Divisional Playoff Preview: Cardinals @ Saints

Arizona @ New Orleans (Sat. 4:30, FOX)
On the heels of their shootout in the desert on Sunday, the Cardinals will look to improve on their defense and handle the Saints' explosive offense. The Saints defense will have the same problem with the Cardinals offense. All signs point to a shootout.
Kurt Warner added to his Hall of Fame resume with a playoff game in which he had more touchdowns than incompletions. If Warner plays half as good, the Cardinals have a good chance. Warner's success must be attributed to Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, who both stepped up last week both scoring a touchdown each. This gives the New Orleans secondary more receivers to keep their eyes on other than Larry Fitzgerald and could free Fitzgerald to spring some big plays. The run game will need to provide balance with Beanie Wells becoming a power back in front of fans' eyes all season, he needs to step up and gain 80 to 100 yards to keep the Saints' defense honest.
On defense, Karlos Dansby has the game of his life, which was capped off by the game winning fumble return for a touchdown. The secondary will have to do a much better job than they did last week to give the Cards a chance to stop the passing attack of the Saints. New Orleans has the same, if not even better, amount of talent in their receiving corps as Green Bay does.
For the Saints, it is pretty simple on how to succeed: have Drew Brees pick apart the Arizona secondary. Brees should take Aaron Rodgers' performance last week as a way to pick apart the secondary. Brees does have someone Rodgers does not, Reggie Bush. With Pierre Thomas being the main running back, Bush is able to go out of the backfield and catch passes. The extra threat of Bush complements the three main receivers, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, and Devery Henderson.
On defense, Darren Sharper and Jonathan Vilma are keys to stopping Warner. Sharper has been on fire all season and there should be no reason why it should stop. Vilma has also been a model of consistency at linebacker this season and if he stops Wells up the middle in the run game, Arizona could turn one dimensional, which is still a huge threat. Either way, the New Orleans' secondary needs to eat their Wheaties before Saturday's game.
5 Players to Watch for the Cardinals
QB Kurt Warner
WR Larry Fitzgerald
LB Karlos Dansby
DE Bertrand Berry
WR Early Doucet
5 Players to Watch for the Saints
QB Drew Brees
LB Jonathan Vilma
S Darren Sharper
DE Will Smith
WR Robert Meachem
Key Matchup: Meachem & Colston vs. Bryant McFadden & Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Prediction: Cardinals