Arizona Cardinals

Peterson Can Make Cards' Secondary Elite

2011-04-28T22:32:50-04:00

So the Cardinals didn't get a quarterback.

They didn't get a pass rusher. (Why, Denver? Why?)

To me, no big deal.

They may have just got the best player in the draft.

Heck, they may have gotten the best cornerback since Champ Bailey in the first round.

Maybe I'm wrong. But it sure is exciting to think about. Now the question becomes, when does Patrick Peterson start?

Do the Cardinals take their time with him like with DRC, and play him at nickel until he's ready? Or do they start him immediately?

I tend to think immediately, as you would with the fifth overall pick in a draft. But I could be wrong -- remember, the off-season has already been shortened. He's a heck of an athlete, but he's got to learn the Cardinals system, which is new this year under Ray Horton.

And what about punt returns? Does he take them immediately from Andre Roberts? I do tend to think so there as well.

Overall, I couldn't be more excited though.

Could the Cardinals have the best secondary in the league by next year? It's a decent possibility now. That's a scary thought.

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-- JACK LONDON
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Cardinals Pick A Sharp Dressed Man

2011-04-28T20:53:06-04:00

Well, at least we won't have to worry about Patrick Peterson looking good off the field. In an interview with ThePostGame.com, Peterson said he likes Sean John, Louis Vuitton and Armani.

Here's his fashion advice for fans:

"1) Coordination – make sure it all goes. 2) Taste – as long as you have good taste, you're good to go. 3) Be comfortable trying new things. 4) Attitude. It's really all about the attitude. If you think you look hot, that'll come across. 5) Confidence. That's also the key. If you think you can make it look good, chances are you will."

Peterson said he'd loved to start his own fashion line after his football career. For the Cardinals' sake, let's hope that is later rather than sooner.

Check out the full interview with Patrick Peterson on ThePostGame.com.

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Von Miller: Ideal For Needed Defensive Upgrade

2011-04-27T12:46:48-04:00

With the NFL Draft now just one day away, the Arizona Cardinals face a very tough choice at pick No. 5. While Arizona had the worst rushing attack in the league and the second worst passing game, the Cards must go defense with their first-round pick. I realize that Max Hall is the not a franchise quarterback but the fact of the matter is that neither is Blaine Gabbert.

He may be the popular pick right now due to the offensive ineptitude that the Cards displayed last season, but Gabbert simply didn't stand out during his collegiate career. At Missouri last year, Gabbert threw for just 16 TDs and 3,000 yards. These numbers didn’t even come close to the performance of former Tiger Chase Daniel during his senior year and he is now just a mere backup with the New Orleans Saints.

Now that Gabbert is out of the equation, the man to pick for the Cards is Texas A&M’s Von Miller (pictured). The defensive end/outside linebacker is a perfect fit in an aging Arizona defense because of his versatility and speed. As a senior Miller had 11 sacks and 68 tackles, which followed up a stellar junior campaign with 17 sacks. Miller is truly a game changer and the Cardinals cannot afford to pass up on him if he is available with the fifth pick.

Joey Porter and Darnell Docket are not getting any younger and that is why coach Ken Whisenhunt needs Miller as the face of his defense. One of the biggest reasons why the Cards finished in the basement of the NFC West and gave up more than 145 yards on the ground per game is that they had no threat on the defensive line. Offensive lineman were able to have their way with the front four of Arizona and picking Miller would present a legit threat to opposing offensive coordinators.

In the event that Miller goes to Buffalo at No. 3 and is off the board, the Cardinals are fortunate that this is a great draft for defensive players. If this situation presents itself, I would love to see the Cards go with LSU's cornerback Patrick Paterson to play in the defensive backfield with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Regardless, the strategy here is to bolster the roster defensively and look to snag a quarterback like a Kevin Kolb through a trade. On Thursday, the clock begins on the Cardinals quest to become a contender again and it all needs to start with a defensive upgrade.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

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-- DJ SIXSMITH
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QB Must Be Cards' Top Priority

2011-03-09T13:02:13-05:00

So much has been written about the Arizona Cardinals and what they should do with the No. 5 pick in April's NFL Draft. So many thoughts, so many opinions. Who knows who is right and who is wrong? All I know is this: The Cardinals had better find a new quarterback by the time July rolls around.

A new Collective Bargaining Agreement would certainly help the Cards decide which direction to go. A draft will be held regardless if there is a lockout or not. If a lockout exists come end of April, I don't really see how the Cards have any choice other than to take a Blaine Gabbert with the fifth overall pick.

But if something has been resolved by then, then all the Cards, pardon the pun, are on the table.

Personally, even if the Cards could trade for someone like, oh I don't know, a Kevin Kolb, then I think they should still go with a quarterback at No. 5. You never know if a Kolb can come in here and be a good fit. Right now, he seems like it, but you can never tell until you get him out on the field in real game situations. Plan B must be in place and that should include drafting a quarterback high in the draft.

Then again, the Cardinals might have had to give up that fifth overall pick to get Kolb.

Kolb or no Kolb, the Cards must choose the correct quarterback path to getting the best possible man to lead their offense in 2011, 2012 or 2013. This organization can not afford to make a mistake with the quarterback position this off-season. Otherwise, the honeymoon the organization has enjoyed for the past few years will quickly disappear.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Horton Plans To Rev Up Defense

2011-02-15T18:06:18-05:00

We all know by now that Ray Horton has been hired as the new defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. The news wasn't really all about who was hired. To me, it was about what was said in the introductory press conference. It was also about attitude -- one that said the defense was going on the offense to attack its opponents.

Horton said all the right things in his press conference, and one thing stuck with me. He said they would be blitzing on the first play call next season. Now did he mean preseason or regular season? I sure hope he meant regular season, but I'm OK with both. I sure hope he keeps to his word, even though he has given his first opponent seven months to prepare, although I'm not sure anyone outside the organization is shaking in their boots just yet.

Whether he actually goes through with it, the fact is he recognizes that the Cards defense needs a new attitude. They need an immediate change of direction. They will go on the attack. An attacking, take-charge defense doesn't finish 29th in overall defense. They don't give up big play after big play. They don't play soft. Horton clearly feels like he is the man to change the attitude and if words translate into action, then I already like what I see and hearm and I can't wait for September to roll around. Of course, that is if there will be football in September. That, though, is a completely different subject.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Shedding Last Place

2011-02-05T10:05:22-05:00

Of the nine seasons the current configuration of the NFC West has been in existence, the Arizona Cardinals have finished last four times. The St. Louis Rams are next with three last-place finishes, and the San Francisco 49ers twice have been the cellar dwellers. Only the Seattle Seahawks have failed to finish last in the division. Maybe it is their turn.

In order for the Cardinals to climb back towards the top, of course they need to hire a new defensive coordinator and find a quarterback that doesn't lose the game for you. I would use the word serviceable, however John Skelton was serviceable and look where that got us.

I would venture a guess that if Seattle is unable to hold onto quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who in turn is a slight possibility to end up in Arizona if he is not re-signed by the Hawks, then maybe Seattle does find it's turn at the bottom. History does not bode well though.

The Cards need to change their culture and I believe they started to do that when coach Ken Whisenhunt was hired in 2007. In his three seasons prior to 2010, his Cards teams finished 8-8 and in second place, and then the 9-7 and 10-6 seasons, winning the NFC West. That is why it is so important that the Cards make all the right moves this off-season to make it a one stop turn at the bottom of the division, otherwise history says they could be scraping the bottom for quite some time. They don't need to find their quarterback of the future to start immediately, as they can get a veteran to come in and start for a short period, however with as quarterback happy as this years NFL Draft appears to be, it is important to pick that quarterback of the future now. That will be key in determining the Cards time in last place.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Cardinals Need Quick Coordination

2011-01-18T23:07:55-05:00

We all know about the Arizona Cardinals struggles this season on both offense and defense. Coach Ken Whisenhunt recognized that right away and soon after the season officially ended on Jan. 2, he fired defensive coordinator Bill Davis. It was a necessary move given the defense was near the bottom in every statistical category for the 2010 regular season.

