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In 2008, the Arizona Cardinals had their best season ever in franchise history. They won the NFC West, stunned the Eagles in the NFC Championship, and came within one play of beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

According to the odds makers their outlook for this season is almost as bright. They are currently a 22-1 favorite to win the 2010 Super Bowl, a 10-1 favorite to win the NFC again, and even money to win their division. The over and under on their win total is 9.5.

Despite the favorable odds, I would stay away from this team with a ten foot poll. It is not Kurt Warner’s age that concerns me, or Anquan Boldin’s repeated demands for a trade that has turned me cold on this team, rather it is the recent history of Super Bowl losers and their performance the following season.

Let’s take a brief look back to show you what I mean.

In 2007, the New England Patriots lost to the New York Giants on a last minute play. They proceeded to lose their starting quarterback for the season in the first game of the 2008 season. Despite still having an 11-5 record, not only lost their division, but missed the playoffs completely.

In 2006 the Chicago Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts and followed up the next season with a 7-9 record and a last place finish in the NFC North.

The Seattle Seahawks were on the losing end of Super Bowl XL to the Pittsburgh Steelers after posting a 13-3 record in the 2005 regular season. They followed this up by still winning their division with a 9-7 record, but made an early exit from the playoffs.

The 2004 NFC Champion, Philadelphia Eagles lost to New England in the Super Bowl and promptly imploded to 6-10 the next season after the whole Terrell Owens-Donovan McNabb fiasco took its toll on the entire team.
The Carolina Panthers almost beat the Patriots in the 2004 Super Bowl, but only managed a 7-9 record the following season finishing 3rd in the NFC South.

The ultimate first to worst team were the 2002 Oakland Raiders who lost to Tampa Bay in the 2003 Super Bowl. They ended up the following season a dismal 4-12.

I’m a firm believer in the saying that” history has a way of repeating itself”. You could argue that the Cardinals are still the best team in the NFC West and should at least be able to win their division, but you would be tempting fate by betting on them to do it.

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