I'll try my hand at adding a little Saints' fan perspective to the following. Take from it what you will.
Sharper's drop off in production has a direct correlation to the Saints losing their man corners in Greer (Week 9, sports hernia) and Porter (Week 10, MCL sprain). These losses forced the defense to switch to more zone coverage using Sharper to bracket receivers covered by the rookie Jenkins to help mitigate his occasional mistakes. This removed Sharper from his early season "center fielder" role on the defense, where he was able to use his abilities to create plays.
Greer and Porter are both healthy and will be starting.
Shockey is an excellent all around TE, makes difficult catches, out-muscles defenders and is a difference maker in the run game. He's also a vocal, emotional leader that keeps the team pumped throughout the game. The only games in which Shockey has not played are the only games the Saints have lost.
Jammal Brown was lost before the season began, Bushrod has started almost every game, except 1 (I think) due to injury. Certainly, we miss our Pro Bowl left tackle and there are occasions where Bushrod needs help against the elite pass rushers (see the Dallas game when he got little to no help) - but he has generally held his own against all but the best.
I would think your fan base, of all people, would understand why this is a non-issue. Tell me: what playoff experience did the Cardinals' receivers have before last season? Colston, Bush and Henderson have all played in the playoffs before.
Drops by the Saints receivers are not unheard of, but are rare. Brees can usually hit a guy in traffic. Makes my heart explode...but he still does it.
Heath Evans was the perfect fullback for our offense and he's missed. Still, the Saints did manage to win an additional 8 games after losing him for the season. TE Dave Thomas has done a surprisingly good job at the FB position (considering he's not a FB).
Thomas is a bear-wrestling brute of a man. He once played as the only back in 2007, amassing more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving with two ribs that had been cracked the previous week.
If you can do this, it would be effective. If you fail, it will be your doom. The same can be said about our defense and Kurt Warner. (who I greatly respect, by the way)
At the beginning of the season, our defensive stats were misleadingly poor because we played 'prevent defense' for the entire second half for the first two games. Then the defense won the next two, because we needed them to 'step up'.
Our run defense took several hits due to injury though - Clancy was playing well at DT but was placed on IR shortly into the season - then our other starting tackle, Sedrick Ellis, went out to an injury. Shortly after that we lost starting SLB Fujita and this combination really hurt our run defense. As soon as we get Fujita back, our starting WLB Shanle goes down forcing us to play with mediocre backup linebackers for an extended period of time. Ellis came back, but played sparingly. The linebackers (though not nearly as awesome as Green Bay's) and Ellis should all be fully healthy now.
The Cowboys surprised us early, but only scored 10 points in the last 3 1/2 quarters (13 if you count the missed field goal). The Saints' offense was flat, and Henderson even had a drop in the endzone which would have left the game tied at the end.
The following week, the Saints put up 17 easy points on Tampa and coasted to the finish, giving up a Punt returned for a TD and missing the game winning FG.
The final week was basically forfeited because there was nothing to gain, and the Panthers play a very physical style of defense...no sense in damaging your playmakers.
If the Cardinals can handle all of that, there's a good chance they can win.
Us Saints fans have been saying this for years, but neither the players nor the coaches agree with this assessment. Shanle is not flashy, but he makes good tackles and is almost always in the right position to make a play. I'm tired of doubting him by now.
They're also confident that they can go in and play their best football.
I would posit that the Cardinals don't know how they'll play in a road game against a very loud and passionate fan base on a short week after a grueling, fast-paced game. Still, they should also be confident that they can go out and play the best game they're capable of. There are no excuses for less.
Here's to a great game tomorrow with no injuries!