Now, as they continue the search for a new defensive coordinator, one has to wish that the Cards eventually come to the realization that the same thing needs to be done on offense. I realize it is one step at a time and they are dealing with the defensive issues right now. However, having Coach Whisenhunt call the plays as well as being head coach just isn't working. Since the departure of Todd Haley after the 2008 Super Bowl season, Whisenhunt has called the plays for the offense.

He needs someone that can devote his whole time working with the offense. Unfortunately a head coach that calls the plays as the offensive coordinator cannot devote 100 percent of his time to the offense. The Cards have the type of personnel on offense that requires complete dedication from its coaches. With the turnover we are expected to see on offense, especially at the quarterback position, it is important an offensive coordinator is hired.

Of course this is all easier said than done and I would not be surprised the see the Cardinals sit on this at least for the time being. They may wait to see in which direction they go personnel-wise before making such a decision on a possible offensive coordinator, I don't know. I do know this, though, that if they wait too long, they miss out on the best available minds in the NFL and could end up right back where they started from at the beginning of 2010.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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No Luck May Bring Good Luck To Arizona

2011-01-13T03:53:09-05:00

When Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck decided to skip this April's NFL draft and stay in school last week, his decision not only affected the Carolina Panthers, who draft first, it also affected the other teams in the top 10 as well, including the Arizona Cardinals. For the Cards, however, the decision may have been a good thing.

Luck was always going to be the top draft choice, no question. However, now that Luck isn't going to be available, that may likely change the direction the Panthers go in. So instead of drafting a quarterback high in the draft, the Panthers may stick with Clausen. It may have been Luck or bust with the quarterback position in the draft. So that lines up everyone else differently now.

I don't know for sure what direction the Cards are going to go with the fifth pick. They have many options. They can keep it, most likely taking the best quarterback available. Right now, that looks like it could be Ryan Mallet from Arkansas. Auburn's Cam Newton certainly is a talent and an outstanding athlete, however, in Monday night's BCS Championship game, he proved he may be somewhat not quite ready to take position behind center in the NFL. Teams certainly, at the very least, will be watching more closely at him in the combine and pre-draft workouts.

Those picking ahead of the Cardinals - the Panthers, Broncos, Bills, and Bengals, all can argue for taking a quarterback early. The Broncos most likely won't with Tim Tebow in the mix. The Bills may be in the market depending on what they decide to do with Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bengals most likely stay with Carson Palmer. So, at the very least, the Cards look to probably get the 2nd or 3rd best quarterback available.

I've seen plenty of mock drafts so far that have the Cards drafting at positions outside of quarterback at number five, but I would be surprised because, as of right now, they are thinking of anything but.

Of course that all changes if the NFL resolves its labor issues, signs a new CBA, and the free-agent or trade market ends up being very good to the Cards. We'll see.

Of course the Cards could mess it all up as they have in the past, have an even worse 2011 season, and end up getting Luck in the first round of the 2012 draft. As much as I would love to see Luck in a Cards uniform, I certainly hope that scenario doesn't play out. Let's win now!

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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End Of A Long Season

2011-01-08T14:42:12-05:00

The Arizona Cardinals season finally came to an end this past Sunday with a 38-7 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49'ers. When your team loses 27-6 and 38-7 to a 6-10 team, you have the right to call your season long, very long. You can also celebrate the season's ending. My how far the recently mighty have fallen.

Expectations were still high going into the season, even with the retirement of Kurt Warner and the uncertainty at the quarterback position. Even with Derek Anderson and Max Hall at the helm, they were able to get off to a 3-2 start. It appeared as if the Cards would be able to win their way through their issues. Clearly, after defeating the New Orleans Saints 30-20 on Oct. 10, it all went downhill from there.

With the easiest schedule percentage-wise in the NFL, 10-6 and 9-7 at worst seemed inevitable. Sure, we all knew we were losing talent with the departures of Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin, and Bertrand Berry in addition to Warner, however, there was still roughly half the roster still held over from the 2009 Super Bowl team. There were also the additions of Alan Faneca, Joey Porter, and Kerry Rhodes. With those moves, it seemed like at least this year Arizona would still have a hold on the NFC West.

Well, we were all off on that one. Anderson played no better than a serviceable backup. The only additions to the team that seemed to help were Paris Lenon and Jay Feely. The offense was inconsistent all season. The defense was too, and gave up a lot of points. Too many points. Yes, they created turnovers and turned many of those turnovers into defensive touchdowns, but it clearly was not enough.

Now the Cards are left not to re-build necessarily, but do some major re-tooling. There are still many good parts to this team. The one position that will need much scrutiny in the off-season is obviously quarterback. The Cards must decide how to approach it. They either need to draft one in the first round and make that the future franchise guy and then bring in a much more serviceable veteran quarterback via trade or free agency, or decide to maybe save a quarterback pick for later rounds, bring in a proven veteran to mentor both the draft choice and current Cards quarterback John Skelton. Right now, it seems as if Skelton will hang around a while. Anderson and Hall are all but done with the Cardinals.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Week 17 Power Rankings

2010-12-29T11:35:08-05:00

The NFL playoff picture looks a bit clearer after the Week 16 slate of games. We now know that the Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders won't be making an appearance in the postseason.

The Bears, Eagles and Falcons are all playoff locks in the NFC, joining the Patriots, Jets, Steelers, Ravens and Chiefs in the AFC.

The only divisions still up for grabs are the NFC West and the AFC South.

In a surprise move, NBC flexed the St. Louis Rams-Seattle Seahawks potential disaster to Sunday Night Football. I applaud the move because it's the only game where both teams are competing for the division crown. On the other hand, with two unpredictable teams, as the Rams and Seahawks are, four quarters of quality football is no guarantee.

The only other games where both teams face playoff implications are Chicago vs. Green Bay and Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans.

It will be interesting to see how the early game results will affect the game plan of the playoff hopefuls in the late games.

Nonetheless, it's been a fantastic NFL season, one that's been completely and utterly unpredictable.

And now what you've all been waiting for: the greatest Week 17 Power Rankings in the history of the world. #YeahISaidIt

32. Carolina Panthers (2-13)
Breaking News: The Carolina Panthers have secured the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

31. Arizona Cardinals (5-10)
Jay Feely has got to be the team MVP.

30. Houston Texans (5-10)
The Texans are the gift that keeps on giving.

29. Denver Broncos (4-11)
Tim Tebow deserves to be the Broncos' starting quarterback come 2011. Don't believe me? Check the box scores.

28. San Francisco 49ers (5-10)
I think it's safe to say that the Niners won't have a Smith starting at quarterback next season. And they definitely won't have a Singletary anywhere near the organization.

27. Tennessee Titans (6-9)
There's no way Kerry Collins is the Titans' starting quarterback come the 2011 season, right?

26. Washington Redskins (6-9)
Rex Ryan and the Jets should have to foot a few dinner bills for the Redskins.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)
I love how Carson Palmer has his best game of the season with TO and Ochocinco on the sideline.

24. Buffalo Bills (4-11)
Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to play better than his three-pick performance if he wants to be quarterbacking the Bills next season.

23. Cleveland Browns (5-10)
Colt McCoy looked like a deer in headlights against Ray Lewis and the Ravens defense. It's pretty much guaranteed that Rob Ryan and Eric Mangini will both be gone next season.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
Brett Favre hasn't been cleared to play. It's scary how fast age has caught up with the NFL's ironman.

21. Dallas Cowboys (5-10)
Another game down the drain by "America's Team." Way to go, boys!

20. Seattle Seahawks (6-9)
For the first time this season the Seahawks can suck it up in prime time. Game fits right in with the crappy programming NBC offers.

19. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
The Dolphins are 1-7 at home and 6-1 on the road. Quite possibly the most confusing team in football.

