The Cards were dethroned as NFC Champions on Saturday in the Bayou, as the New Orleans Saints dispatched Arizona 45-14 in the Super Dome. After scoring on the first play from scrimmage, the Cardinals had no answers for Drew Brees and company, and mounted only one more scoring drive.

Now the offseason begins in earnest, and many may wonder if venerable QB Kurt Warner will return. He took a vicious hit late in the 2nd quarter, injuring his chest, but returned in the second half to try and lead the team from behind. He was finally replaced by Matt Leinart in the 4th quarter when the game was out of reach.

Although Brees, who finished second in the MVP voting to Indy’s Peyton Manning, will receive loads of credit for the win that vaults the Saints into their second NFC Championship game (2006), the star of the game was Reggie Bush. The former USC standout, Heisman winner and Kardashian beau scored on a 46-yard TD run, juking, breaking tackles and sprinting past the defense, and later on a long punt return in which he wasn’t touched on his way to the end zone.

Meanwhile, the Cards defense was outmatched in just about every way it could be. Defenders missed tackles and coverages, and failed to elicit a single turnover. The Saints, on the other hand, forced two turnovers and capitalized on both with touchdowns. They turned a 21-14 Saints lead midway through the second quarter into a 35-14 halftime lead (which set the NFL record for most total points in the 1st half of a playoff game) for New Orleans. The Cards’ D allowed 70 points combined in the last half of the Packers’ game and first half against the Saints. Sadly pathetic.

Many predicted a scoring spree. But most thought it would be both teams lighting up the scoreboard. Unfortunately for Cardinals fans, only the Saints kept marching into the end zone. Now, the Cards have marched into the offseason.