Opponents’ Storylines, Weeks 14-17

Amberly Richardson finishes her look around the league, as she breaks down the top-storylines of each team the Cardinals will face next season, and how they will relate to Arizona come game time. Here are Weeks 14-17, complete with two NFC West matchups, a game against last year’s Rookie of the Year and another against the team “that could have been.”

Week 14: vs. St. Louis Rams

After finishing last in the NFC West, the Rams will be looking to put their top draft picks to work. The talent is there, and there is a proven leader taking charge of the offense. People will watch to see how newly appointed coordinator Al Saunders will turn things around.

Week 15: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Will Adrian Peterson outrun LaDainian Tomlinson this season? By Week 15 that will be close to being answered. The Cardinals will face the sophomore player they turned down in the 2007 NFL Draft. The Vikings need to work on their passing big time. Rumors that Brett Favre could end up in purple have surfaced.

If third-year signal-caller Tarvaris Jackson can stay healthy, he has all the right threats. His receiving corps is shaping up with the addition of former Chicago Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian.

Week 16: @ New England Patriots

After a disappointing end for Patriots fans and the glee of much of the country, the Patriots lost in the Super Bowl vs. the New York Giants who the Cardinals face in Week 12. New England should breeze through the AFC East once again, but a 16-0 record seems difficult to live up to with improvements around the division and its other 2008 opponents. Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks

This game could be the do or die game for the two teams likely to be battling it out for top position in the NFC West. If the Seahawks don’t make a postseason appearance, they will send out Coach Mike Holmgren to a bitter end, but the Cardinals don’t expect to go down without a fight.