18. Detroit Lions (5-10)
Very happy for Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. He's done a wonderful job with subpar talent all season long. I would love to see someone other than the Lions finish last in the NFC North.

17. San Diego Chargers (8-7)
I suspect Norv Turner will be joining Mike Singletary, Josh McDaniels, Brad Childress and Wade Phillips fairly soon.

16. Oakland Raiders (7-8)
It was fun while it lasted.

15. St. Louis Rams (7-8)
Just last week I asked the question if Sam Bradford hit the rookie wall. I think we have our answer. Sam completed 28 of 37 passes for 292 yards and one touchdown.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
The awful loss to the Redskins may end up costing Jacksonville its Jaguars.

13. New York Giants (9-6)
If interceptions counted as touchdowns and touchdowns counted as interceptions, the Giants would be the best team in the league.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)
If the '09 draft were today, I would take Josh Freeman over Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez. Five freaking touchdowns!

11. New York Jets (10-5)
The Jets' defense isn't supposed to let down like this, especially not now. If Jay Cutler can pick 'em apart, imagine what Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Michael Vick would do.

10. Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
I wonder how many people lost fantasy games because Peyton Manning went to the ground instead of making it into the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Not sure what I'm talking about? Watch the video.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)
Too bad Matt Cassel has to battle Michael Vick for the Most Improved Player and Most Valuable Player awards. If Vick gets MVP, Cassel should get Most Improved. Through 15 games: 251-of-417 for 3,001 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions.

8. Baltimore Ravens (11-4)
The Ravens are not a team I'd want to face in the playoffs. Ray Lewis has his defensive unit firing on all cylinders.

7. Green Bay Packers (9-6)
The Packers won't go away. Just when you thought the injuries had caught up to them, they go and destroy the New York football Giants.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)
The Steelers are racking up wins at the same pace they are injuries. I wonder which is going to win out.

5. New Orleans Saints (11-4)
The Saints are a different team with Pierre Thomas in the backfield. With that said, the Saints are approaching Super Bowl-caliber play.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)
Michael Vick looked shell-shocked against the Vikings. He's taking far too many hits at this point of the season. Now is when the team should be locking down the line and playing its best football of the year. Not exactly how things are going down though.

3. Atlanta Falcons (12-3)
It finally happened—the Falcons lost. All those who've been waiting for this moment can breathe easy. For the record, I'm breathing easy. I see the Falcons falling.

2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
It's tough to get on the Bears' bandwagon only because they've had two mind-numbing losses, at the Giants and at home against the Patriots. Other than that, just aces.

1. New England Patriots (13-2)
I can say with certainty that Tom Brady is better than Peyton Manning

--BEAR HEISER
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Cards' Season Mercifully Ends

2010-12-29T10:54:01-05:00

The Arizona Cardinals seem to be going down with at least a little fight as they prepare to finish up what has been a most disappointing season. They face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, clearly a team in turmoil after the firing of head coach Mike Singletary. The winner of the game will finish 6-10 and in third place in the division. The loser gets the cellar and a 5-11 record to end the season.

The Cards have won two of their past three games, although it can be strongly argued that they should have won their past five. That has been the theme of the entire season, though: could have and should have. Most felt the Cards would have a little drop-off due to the retirement of Kurt Warner, but no one really saw the Cards struggling like this, at least not this quickly.

Missed opportunities, inopportune penalties, bad turnovers, and at times little confidence all did the Cards in this season. With nearly half the roster from the 2009 Super Bowl season still intact, the expectations weren't as high, clearly, but I'd be lying if I thought back in August this team had a chance to finish 6-10 or 5-11. With the schedule the Cards were given, they easily should have been 9-7 or 10-6 -- at worst.

The Cards had the easiest schedule based on win-loss percentage from the 2009 season. Many of the poor teams from 2009 were poor in 2010. The bad losses in Carolina, Minnesota, and in Seattle. Bad losses at home to San Francisco and Seattle. The game they gave away against Tampa Bay. Ultimately it came down to execution, or lack thereof, from both sides of the ball.

The big question is now after Sunday, where do the Cardinals go from here for 2011? There are many questions to answer over the coming weeks. Of course the NFL and the Players Union must come to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to avoid a lockout before anything can happen, free agency or draft wise. Look for the Cards to right the ship as best as they can for 2011. It would be a shame to waste what they built over the past three seasons only to see the franchise make a decade-long turn for the worse again.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Cardinals Try To Give Fans A Christmas Gift

2010-12-21T23:40:02-05:00

The Arizona Cardinals get a home game this Saturday, Christmas night, against the Dallas Cowboys. The last time these two hooked up on the holiday was in 1995, a game famously marked by the exit of then coach Buddy Ryan, running off the field before the final seconds ticked off. The Cowboys played scrooge in front of an ABC audience 37-13. The game was never close and Ryan never got close to a Cardinals sideline ever again.

This year, both teams are equally as bad but the Cards hope to give their fans the gift of victory. The Cards are coming off a 19-12 loss to the Carolina Panthers, taking their record to 4-10. The Cowboys meanwhile are now 5-9 after defeating the Washington Redskins 33-30 at home on Sunday. The star quarterbacks are gone. Kurt Warner is retired. Tony Romo is on injured reserve. It is Jon Kitna against John Skelton. Not exactly what fans had in mind back when the schedules came out in April. Most thought this would be Matt Leinart vs. Romo for a shot at the playoffs.

Now, you have two teams both trying to find an identity. You have a Cards team the clearly underachieved. You have a Cowboys team that did much the same, but had bigger expectations in 2010. Both teams will be looking to finish off the season strong. The game is on national television, so the stage is still huge. Now it's just a matter of two down teams trying to play for pride and make a decent showing in front of millions. Neither team will be able to boast much with a victory on Saturday night, but the victor will be able to hold their heads up high and try to finish off the season on a winning streak.

For the Cards they are going to have to play with confidence and play with a focus that wasn't there on their last national television try on Monday Night Football against the San Fransisco 49ers when they were blown out 27-6. They just need to go back to basics. They need to hold onto passes. The dropped passes are getting old and quick. The running game needs to be in full force and effect. The defense must make stops and not make mistakes. Of course this is the formula that should have the Cards 10-4 and not 4-10, but for now we'll hope that is the formula for victory over the Cowboys.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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9 Out Of 10 - Losses, That Is

2010-12-20T03:42:29-05:00

After a convincing win last week against the Denver Broncos, the Arizona Cardinals failed to muster any offense against the NFL’s worst team in the Carolina Panthers. With just 218 total yards, the Cardinals, led by rookie quarterback John Skelton, had a tough time moving the football down the field all afternoon.

You know things are bad for your team when Jay Feely is your biggest offensive weapon. The kicker had two fields and WR Steve Breaston accounted for the Cardinals others six points by recovering a Tim Hightower fumble in the end zone for a score. It is hard to win in the NFL when you do not have balance. Hightower had just 16 yards on the ground, which allowed the Panthers defense to key solely on Skelton and the aerial attack.

Even with the offense struggling, Larry Fitzgerald was able to have his best day of the year as the receiver. He went over the century mark for only the 2nd time this season. The Pitt grad hauled in 9 balls for 125 yards and even had a season high 41-yard reception. If nothing else, Fitzgerald proved that he is still among the league’s elite receivers.

On the defensive side, the Cards did a solid job of keeping rookie QB Jimmy Clausen in check but the problem became containing the running attack. Jonathan Stewart had a big day for the Panthers, rushing for a season high 137 on 37 carries. The Panthers continued to pound the football in this game and the Cards defense just had no answer for the former Oregon Duck.

Even with losses by the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks this week, Arizona was finally eliminated from playoff contention at 4-10. It is amazing to see how quickly the Panthers and Cards have fallen. Just two years ago, Arizona beat Carolina in the division playoffs. The countdown now officially begins to the NFL Draft for the Cards and topping the list of priorities is someone to finally fill the shoes of big number 13 Kurt Warner.

