The Arizona Cardinals: The Surprise of the NFL in 2008

When the 2008 NFL season started, no one could have predicted that the Arizona Cardinals would be in the playoffs, but now they are hosting the NFC Championship on January 25th, 2009. This is their first playoff appearance since 1998. There were questions in the pre-season as to who the starting quarterback would be. A veteran who has proved himself to be a playoff worthy quarterback, or a young player who has the potential to be a great player in the future. They ended up going with the veteran and it ended up being a pretty good choice.

Kurt Warner has now led 2 different teams to the NFC Championship. In 1999, his rookie season, he led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl and ultimately won by a yard. He became the first player since 1994 to win the League MVP and Super Bowl MVP in one season. His rookie card skyrocketed up to around $250 if sold to the right person. 4 years after the super bowl win, Warner was released and was quickly picked up by the New York Giants, where he backed up starting QB Eli Manning. In 2005, he signed a one year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally going to backup their draft pick that year, Matt Leinart.

Warner is just one piece as to why they are hosting the NFC Championship on January 25th. Other reasons are 5th year wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and number one receiver Anquan Boldin. Boldin is the only wide receiver in Cardinals history to gain 1,000 yards receiving in a single season and was named 2003, NFC Offensive Rookie Of The Year. Fitzgerald, drafted in 2004, is known for his acrobatic catches and his never quit attitude in the playoffs. Including Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin, the Cardinals have 2 other players going to the 2009 Pro Bowl, Special Teams Player Sean Morey and Strong Safety Adrian Wilson.

On January 25th, 2009, the Arizona Cardinals will host the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC Championship. It will be the first time they have ever hosted a Conference Championship game, and the third time in history that the Eagles and Cardinals will meet for a Conference Championship. If the Arizona Cardinals win the NFC Championship, it will be their 3rd trip to the Super Bowl. Their first 2 trips came in the 1947 and 1948 seasons when it was still under the name, NFL Championship.