Cardinals poised for the playoffs

When the Cardinals moved from St. Louis to Arizona 11 years ago, more than 100,000 people claimed the rights to season tickets at 73,273-seat Sun Devil Stadium.

But they were quickly turned off by inept play and high ticket prices and the only time the place has been sold out since has been when Dallas comes to town and Cowboys fans buy tickets.

They might as well head for Houston if they don’t sell out Sunday, when the Cardinals have only to beat San Diego to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982, when they were in St. Louis.

As the NFL enters its final weekend, there is only one playoff berth at stake, the last NFC wild card. Arizona (8-7) controls it: a win and the Cardinals are in, leaving Tampa Bay (7-8) and the New York Giants (7-8) out.

The difference between these Cardinals and the old Cardinals is Jake Plummer, who was rewarded for eight game-winning drives over his first two seasons with a $29.7 million, four-year deal that includes a $15 million signing bonus.

“At the beginning of the year, I didn’t set out to get a new contract, I set out to get in the playoffs,” Plummer said.

Last week, Plummer kept the Cardinals in control of their fate by engineering a 76-yard drive to beat the Saints after New Orleans had taken a 17-16 lead with 1:21 to go. Then he got the huge contract extension.

The other two teams in contention made the playoffs last year and were considered likely playoff teams entering the season — some even picked the Bucs to go to the Super Bowl.

But both might have started too late.

The Giants have won three straight and four of five with Kent Graham at quarterback in place of Danny Kanell. Included is the 20-16 win over Denver two weeks ago that ended the Broncos’ quest for an unbeaten season.

But to make it, the Giants have to win at Philadelphia (3-12) and hope both Arizona and Tampa Bay lose.

The Bucs started 4-7, then won three straight, but blew a game at Washington last week that made their playoff chances problematic. They must win at Cincinnati (3-12), the Cardinals must lose and the Giants must win. That would put the Bucs in a three-way tie that they win.

As far as coach Tony Dungy is concerned, the Bucs were eliminated by last week’s loss. “I felt like we were going to have to win them out to get in and I don’t feel like we’ll get in now,” he said.

In Saturday games, Minnesota beat Tennessee 26-16 and Kansas City knocked off Oakland 31-24.

In other Sunday games, Buffalo is at New Orleans, Carolina at Indianapolis, Detroit at Baltimore, Green Bay at Chicago, Miami at Atlanta, New England at the New York Jets, St. Louis at San Francisco, Seattle at Denver, and Washington at Dallas.

Pittsburgh is at Jacksonville Monday night.

Miami (10-5) at Atlanta (13-2)

The Dolphins have the incentive — a win and they’re guaranteed a home game in the first-round of the playoffs. The Falcons, locked into the second seed in the NFC, could rest key players.

But …

“People talk about this game not meaning something. It means a ton,” said Atlanta defensive end Lester Archambeau, who plans to play with a broken thumb. “Anytime you can go into the postseason with some momentum, it’s going to carry you.”

There’s also a “win one for Dan,” mentality working for the Falcons: Dan Reeves, back in the hospital after heart surgery, gave them a pep talk by speakerphone during the week.

Green Bay (10-5) at Chicago (4-11)

St. Louis (4-11) at San Francisco (11-4)

If the Packers win early, then the 49ers will try late.

That’s because while the Packers and 49ers know they’ll play each other in the first round of the playoffs, they’re not sure where. Right now it would be at San Francisco, but if they both finish 11-5, it would be at Green Bay, because the Packers beat the Niners during the season.

That means that if the Packers win, the 49ers’ Steve Young, who sprained his knee on the last offensive play of the game at New England, could start against team that the San Francisco has beaten 16 straight times.

Seattle (8-7) at Denver (13-2)

A more important game than it looks for the Broncos, who need to get their momentum back after losing two straight in what they hoped might be an unbeaten season. Last season, they lost their 14th and 15th games and won the Super Bowl, but a 16th week loss would be a major negative.

Seattle could finish over .500 for the first time since 1990 if it wins. A win also might save Dennis Erickson’s job — but probably not.

Pittsburgh (7-8) at Jacksonville (10-5)

What was supposed to be a showdown for the AFC Central title, but the Steelers are out of the playoffs for the first time in Bill Cowher’s seven years as coach and the Jaguars have clinched. So Jacksonville can continue to rest Mark Brunell’s sprained ankle and play rookie Jonathan Quinn, who was battered in the 50-10 loss in Minnesota last week.

New England (9-6) at New York Jets (11-4)

Don’t expect the Jets to play soft in this one. Bill Parcells still has a chip on his shoulder about the Patriots and he always plays hard in seemingly meaningless games. In 1986, his Giants beat the Packers 55-24 in a meaningless final game and went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Patriots could get a home playoff game next week if they win and Miami loses. Scott Zolak, who beat San Francisco last week, will be at quarterback again.

Buffalo (9-6) at New Orleans (6-9)

The Bills are 9-3 after an 0-3 start. The Saints are 3-9 after a 3-0 start, good reason why Buffalo is in the playoffs and New Orleans is not.

Also good reason why Ralph Wilson, the Bills’ owner, has rewarded Doug Flutie by paying him a bonus for a game they lost — the one the officials gave to New England.

Washington (6-9) at Dallas (9-6)

The Redskins come in having won six of eight after an 0-7 start and Norv Turner may retain his job, depending on who ends up owning the team. The Cowboys would like some momentum entering the playoffs after four straight bad games: three losses and a 13-9 win over Philadelphia.

Still, with a win, Dallas can become the first team ever to sweep the NFC East; the Giants were 7-0-1 last year.

Detroit (5-10) at Baltimore (5-10)

A tale of two disappointments.

The Ravens have five Pro Bowlers, one for each win.

The Lions have Barry Sanders. They are 78-81 for his 10 seasons in Detroit.

Carolina (3-12) at Indianapolis (3-12)

A tale of two coaches.

Dom Capers took the Panthers to the NFC title game in the franchise’s second season. This is likely his last game, only two years later.

Jim Mora has done a nice job bringing along Peyton Manning. But last week, he got angry at his defense in the kind of tirade that led him to quit at New Orleans.

Associated Press