--DJ SIXSMITH
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Power Rankings Week 15

2010-12-16T09:39:55-05:00

Many changes have been made with teams falling and rising as this NFL season has seen week in and week out.

Without further delay, here are the updates for the Week 15 NFL power rankings.

32. Denver Broncos 3-10
How good can Tim Tebow really be? Kyle Orton completed less than 50% of his passes and threw three picks while the chosen one held the clipboard.

31. Carolina Panthers 1-12
The Panthers rushed for 212 yards in the game. Pretty good 'eh? Too bad they only had 288 total yards on the day.

30. Tennessee Titans 5-8
The seasons over for the Titans. The Jeff Fischer era may be over as well.
29. Cincinnati Bengals 2-11
This is what Terrell Owens had to say following the game: "I can't throw the ball to myself. I can't do anything else. All I can do is go with the plays that are called and just hope I get some opportunities." Who had Week 14 in the Terrell Owens blowup pool?

28. Arizona Cardinals 4-9
Hopefully Tim Hightower's 148 yards and two scores will provide enough motivation for the Cards to give up on the oft-injured Beanie Wells.

27. Detroit Lions 3-10
What if somehow the Lions end up with the league’s worst record and the No. 1 pick? What do they do? Get Lucky or pull a Matt Millen and draft another wideout?
26. Washington Redskins 5-8
The 'Skins left seven points on the field in the form of two missed short field goals and a botched extra point attempt in the final seconds. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, Mike Shanahan's seat warmer has been turned on. That's not a good sign for Donovan McNabb. No way he stays if Shanny goes.

25. Buffalo Bills 3-10
Fred Jackson and the Bills ground game rushed for 192 yards in Sunday's win over Cleveland. As a team the Browns only had 187 total yards.

24. San Francisco 49ers 5-8
What a huge win for the 49ers! The two teams they're chasing (STL, SEA) both lost which leaves them only one game back of the top spot in the NFC West.

23. Seattle Seahawks 6-7
They've given up 30 or more in six games this season, all losses.

22. Houston Texans 5-8
How many days till Kubiak gets the axe? I set the over/under at 30 days and I want the under.

21. Oakland Raiders 6-7
The Raiders missed a chance to capitalize on the Chiefs misfortune of losing Matt Cassel for a few weeks. Inconsistent football has been killing the Raiders all season. Hope for the playoffs is no more.

20. Miami Dolphins 7-6
The Dolphins have now won six games on the road to only one at home.

19. Minnesota Vikings 5-8
Since when did the NFL's iron man become a figure head for a bad team? Please send Brett Favre home ASAP.

18. Cleveland Browns 5-8
There's gotta be someone better than Jake Delhomme to hand the ball off 35 times.

17. St. Louis Rams 6-7
The Rams still lead the NFC West because of the tiebreaker edge they hold over Seattle.

16. Dallas Cowboys 4-9
Jason Garrett has proven himself worthy. I'd be shocked if he isn't the head coach come next season.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-5
The Bucs were lucky that the 'Skins left two field goals and one extra point on the field.

14. Kansas City Chiefs 8-5
Jamaal Charles needs to be better than the season low he put up against San Diego

13. Indianapolis Colts 7-6
Peyton Manning gave his naysayers a collective middle finger by throwing for 319 yards and 2 TDs.

12. San Diego Chargers 7-6
This wasn't a fair fight. Not even a little bit. Now is when the Chargers make their run.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-5
Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for over 100 yards for the sixth straight week.

10. New York Jets 9-4
The Jets are an embarrassment to the league. Don't really have anything else to say.

9. Baltimore Ravens 9-4
Attn Ravens fans: Joe Flacco looked like a deer in headlights when the game was on the line.

8. New York Giants 9-4
The Giants gained 213 yards on the ground for a 7.6 yards per carry average. If they can keep that up they'll be unstoppable.

7. Green Bay Packers 8-5
Mr. Rodgers may not know where his neighborhood is after the concussion he suffered in Sunday's game.

6. Chicago Bears 9-4
One word comes to mind: abomination. Da Bears have been a lackluster football team at home, something that needs to change for them to make a run to the postseason.

5. New Orleans Saints 10-3
I hope the Saints took notes because this matchup is likely to happen again in the postseason.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3
Big Ben is going to get killed if the line doesn't start doing a better job--injuries or not.

3. Philadelphia Eagles 9-4
Anyone notice the large chip that's growing on the shoulder of Mike Vick? All the cheap shots hits he's taken are starting to wear on him

2. Atlanta Falcons 11-2
I've been waiting for them to slip but it doesn't seem like it's going to happen unless they have to play in Pennsylvania, where they are 0-2.

1. New England Patriots 11-2
I truly believe that Tom Brady is playing better because he has long hair.

--BEAR HEISER
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Cards Can Help Carolina Get Luck-y

2010-12-16T09:17:04-05:00

With the way the Arizona Cardinals have played over the past couple of months, many fans have been clamoring for the Cards to not win the remaining games on their schedule to position themselves to get a decent pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. After defeating the Denver Broncos this past Sunday 43-13, the Cards are at 4-9 and the likelihood of getting a top five pick is growing dimmer.

What the Cards can do is continue to win and help other teams improve their chances in next season's draft. The Cards don't play a playoff-bound team in the last three weeks, starting this week in Carolina against the Panthers. The Panthers currently own the worst record in the NFL at 1-12. Beating the Panthers on Sunday will go a long way in helping Carolina secure the No. 1 pick in the draft. Consensus right now is the No. 1 pick is going to be Andrew Luck. Of course a lot can change between now and April, but that is the thought process amongst some experts and fans.

The Cards have no shot at the No. 1 pick, at least by their final standing, if they win on Sunday, and probably wouldn't finish at the bottom anyway with Buffalo, Detroit, Denver and Cincinnati in the way. Cards also could still finish better than San Francisco, a team they play in Week 17, Dallas, Washington and Minnesota in the NFC alone. You play to win in this league and you'll never get any coach or player to admit otherwise.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Upon Further Review - Skelton could be the guy

2010-12-14T07:36:32-05:00

Maybe the biggest question in Arizona is now whether John Skelton is the QB of the future. Let's examine, shall we? A few thoughts:

1. Sunday didn't tell us much.
Sunday shouldn't be the go-to game if it's decided that Skelton is the reason the Cardinals pass on someone like Andrew Luck in the draft come April. Did Skelton play well? Not sure, really. His stats don't pop out at you. But then again, Max Hall's stats were fairly impressive to me after his win against the Saints. We saw how that turned out. Skelton's game was the opposite...so maybe he'll be different?

2. He definitely has the look of an NFL QB.
I can see why the Cardinals traded up to get Skelton. The kid looks the part. He's got a calm demeanor. He looks like Big Ben, if in size only. He's got a killer arm for another thing. But then again, Derek Anderson supposedly has a killer arm.

3. Skelton's performance, aside from stats, was solid.
If you take away the drops, Skelton completes over half his passes. He didn't commit a turnover. That's good for an Arizona QB this year. As well, he made several nice throws, although he has to work on his accuracy. Some of what he should be able to do will increase as he learns the offense (the offense was dumbed down significantly according to Coach Whisenhunt).

So is he Arizona's future? I'm not sure. I think we need to see more of him though.

JACK LONDON
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We'll Take It ... To The House

2010-12-13T09:31:06-05:00

Boy, first of all let me say just how good it is to get a win.

This may be one of the best Christmas gifts the Cardinals will give its fans this year. And it was the biggest margins of victory in Cardinals history to boot.

Some highlights from the game (other than John Skelton basically not messing up, as Max Hall did against the Saints earlier this year. Boy, I hope it's not a repeat):

1. Jay Feely
Can a player win offensive and special teams player of the week?

I can't take credit for that thought, as Fitzgerald came up with that one. Still, the creative, and gutsy, playcalling by the Cardinals set the tone.

