Copious amounts of Madden '06 (from 2005) on PS2. I am starting my sixth season after a stunning Super Bowl loss.
Here is my story;
2009 Cardinals (be sure to hum the NFL Films music and pretend they guy is narrating)
So I finished Season 5 (2009) of my Cardinals franchise. The team turned a profit of $39M thanks mostly to the new stadium (open air, since I am still playing Madden '05 on PS2).
Led by QB JaMarcus Russell, RBs Larry Johnson and rookie Bennie Anderson, the Cardinals had a most formidable ground attack, once going an entire half without attempting a pass. The receiving game was on the backburner with Anquan Boldin returning from an injury which kept him out of most of 2008, but allowed rookie WR George Smith to have a breakout year. Larry Fitzgerald was the Cardinals leading receiver, but the best target for Russell was TE Randy McMichael, completing his third season with the club.
The defense was anchored by a multitude of pro-bowl players, including four 99-rated players in the secondary; CBs Eric Green and Antrel Rolle and safeties Adrian Wilson and Greg Wesley. The linebacking corp, led by former Penn State standout and 2007 draft pick, Chike Ndukwe continued its assault on opposing QBs, knocking six different quarterbacks out of games and three of them for the season (Vick, Hasselbeck and Eagles rookie Lewis).
Led by new head coach John Fox, who replaced Denny Green who led the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl victory in 2006, the club began its assault on the record books by winning its first 6 games by an average margin of 20 points. Offensive coordinator Vinnie Testeverde and Defensive coordinator Mike Singletary proved that those who can, teach. Team ownership met and agreed that various sliders should be adjusted, to level the playing field for teams attempting to compete with the ferocious Cardinals club.
The changes paid dividends, as in week 7, the Cardinals won their game 6-3. The tight contests continued throughout the season and thanks to some late-game heroics by Neil Rackers, most notably a 65 yard game winner in week 15, the Cardinals took their streak and chance for an undefeated season into the week 17 contest against the hated St Louis Rams. In a defensive struggle, the Cardinals drove the field in the fourth quarter, trailing 10-7. Inside their own 20 yard line, Bennie Anderson, a model of consistency all season long, was hit by a blitzing linebacker, fumbled the ball and was unable to recover. The Rams went three and out and the Cardinals started the game's final drive on the STL 35 yard line, with 1:05 and no timeouts. On second and long, JaMarcus Russell was knocked out of the game and long-time backup Brandon Kirsch led the team down the field, before throwing a pass to McMichael that was intercepted by the Rams. With such a heartbreaking loss, was no way to head into the off week/wild card weekend.
The Cardinals defense built epic fronts which no playoff opponent could break through. Yet the divisional and conference games were very tight contests, as the offense continued to struggle in finding a rhythm.
The Super Bowl would pit the Cardinals against the San Diego Chargers. On the opening drive, the Cardinals held the Chargers to a punt and drove the field down to a fourth and goal on the two. Fox called for a run, but the defense held pat. Scoreless at halftime, SD running back LaDanian Tomlinson had been held to just 30 yards rushing, despite touching the ball seemingly every play. Cardinals defenders knocked QB Drew Brees out of the game in the third quarter, but not before he led his team to a TD and a 7-0 lead. The Cardinals offense was stagnant, but managed to score on a 45 yard FG by Rackers as the third quarter ended.
The Arizona defense continued its dominance, holding SD scoreless the remainder of the game. Trailing 7-3, the Cardinals drove the field and now, inside the 20, the team needed a touchdown, as a FG wouldnt win the title. On a single-back stretch play right, a play the Cardinals had run 100 times during the season, All-pro RB Larry Johnson was hit helmet to arm by SD LB Steve Foley. The ball popped out of Johnson's grasp and was recovered by the defense. Foley, who was shot in the buttocks in 2006, was named the game's MVP, as the Chargers hoisted the Lombardi trophy and the Cardinals enter the offseason with a 18-2 record and three number one picks (4,7 and 31) secured through a series of trades.
