Divisional Weekend: Cardinals at Saints

Previewing, breaking down, and picking the winners of this weekend’s playoff action. Your picks and game discussion in the comments.

Cardinals (10-6) at Saints (13-3)
2:30 p.m. MT
The Line: Saints by 7

The Story: Do you like points, Football Fan? Oh, you do? Well last week, the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers set an offensive playoff record with their 96-point overtime thriller. And as good as that shootout between Kurt Warner and Aaron Rodgers was, there’s potential for today’s game to be even better. Drew Brees and Warner will forsake running backs and take to the skies in what should be another offensive juggernaut. Defenses need not apply.

The Breakdown: The Saints are well-rested and very healthy — the only players on their injury report are Probable. This also means their top cornerbacks will be back from various injuries. The Cardinals don’t expect Anquan Boldin back this week either, but they fared just fine without him…. All that’s well and good, but this game really will be all about the quarterbacks’ abilities to not make mistakes. Both are exceptionally good at what they do, as in “all time” good. The Saints’ corners are better than the Cardinals’, but neither will be able to keep up in what should be a very exciting.

The Pick: There’s a lot of pressure on the Saints after the best regular season record in franchise record, and I think — somewhat subjectively (the Cardinals are my adopted Team of the Playoffs) — the Cardinals can pull off the upset. The home crowd will be fierce, so it won’t be easy… another overtime thriller! 41-38, Arizona.