“I was just sitting here drinking my coffee, eating my muffin…when I had what alcoholics refer to as a moment of clarity” - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson’s character in “Pulp Fiction”)

In a movie loaded with great quotes this is perhaps my favorite.

On November 19th, or thereabouts, I had a Jules Winnfield “moment of clarity” about the Arizona Cardinals.   I knew exactly where they were headed and what was going to happen.

Not all of my prognostications come true.  In fact most I’d just as soon ignore and hope you forget.  But a few days before the Giants game I just knew how it was all going to turn out.  They’d lose a close competitive game at home to New York, get blown out by Philly, beat the Rams and Vikings at University of Phoenix Stadium, get pushed around by New England, beat Seattle.

They’d win at home in the wildcard round; lose on the road in the divisional round.

It was….well….clear.

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Oh I didn’t get everything right.  Didn’t see them getting squashed by the Vikings.  I knew they’d get beat by the Patriots, I didn’t think they’d lie down like puppies waiting to get their tummies scratched.  I had no idea Edgerrin James would be a difference maker in the playoffs.

I don’t bring this up to self-congratulate.  I bring it up to tell you that I’m sticking to the script.  Not going to ad lib.  The Cardinals are not winning this weekend.

Nothing I have seen since November 19th gives me a compelling reason to change my story.  Many fans, once ready to feed this team to the sharks after the Patriots loss, are now filling my inbox with nonsense about how they have a legit chance to beat the Panthers.  Beating the Falcons (something I was confident of before the game a week ago) has convinced the masses that this team has morphed into a giant-killer.  Clearly some of these fans have lost their “clarity.”

I, on the other hand, think the 10-point spread is just about right.

They’ve been abysmal on the road all year long and draw their strength from playing in their building.  The Cardinals are like the anti-Superman.  It’s when they leave home, they lose their super powers.

Now the Cards travel 2100 miles to play a superior team, coming off a bye week.  Two rushers (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart) having fabulous years, a strong o-line, a road grader for a fullback, and a receiver who is every bit as tough and clutch (Steve Smith) as the Cardinals dynamic duo.  In a city where it will be cold and possibly wet.  And BTW, Anquan Boldin is questionable.

Since the Panthers and Cardinals last met, the team rushing totals for Carolina in each game since go like this:  162, 264, 134, 128, 299, 147, 158, and 234.  They have 30 rushing touchdowns as a team this year.

To repeat, 10 points is just about right.

If the Cards win this game it will be nothing short of the miracle that caused Jules in “Pulp Fiction” to have his moment of clarity in the first place.