Week One Review: Winners/Losers from Cards-Seahawks
By Scott Allen
Sept. 9, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb (4) signals to teammates during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE
The bottom line this week is the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20-16 yesterday at University of Phoenix Stadium. No matter how you slice or disect this one, nothing will change that fact. The Cards are now 1-0 heading to New England to play the Patriots. First though, a review of this weeks winners and losers.
Winner:
Kevin Kolb. Here’s a guy many never expected to reach this designation all season much less in week one. However after spelling an injured John Skelton in the fourth quarter, he went 6-8 for 66 yards in a beautiful touchdown drive in the no-huddle. It was by far the best looking drive of the day. Kolb, whether he’ll admit it or not, probably feels a little redemption from the way he’s been treated by fans. The booing by Cards fans when he entered was un-called for.
Loser:
The replacement referees. No excuse to give Seattle a fourth timeout there on Seattle’s last drive. They had the time to get it right and still didn’t. I thought there was a supervisor there to avoid just a situation like this? Apparently he was asleep at the wheel too.
Winner:
Cardinals bend but don’t break defense. They unfortunately had a couple of short fields to work with thanks to the Cards special teams, which I won’t call winners or losers this week. They tipped a couple of kicks, but gave up a long kickoff return of 85 yards and a punt return of 52 yards. That will need to improve immediately to have a shot of winning in New England.
Loser:
Seattle coaching. How do they not score at the end of the game? They shouldn’t have abandoned the run. Marshawn Lynch was able to pretty much run at will. Dropped passes. That’s how they lost.
Winner:
Cardinals pass protection. I do want to give props to the Cards offensive line even though the run blocking wasn’t very good. They gave Skelton a lot of time to throw in the first half. They did the same in Kolb’s one touchdown drive. A complete reversal from what we saw in the preseason.