2. The run game
Granted, many of the yards came in the fourth quarter, due to some bad tackling, but Tim Hightower still had an impressive day with 148 yards and 2 TDs. It was not pretty early, as the Cardinals had less than 50 yards at the half, but something clicked in the offensive line in the second half. It also helps when you have a lead. Still, it's surprising that the Cardinals still threw the ball more.

3. The defense.
I think with all the other stories going on, the defensive effort will get overlooked. It is true that Denver did literally hand the ball to Arizona a few times. But the fact remains that Arizona's secondary really did a good job of taking Kyle Orton out of his rhythm. The only concerning thing is that it didn't seem like the Cardinals consistently got pressure, even when they blitzed. Still, if the secondary continues to play that well (how about Kerry Rhodes getting a couple more turnovers by the way), they could definitely win out.

After all that, the fact remains that the Cardinals, as bad as they've been, can still make the playoffs. Seattle has to lose out, St. Louis can only win one more and Arizona has to win out. But hey, crazier things have happened right?

--JACK LONDON
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Week 13 Final Report Card

2010-12-11T09:45:12-05:00

Of all the games this year, there's a good possibility that the Cardinals reached their lowest point on Sunday.

The St. Louis Rams came to the desert, a team the Cardinals have dominated in recent years, and thoroughly controlled the game. There were few things that were positive from the game, with the exception of Arizona fans finally getting to see John Skelton.

So there is hope after all, but let's get through the bleariness of this game first.

Offense: F
Derek Anderson may have had his worst game yet. Listen, I give the Rams some serious credit: Their defense has greatly improved. But they are still suspect. So to go 7/20 is ridiculous. The Cardinals in all completed just 11 throws out of 29 attempts. Rather pathetic.

The only good news? Tim Hightower had a solid game, with 15 carries for 81 yards, as Arizona seems to have given up on Beanie Wells for the meantime (which is not good news). Oh, and some kid named Skelton played.

Defense: C
Perhaps the best news for the day for Arizona is that the defense, despite no help from the offense, really did a good job against the Rams, and especially against Sam Bradford, who has been hot as of late. The bad news is that on a couple of the big plays, there was some terrible tackling, like Steven Jackson's touchdown run.

Still, for the hand it was dealt, the defense did much better this week.

Special Teams: C
Not a special game from the special teams, but they did a solid job, which has been typical this season.

Coaching: C+
Whisenhunt finally realized that it was time to pull Derek Anderson, so I'll give him props. And while Skelton had a decent debut, it was easy to see why they didn't want to throw the kid to the wolves in his first NFL season. Fortunately enough, Anderson was so bad, he didn't have a choice. And then there's Max Hall getting injured.

Still, this was not one of Whizzy's worst games. I mean he can only call the plays on offense. He can't make his quarterback complete passes.

JACK LONDON
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Cards Return To Rebuilding Phase

2010-12-09T14:26:23-05:00

Well, Derek Anderson, it has been nice knowing you. This past Sunday, a 19-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams, we might have seen the last of Anderson in a Cardinals uniform. Then again, we may not have. Depends on whom you believe. One thing is for sure, you should expect to see a lot more of John Skelton over the last three weeks. With a possible concussion, Anderson may not be available this Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Max Hall is done for the season.

Adrian Wilson may have had his last hurrah. He got an interception but was rarely heard from otherwise this past Sunday. Are his skills dwindling? Some seem to think so. I would hope he has another year or two in him, but the past few weeks have proven otherwise.

What is to become of the running game? Are the Cards done with Beanie Wells already? After using him in the first quarter and watching him be effective, the Cards started to shy away from his usage the rest of the game. Again, not sure what to make of it.

One thing I can tell you is that the Cards are officially done having any chance to win the NFC West in 2010. Sure, technically they are mathematically still in it for at least another week, but let's be realistic, Matt Leinart has a better chance of coming back to the Cards than the Cards have winning their last four games and Seattle and St. Louis each losing their last four. Last week I mentioned the Cards should start playing for 2011. This week, expect to see a good part of that plan in action.

Say goodbye to winning football, at least for the time being. Coach Ken Whisenhunt will experience his first losing season since taking over the Cards. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it is time to face reality. The Cards are going to have to address many needs in the off-season. We are also going to have to hope for any kind of season in 2011 thanks to a looming lockout.

For what it's worth, I'm all right with saying goodbye to the past three months. It has been the toughest stretch of games in several years. No offense, little defense, and a team filled with uncertainty and little identity. Goodbye to the Arizona Cardinals as we got used to knowing them and welcome back to the rebuilding phase.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Defense Not Enough To Avoid 7th Straight Loss

2010-12-05T22:45:23-05:00

You know things are getting bad when you are sitting in the 4th quarter of a divisional matchup late in the season with your rookie quarterback out of Fordham University. That was the case Sunday for the Arizona Cardinals, who had to rely on the services of 5th round draft pick John Skelton (above) after Derek Anderson was benched and Max Hall separated his shoulder.

Once again it did not matter who was at the helm for the 3rd worst team in the NFC as the Cards lost their 7th game in a row – this time to the St. Louis Cardinals, 19-6. It was the second straight game that the Cardinals failed to score a touchdown and they have just one in their last three games.

The win was a monumental one for the Rams as it marked the first time since 2007 that they had won consecutive games on the road. As for the home team, it was once again the same offensive ineptitude that led to the downfall of the Cards. Between Anderson and Skelton, Arizona passed for just 119 yards and star wide out Larry Fitzgerald touched the ball just four times. The positive here is that the Pitt graduate had 11 targets which is the most times the ball has been thrown his way in quite some time. Even with the increased looks to Fitzgerald, Arizona managed just 14 first downs.

On the defensive side, it was one of the more solid performances the unit has had in the past few weeks. For only the second time this season the Cardinals held a team to under 20 points and, in fact, made the rookie quarterback Sam Bradford struggle. The rookie from Oklahoma finished with just 187 yards passing and an INT after eclipsing the 300 yard mark for the first time in his career last week against Denver. For Coach Ken Whisenhunt, the defense’s effort is something to be proud of as they gave up just one rushing TD and allowed four Josh Brown field goals. In fact, the home team held St. Louis to just 18 first downs in the game and 3.3 yards per carry on the ground.

The season at this point is a lost one for the Cardinals at 3-9 and that means the countdown for a top pick in the 2011 draft begins. As the NFL’s fifth worst team, the one good thing going for Arizona is that the 2011 class is full of top QB prospects in Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Heisman front-runner Cam Newton, Washington’s Jake Locker and Arkansas’ Ryan Mallet. I can confidently say that any one of those QB’s is better than the three on the Cards roster today.

--DJ SIXSMITH
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Week 13 Power Ratings

2010-12-02T22:15:34-05:00

What a week of headlines. Andre Johnson fights Cortland Finnegan, Derek Anderson melts down after the Cardinals loss on Monday Night Football, Andy Reid makes DeSean Jackson cry in front of his teammates, Steve Johnson drops a game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone. The NFL has become a full-fledged reality show.

The top five is still a bit murky, but thanks to some brilliant scheduling by the NFL we get to see the best play the best in Week 13.

32. Arizona Cardinals 3-7
Did you see the Derek Anderson press conference? Even if you have--you know you want to see it again.

31. Carolina Panthers 1-10
Poor John Kasay. His 42-yard game-winning field goal attempt grazed the left upright as time expired Sunday. It's a shame nobody cares that he had already made one field goal from 42 yards and two from 43 yards earlier in the game. Like I said, poor John Kasay.

30. Tennessee Titans 5-6
Oh how far they've fallen. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that we were talking about the Titans being a top five team? The curse of Randy Moss continues!

29. Detroit Lions 2-9
The Lions led this one 17-10 at halftime, but as expected they give up 35 points and the win in the second half. Way to blow it on Turkey Day. The Lions are creeping back toward laughing stock status.

