ARIZONA CARDINALS

Playoffs? Arizona Cardinals are on the verge

Dec 12, 2014, 4:45 PM | Updated: 4:57 pm

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The Arizona Cardinals are on the precipice of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2009.

All that needs to happen is a winner (and loser) be determined in Sunday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

By way of their 12-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams Thursday, the Cardinals improved to 11-3 on the season. The Cowboys and Eagles are both 9-4, and since Arizona holds the tiebreaker over each, a loss for either team would guarantee the Cardinals at least a Wild Card berth.

Of course, the Cardinals are hoping for more than just a Wild Card spot, which is why they are not quite ready to celebrate just yet.

At worst, Arizona will head into Week 16 with a one-game lead on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, and with the defending Super Bowl champs set to host the San Francisco 49ers, it’s very likely next Sunday’s game between the Cards and Seahawks will decide who wins the division.

Of course, that is important, because the winner is likely to not only have a first-round bye in the postseason, but also homefield advantage for at least one game.

And on that front, unless the Green Bay Packers fall on the road to the Buffalo Bills this week, they and the Cardinals will be tied for the best record in the NFC, with their battle for homefield advantage throughout the entire NFC playoffs still ongoing.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) St. Louis Rams' Cory Harkey (46) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson (26) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Cardinals running back Stepfan Taylor is tackled by St. Louis Rams' Trumaine Johnson, left, and Rodney McLeod during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Cardinals' Michael Floyd (15) leaps to make a catch while being defended by St. Louis Rams' T.J. McDonald (25) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals' Stepfan Taylor (30) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is tackled by St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams' Tre Mason (27) runs out of the tackle of Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) flips after being hit by St. Louis Rams' E.J. Gaines during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) is congratulated by his teammates after kicking a 44-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) makes a catch against St. Louis Rams' Janoris Jenkins (21) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) makes a catch against St. Louis Rams' Janoris Jenkins (21) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) runs out of the tackle of St. Louis Rams' Aaron Donald (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by St. Louis Rams' E.J. Gaines during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams running back Tre Mason (27) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams' Stedman Bailey (12) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Jerraud Powers (25) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by St. Louis Rams' Alec Ogletree (52) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) is chased by St. Louis Rams' James Laurinaitis (55) following a catch during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) throws an incomplete pass as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) throws an incomplete pass as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals' Larry Foote (50) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is sacked by St. Louis Rams' Aaron Donald (99), Alec Ogletree (52) and Eugene Sims (97) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is taken off the field on a cart after getting injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) limps off the field after getting injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals' Larry Foote (50) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) shakes hands with quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) after getting injured during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by St. Louis Rams' Trumaine Johnson (22) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Rams' Jared Cook (89) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson (26) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) kneels on the turf during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein (4) watches his 19-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians talks with quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook (89) looks up at the scoreboard after the Rams turned the football over on downs late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher talk with Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians following an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) St. Louis Rams' Trumaine Johnson (22) watches from the bench late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Rams' Cody Davis walks on the sidelines late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Rams' Kenny Britt (81) sits on the field following an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill (14) reacts after the Rams turned the football over on downs late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6 (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill throws while being pursued by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro kicks a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey stretches towards the end zone as he is tackled at the one-yard line by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey reacts after bobbling and dropping a pass on third down in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown escapes a tackle attempt by St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson as he gains 14 yards in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown is upended as he is tackled by St. Louis Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. Arizona won 12-6. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee)

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