 percent chance of beating each of those teams at home by ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI).

ESPN’s FPI's favorite to win the Super Bowl is not the team that is No. 1 (Panthers) ... or No. 2 (Broncos) ... or even No. 3 (Patriots) in ESPN.com’s Power Rankings. Instead, FPI favors, by a fairly wide margin, the Arizona Cardinals to win Super Bowl 50. Arizona has a 29 percent chance to win the title, followed by Carolina (20 percent), New England (18 percent) and Denver (11 percent). It is time to get it done Arizona Cardinals...

RISE UP RED SEA!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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RISE UP RED SEA!

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

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