28. Denver Broncos 3-8
What a bad day for Jay Cutler to throw four touchdowns against perhaps the best team in the NFL. I'm so glad my name isn't Josh McDaniels.

27. Cincinnati Bengals 2-9
I just cannot understand how this team only has two wins. It's almost laughable, hold on a second, nope it's definitely laughable. I was able to realize that because I couldn't stop laughing--haha

26. San Francisco 49ers 4-7
Can you believe the 49ers are only one game back of the division lead? Just when things started to turn around they lose Frank Gore for the season with some sort of hip injury. Luckily they have former Pro Bowler Brian Westbrook in the stable to take his place.

25. Seattle Seahawks 5-6
Every single one of the Seahawks' six losses has been by 15 points or more. You think the players are starting to get sick of Pete Carroll's rah-rah attitude? Coaching the 'Hawks is just like an NCAA probation in the sense that it's guaranteed you won't win a championship.

24. Washington Redskins 5-6
The Redskins have no rushing attack whatsoever. McNabb can't do it all by himself, not anymore at least.

23. Oakland Raiders 5-6
Attention Darren McFadden--please pick up a white courtesy phone IMMEDIATELY. Eight carries for 2 yards? Raider nation misses you dearly. Please come back soon.

22. Houston Texans 5-6
Why is everybody so upset about the Andre Johnson-Cortland Finnegan fight? We should be thankful the NFL didn't try to charge us for it! I've paid for fights that have ended quicker.

21. Minnesota Vikings 4-7
Favre scrambled for 10 yards on third and 8 to seal the game for the Vikes. It was rather incredible. He runs like a chandelier with shoes on.

20. Buffalo Bills 2-9
If I were a Bills fan I would only watch the second half of every game. If they could have played two second halves against the Steelers they would have won in regulation.

19. Dallas Cowboys 3-8
A loss is never ideal, but I think Jason Garrett and the Cowboys can take a lot from their meeting with the defending champs on Thanksgiving day. He seems to have great command of his players.

18. Cleveland Browns 4-7
Peyton Hillis (3TDs vs. CAR) has to win Most Improved Player--doesn't he?

17. Miami Dolphins 6-5
What a wild season for the Fish. Five of their six wins have come on the road, leaving them 1-4 at home. HowBizarre.

16. St. Louis Rams 5-6
The Rams lead the NFC West with their 5-6 record. Can you believe that?

15. Jacksonville Jaguars 6-5
David Garrard makes way too many mistakes. There isn't enough talent around him to make up for his lack of awareness.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-4
Playoff hopes are fading fast as Atlanta and New Orleans keep winning. It's going to take 10 or 11 wins to lock up the NFC South.

13. Indianapolis Colts 6-5
Peyton Manning completed 64.5% of his passes, threw for 285 yards, two touchdowns and FOUR PICKS! Things are quickly spiraling out of control for the Colts and I'm not sure there's an end in sight.

12. New York Giants 7-4
Eli Manning did it again--another 4th quarter comeback. He looks like Peyton more and more each week.

11. Kansas City Chiefs 7-4
Who knew Kansas City's offense was so explosive?

10. Green Bay Packers 7-4
The Packers wasted 396 total yards from Aaron Rodgers. Even in a loss he steals the show.

9. Philadelphia Eagles 7-4
The Bears exposed the Eagles dysfunction.

8. San Diego Chargers 6-5
The Bolts defense gave Phil Rivers a break against the Colts by scoring two touchdowns of their own. As if he needed it.

7. Chicago Bears 8-3
I guess it's time to start taking the Bears seriously again. Jay Cutler had his best game in a Chicago uniform and Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers get better every game.

6. New Orleans Saints 8-3
The Saints have won four straight but can’t shake the Falcons

5. New York Jets 9-2
The Jets keep rolling, but I'm still unsure about them

4. Pittsburgh Steelers 8-3
Shaun Suisham kicked four field goals from 40 yards and out, three were 45 yards or longer. That's pretty impressive for a guy I didn't even know was on the team.

3. Baltimore Ravens 8-3
Joe Flacco is quietly becoming one of the league’s top quarterbacks. His QB rating has been over 100 in five of the last six games.

2. Atlanta Falcons 9-2
Matt Ryan is 19-1 at home in his career. That stat is absurd!

1. New England Patriots 9-2
Tom Brady is so good. I just needed to get that out of the way.

--BEAR HEISER
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Cardinals Can Now Focus on 2011

2010-12-02T08:56:32-05:00

The Arizona Cardinals did us one favor by getting blown out Monday night to the San Francisco 49ers 27-6. Their blowout loss allows us now to focus on our holiday shopping on Sundays for the rest of the 2010 season. Now, for the Cards and their fans, the focus can shift to 2011.

Now, that doesn't mean don't support the Cards the rest of this season and still hope for a win before the season closes on Jan. 2. What it does mean, you don't have to be glued to your television Sunday afternoons in December watching the Cards. Watch other teams? Sure. You can still watch the Cards, but the heart attacks and clinging to every play can now end for this year. I'm taking my 3-year old son to see Santa Claus next Sunday. I'm probably missing the first half of the St. Louis game. I'm still interested in seeing how they respond though to the worst loss of the season.

The focus now should be on the 2011 season, assuming there will be one. As of right now, there seems to at least be a lockout in our future, but business must still continue as if there will be a 2011 NFL season. For the Cards to start planning, that does not mean to start throwing every game to finish 3-13. I know there are those of you who think that's what they should to do get into prime position to get the best draft pick possible. I still want to see the Cards be competitive at least once or twice more before this season ends, don't you? Monday night, there was no competitive fire. It looked like the Cards gave up. For the fan’s sake and for their own personal pride, just be competitive.

Back to 2011. Obviously you start at the quarterback position. We've seen what Derek Anderson can do. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he is sticking with Anderson for next week, for now. However, now is the time to give Max Hall a second chance. Let's see what John Skelton can do. I said back in October the time to do this was when the Cards had little or no more chance at winning the division. That time has come. Take a look and see what they can do in the last five games. If they aren't the answer, look at the college quarterback prospects.

Look at the defense, the offensive line, the running game, look at it all. This is the best test you can give unknowns. Live NFL regular season action without having to worry about it counting for anything other than a badly needed win for a team that needs a huge self-confidence boost and a team that needs to do everything it can to show its fan base they still care and plan on fixing what is broken.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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We Need Answers

2010-12-01T09:45:11-05:00

So to put it bluntly, the Arizona Cardinals postseason hopes are all but over after a lopsided 27-6 loss to the 49ers on Monday Night Football.

But the good news for the fans out in the desert is, hopefully, things can be set in place for 2011.

1. Find out if Max Hall or John Skelton is your QB of the future.
Maybe one of them is. Maybe Donovan McNabb or Matt Hasselbeck, if rumors are true, is. Either way, that needs to be settled by Week 17, since Derek Anderson is not our QB of the future (and if Whisenhunt thinks he is, his extended contract won't last).

2. Find out who your TE is.
Ben Patrick failed his big test this season, due to the fact that he can't block. So is Stephen Spach or Jim Dray the guy? That is another question that needs to be answered come Week 17. My money is on the rookie Dray, who's shown good hands when the ball is thrown at him (not a guarantee with Anderson) and was known for his blocking at Stanford.

3. Make some kind of change on defense.
If something's broke, you have to fix it. Or at least that's the theory. And all Cardinals fans know, based off Monday's performance, that something isn't right with the defense (or offense for that matter). So something has to change.

Not sure what it is, because the Cardinals have some skilled individual players, although Darnell Dockett was limited and Calais Campbell was out due to injury. But still, what the 49ers did to the defense Monday night was pathetic. And that's being overly kind. Bill Davis, step up.

I mean, I really could go on here. But unfortunately, it's all been said before, and I've been too negative already. On a positive note...the Cardinals have some great young talent.

