Cardinals 32, Eagles 25: No, Seriously, the Arizona Cardinals Win the NFC

It was highly unlikely, both at the start of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs, that the Arizona Cardinals would be your Super Bowl representative from the NFC. And it seemed fairly unlikely at the beginning of the NFC Championship Game's third quarter too. But it's happening anyway.

NFC Championship Images

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell celebrates after the NFL NFC championship football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 32-25. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Matt York, AP

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 18: Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on in the second quarter during the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals on January 18, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donovan McNabb

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb fumbles as he is sacked by Arizona Cardinals defender Adrian Wilson in the third quarter in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. The ball was recovered by the Cardinals. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218948) [Photo via Newscom]

Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald reacts after catching a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during fourth quarter in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219025) [Photo via Newscom]

Mike Blake, Reuters

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 18: Running back Edgerrin James #32 of the Arizona Cardinals uses a stiff arm to get by Quintin Demps #39 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter during the NFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Edgerrin James;Quintin Demps

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jason Avant (C) loses a second quarter pass on third down as Arizona Cardinals defenders Aaron Francisco (L), Ralph Brown (2nd-L) and Adrian Wilson (R) move in during the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218860) [Photo via Newscom]

Robert Galbraith, Reuters

Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson (L) gathers a fourth quarter touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals defender Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (R) falls in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218997) [Photo via Newscom]

Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald reacts after his third touchdown reception in the second quarter of play as Philadelphia Eagles defender Sheldon Brown stands at right in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218890) [Photo via Newscom]

Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie lies in the end zone after his team's win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. The Cardinals will face the AFC champions in the Super Bowl in Tampa. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219073) [Photo via Newscom]

Robert Galbraith, Reuters

The Cardinals stormed out to a monster lead and it looked like a foregone conclusion that they'd have a chance for a championship, but the Eagles managed to storm back and take the lead, leading everyone in the world that happened to be watching the game thinking that the Cardinals would put the final squeeze on their collective jugular.

Instead, the exact opposite happened.

Just when it looked like Kurt Warner's magic run (and by "run," I mean "ridiculous NFL career") was coming to a quasi-tragic ending, and just when it looked like Cardinals' fans were doomed to another year of suffering, at minimum, Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower suddenly came alive and bolstered a touchdown scoring drive that put the Cards ahead for good.

Warner added the final touch -- an eight-yard touchdown pass to Hightower -- but it was a bizarre final scoring drive for a team that had relied to heavily on the pass all afternoon; eight of the 13 plays called on that final drive were runs. But it makes sense, I suppose.

"To make it to the Super Bowl and to have a chance, an opportunity to win it, you relish those moments in your career," said veteran safety Adrian Wilson, according to the AP report. "This being my eighth year, and to be in this organization at this time with these players and these coaches, it's a great moment."

Ken Wisenhunt, who has done a hell of a job with this football team, recognized that the less time he could leave Philadelphia the better, and because the Eagles were looking pass (not to mention being a little worn down on defense) he took advantage and let his running back tandem loose.

"It was appropriate we had a bunch of different people make those plays, and it was a great team win for us," Whisenhunt told the AP. "It's been a tough number of years here in Arizona."

It's obviously a sad ending to an incredibly bizarre season for Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb and you can almost assuredly expect to see the city of Philadelphia question whether they can continue on for the Eagles and expect success. (To me, that's ridiculous: five trips to the NFC Championship game in eight years? Come one, Illa.) And if history holds true, it'll be almost as big a storyline as anything else Super Bowl week produces.

Unless, of course, the Steelers win tonight. If they do, Wisenhunt will be matched up against his old team and a guy in Mike Tomlin who hijacked his job (although both clearly have done well). But maybe the Steelers lose -- it prorbably won't matter as the bookies and pundits decide who'll win the Super Bowl.

This team has been an underdog all season, the defense has gotten zero respect, and no one really believes that an Arizona Cardinals team can triumph in the Super Bowl. But since they're, um, finally there, and just 60 minutes (the two tortuous media weeks aside) away from winning, maybe today's a good enough time to wake up and realize just how good this team really is.

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