LaRod Stephens-Howling is the next Darren Sproles. Actually he may already be.
Andre Roberts has been a solid 4th receiver.
Early Doucet has looked good the last few games.
Michael Adams had a nice interception Monday night.
Daryl Washington looked good in limited action.

So there is that. But there are some serious issues for the Cardinals that everyone knew would surface this year without Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, and Antrel Rolle. I thought they could overcome those guys.

They haven't yet.

--JACK LONDON
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A Monday Night Blowout

2010-11-30T02:29:27-05:00

As the final seconds tick off the clock on the Cardinals sixth loss in a row, you can't help but wonder what exactly is going through Ken Whisenhunt's head.

In fact, there are a few things that are going through my head as well after that what you can't really call a game. It was more of a domination by the 49ers. But anyway, I digress.

1. Why is Derek Anderson still in the game?
Do I need to say more?
What does he have to do to get sat down?
Is Max Hall deathly ill? Can John Skelton not throw a forward pass?
This is getting to a ridiculous point. I was one of the few Cardinals fans, I'm sure, that watched the entire game. I was really just hoping to see someone else come in at QB. It didn't happen.

2. Why is Derek Anderson joking with Duece Lutui?
Anyone who did see the game saw the shot of this as pointed out by Jon Gruden. It was ridiculous. I wish Coach Boone from Remember the Titans had shown up. "You're smiling! Why are you smiling?"

3. The sign that was shown in the second half was very appropriate.
A Cardinals fan carried a sign to the game that read as follows:
"Help wanted for offense/defense."
I couldn't agree more.

4. The Cardinals ran for their worst total since the 50s.
One of our running plays? On a 2nd and 16. And yet we pass on 3rd and 1.
I'm trying to be positive, but I gotta say it.
No wonder Arizona is 3-8.

--JACK LONDON
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Sizing Up The NFC Worst

2010-11-27T09:36:57-05:00

It’s no wonder the Seahawks were in a rather jovial mood last Sunday despite a 34-19 loss in New Orleans.

With the rest of the NFC Worst also losing, the Hawks were still in first place. And, despite being blown out in three of their last four games, the Seahawks know they are the odds-on favorites to win the division -- and host a playoff game for the fifth time in seven years.

At 5-5, they have matched their win total from 2009 and have a favorable finish to the season, with four of the final six games at home.

Three of those teams have winning records, including Kansas City, which comes to Qwest Field this weekend. The Chiefs lead the league in rushing and will not be a pushover by any means. They are coming off a 31-13 blowout of Arizona, a team the Seahawks beat 36-18 two weeks ago, and the Chiefs also have beaten San Diego and San Francisco, as the Hawks have. So these teams certainly seem evenly matched, and the Qwest Field crowd could be the deciding factor.

If the Seahawks can win this weekend, they should be able to get to 7-5, because they host the ridiculously bad Carolina Panthers in Week 13.

In Week 14, the Hawks go to San Francisco, where Matt Hasselbeck has traditionally won – when he has played. He didn’t play there in 2006 or 2008 because of injuries, and last year he suffered broken ribs and missed the second half of what turned into a loss. But he led the Hawks to wins there in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007, so if he stays in the game, the Hawks should win.

In Week 15, the Hawks host the best team in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons. Chalk it as a loss – unless the Hawks put together the perfect game in all three phases.

Then they go to Tampa Bay to face the surprising Bucs. This will be the fifth straight year the fellow 1976 expansion teams have played each other. The Hawks won in Tampa in the 2006 season finale and opened with a home win against Tampa in 2007. Then they lost in Tampa in 2008 and were upset by the Bucs at Qwest last season as Hasselbeck threw four interceptions. Unlike last season’s meeting, this one might actually meaning something.

The Hawks finish the season at home against St. Louis in a game that might not matter or might decide the winner of the NFC Worst. You’d have to give this one to the Seahawks.

So, if the Hawks beat the Chiefs this week, they will probably win four of the final six to finish 9-7 and win the division. But even 8-8 should be good enough, provided they win their two division games, because the Rams have a tough finish and Arizona and San Francisco are two games behind the Hawks.

The Rams have a tough road, with four of their final six away from St. Louis. That includes games at Denver, Arizona and New Orleans the next three weeks. They probably will be lucky to win three more games, which would put them at 7-9. They would have to get very hot for it to even come down to the final game in Seattle.

Arizona and San Francisco are both 3-7, and they play each other twice down the stretch. Arizona has the better chance to catch Seattle, with four of the final six at home and not a single winning team on their slate. But they also were swept by the Seahawks and would need to finish with a better overall record. That means they would almost have to run the table, and they don’t have the quarterback to do it.

The 49ers still have four division games left, plus hopeless games at Green Bay and San Diego. Even if they win all four division games, they’re not likely to win the division unless they also can knock off the Packers or Chargers.

Add it all up, and, even with a 3-3 finish, the Hawks look like locks to win the division.

--CHRIS CLUFF
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Week 12 Power Rankings

2010-11-25T10:25:06-05:00

32. Carolina Panthers 1-9
They may have lost by 24 points, but they sure made Baltimore work for the win.

31. Arizona Cardinals 3-7
The Cardinals have now lost five straight. In those five games, they've given up 154 points, an average of 30.8 per game.

30. Detroit Lions 2-8
For the third straight game, the Lions D lacked ferocity in the second half. No surprise – they lost all three.

29. Minnesota Vikings 3-7
Did Favre drive Chilly to the airport or unemployment office?

28. Cincinnati Bengals 2-8
Cincinnati led Buffalo by 17 at halftime and still managed to lose by 18. A negative 35-point swing.

27. San Francisco 49ers 3-7
Does the 49ers front office have the balls to fire Mike Singletary?

26. Denver Broncos 3-7
You can't let Philip Rivers throw four TDs and allow a 100-yard runner.

25. St. Louis Rams 4-6
Stick a fork in 'em

24. Cleveland Browns 3-7
The Browns could be close to .500 if they knew how to finish a game.

23. Houston Texans 4-6
Speaking of teams that can't finish games - Houston is up four with 55 seconds left and lets Mark Sanchez trot his Jets down the field for six.

22. Seattle Seahawks 5-5
Hasselbeck had a monster game: 32-of-44 for 366 yards, 1 TD and a 104.9 QB rating. And the Hawks lost by two touchdowns.

21. Tennessee Titans 5-5
Does Vince Young's move to the IR mean he's done in Tennessee? Could be.

20. Washington Redskins 5-5
Just when you think the Redskins have nothing left, they go and steal a win.

19. Miami Dolphins 5-5
Tyler Thigpen didn't stand a chance against the Bears defense.

18. Buffalo Bills 2-8
Impressive win for the RED-HOT Bills. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Steve Johnson connected for three touchdowns in the second half.

17. Dallas Cowboys 3-7
Jon Kitna had 4 TDs and a 129.7 passer rating. They are a completely different team under Jason Garrett.

16. Oakland Raiders 5-5
Note to Tom Cable: Darren McFadden MUST touch the ball more than 12 times for your team to win. Write that down if you think there's a chance you'll forget.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars 6-4
If, in September, you thought the Jags would be leading the AFC South now, you were lying to yourself. But they are so, you know, good pick.

14. Kansas City Chiefs 6-4
I think it's time we talk about Dwayne Bowe possibly being the best wide receiver in football. He leads the league with 11 touchdowns on only 45 catches.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-3
Mike Williams' urine came back clean, so the Bucs are safe. Is this the most underrated team in the NFL?

12. Indianapolis Colts 6-4
Peyton Manning led the Colts on two 70-yard TD drives, and it still wasn't enough because he threw a pick with the game hanging in the balance. Seems like he only makes mistakes against the Patriots.

11. San Diego Chargers 5-5
The Chargers are getting guys back from injury at just the right time.

10. Chicago Bears 7-3
If Jay Cutler and da Bears can score 16 points a game from here on out, they'll be tough to beat.

9. New York Giants 6-4
With all the baseball played in New York, you'd think Eli would know how to slide! Somebody please call Joe Girardi for lessons.

8. New Orleans Saints 7-3
Marques Colston finally broke out of his slump with 8 catches for 113 yards and 2 TDs. The Saints need him.

7. New York Jets 8-2
For the 3rd time in 3 weeks, Mark Sanchez led his team to victory in the final seconds. He's the real deal.

6. Baltimore Ravens 7-3
The Ravens scored 2 TDs on defense. Take those away and they only win by 10.

5. Atlanta Falcons 8-2
It's official, the Falcons are really good. I wasn't sure they could win on the road, but after seeing them man-handle the Rams, I'm a believer.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-3
In the six games since Ben’s return, Mike Wallace has 24 receptions for 548 yards (22.83 avg.) and 6 touchdowns (29,53,39,15,33,52).

3. Green Bay Packers 7-3
The Packers look scary good. Brad Childress can thank Aaron Rodgers for getting fired.

2. New England Patriots 8-2
Danny Woodhead presents a threat that is very difficult to defend.

1. Philadelphia Eagles 7-3
Mike Vick committed his first turnover of the season. Still, the Eagles are the team to beat until I see otherwise.

--BEAR HEISER
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Bear’s Best Bets

2010-11-25T09:52:30-05:00

I'm starting to get the feeling that the top 10 teams in the NFL are interchangeable right now. Take your pick: New England, Pittsburgh, the Jets, Baltimore, Green Bay, Philadelphia, the Giants, Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago.

Any clear cut favorites? It's one big smorgasbord of wins and losses. We will probably have a better idea of things after the Week 12 action.

Top Five Matchups to Watch in Week 12
1. Philadelphia at Chicago
2. San Diego at Indianapolis
3. Atlanta at Green Bay
4. Tampa Bay at Baltimore
5. Jacksonville at New York Giants

Top Five Quarterbacks in Week 12:
1. Philip Rivers
2. Ryan Fitzpatrick
3. Drew Brees
4. Jon Kitna
5. Mark Sanchez

Top Five Running Backs in Week 12
1. Adrian Peterson
2. Chris Johnson
3. Arian Foster
4. Peyton Hillis
5. LeGarrette Blount

Top Five Wide Receivers in Week 12
1. Malcom Floyd
2. Dwayne Bowe
3. Brandon Lloyd
4. Steve Johnson
5. Mike Wallace
-- BEAR HEISER
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Bottom Feeders on Monday Night Football

2010-11-25T09:35:08-05:00

Enough dwelling on the past. You can't change the past. You can only control the future. I know, deep, but what else am I going to say? Give up? Hardly.

The Arizona Cardinals (3-7) host the San Francisco 49ers (3-7) this weekend and for the 4th straight season, the Cards and Niners will clash on Monday Night Football.

As bad as it has been for the past five weeks for the Cardinals and pretty much all season for the Niners, both teams have a chance to do some damage and catch up to the division leader Seahawks, who as of right now, own the tie-breaker on both teams. The last time these two met on MNF in Glendale occurred in 2008 when the Cards escaped with a last-second stop at the goal line to defeat the Niners 29-27.

Some things have changed for both teams, mainly their standing in the NFC West, as both will fight to not only get closer to the division top, but also avoid being alone in last place. For the Cards, Derek Anderson is going to need to find a way to avoid the San Francisco rush. Right now, his offensive line isn't helping much. They also need to find a way to keep a balanced attack. For the Niners, they need to be both opportunistic with big plays, because the Cards give them up at an alarming rate, and also need to give Frank Gore the ball. Gore only rushed the ball 12 times for 23 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday.

As for what to expect on Monday? I have no idea. If the Cards are to win though, they are going to need to keep focus, find a way to limit the penalties, and most of all, have fun. When the Cards and 49ers get together it is always entertaining. At this point that's all either team should be focused on, is having fun. You won't win any games if you aren't having fun. To have fun though, you have to execute your plays and limit your mistakes. It should be fun on Monday night.

For Cardinals news on Twitter, follow @AZCards_Live.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals, check out FanSided's Raising Zona blog.

-- SCOTT ALLEN
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Week 11 Upon Further Review

2010-11-22T22:25:45-05:00

I like Mondays. After a win, though. Not a loss.

But when you put things in perspective for Arizona, and put aside the 5 game losing streak (tough, I'll admit), there are some things to think about:

1. The Cardinals Are Still in the NFC West Race.
As bad as the Cardinals have been playing, they actually can still win the NFC West. They have a fairly easy schedule, and could win out should they win three games in a row. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here, but it is nice to have something to hope for. Basically, we need to not tie Seattle, and win out. The good news is the Cardinals do not play a single winning team. But it doesn't mean their road is easy. They play San Fran twice, St. Louis, Dallas (who's been playing better), Denver, and Carolina. As well, the Cardinals have three games in a row at home where they can get some momentum going.

2. Derek Anderson Will Start Next Week against the 49ers.
For many reasons, including the one above, it looks like Anderson will make the next start. I don't like it personally, and think the team should (and will) go back to Max Hall or give John Skelton a shot if they lose this game. In fact, I've changed my mind on this today.

But Anderson hasn't been completely at fault for the team's struggles in the last three games. Ever since throwing two big interceptions against Tampa, Anderson has been fairly efficient, although still inaccurate. But he had a few dropped passes Sunday, along with a fierce wind in the stadium.

So, it looks like Whisenhunt will stick with Anderson this Sunday. But should he fail to win, I would be highly surprised if Hall or Skelton were not put in.

3. Younger players are getting big opportunities that will help down the road.
Daryl Washington has gotten a lot of playing time this season, and should be a great linebacker within a couple of seasons. Andre Roberts has gotten a lot of time due to injuries, and looked good. Michael Adams started for Greg Toler because of injury (just found that out today), and looked good. I hope that will continue personally.

And an interesting note at tight end, Jim Dray has been getting more playing time because Ben Patrick, well, frankly can't block. Dray was known in college for this, although he has struggled at first. Still, all these young players getting opportunities and make progress has to be exciting to you as a Cardinals fan.

--JACK LONDON
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Stats Can Be Misleading

2010-11-21T23:12:45-05:00

Arizona had more time of possession than Kansas City Sunday, more offensive yards, and zero turnovers.

And lost 31-13.

So why did Arizona lose then? Well, a few more things give you the bigger picture.

1. Arizona couldn't finish drives.
The Chiefs finished the drives they started. Meanwhile, Arizona had several drives into Chiefs territory that they did not finish. A couple of field goals could've changed the outcome of this game.

2. Arizona couldn't stop the run.
They had been doing better in this area, but everyone, even Cardinals fans, knew this one was going to be tough. And it was. The Chiefs averaged 5.5 yards a carry on 29 carries.

3. Arizona couldn't stop the flags.
One stat that corresponded with the score? The penalties. The Cardinals, who had improved in this area, had 11 for 96, as opposed to the Chiefs, who had 5 for 23.

4. Arizona couldn't get to the QB.
Another telling stat? Zero sacks. You will rarely win with zero sacks.

5. Arizona couldn't convert third downs.
This has been a problem all season for the Cardinals. This time, they were 4 of 15. Of course it doesn't help when Anderson can't complete passes on first and second down.

I could go on here, but wanted to point out a few positives as well.

1. Andre Roberts is looking good.
Granted, it may be because Anderson, who was the second stringer in camp, is comfortable with him. But still, 6 catches for the rookie is rather impressive.

2. The Running Game was solid.
The Cardinals themselves averaged over 5 yards a carry. But again, they didn't get big runs when they needed to, and they were in a hole early, so they had to pass more.

3. The Pass Defense was better.
Dwayne Bowe aside, the pass defense was pretty good. Matt Cassell didn't really beat them on the day. However, as mentioned before, he didn't have much pressure on him.

--JACK LONDON
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