At 1-2, There Is Still Plenty Of Hope For Arizona Cardinals
By Scott Allen
Sep 22, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) in the fourth quarter of their game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Sure the Arizona Cardinals lost three players to bad injuries on Sunday in New Orleans, two of them to season-ending injuries and one lost his middle finger tip. However, at 1-2, the Cards have company. There are 10 other teams in the NFL at 1-2. The NFC West has three of the 1-2 teams. Seattle is undefeated. They will be tough however the Cards still have them twice on the schedule, including a Thursday nighter in four weeks.
This week the 1-2 Cards are in Florida practicing before their game this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs announced today that quarterback Josh Freeman will remain the starter. The schedule is favorable over the next few weeks to right the ship. They play at home against the Carolina Panthers on October 5th. Although their defense is pretty darn good, they shut the New York Giants out 38-0 on Sunday, at least that game is in the friendly confines of University of Phoenix Stadium.
It’s important to get victories in each of these next two to get back on the winning side of things. A road game looms at San Francisco after that and then that Thursday night tilt at home against the Seahawks. No doubt both of those games will be tough and although the Niners are struggling right now, it is still at Candlestick and that is a very difficult place to play for anyone.
Seattle may be 3-0 but remember two of their victories are over Carolina 12-7, a game they were lucky to get away with and then a 45-17 romp over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cards have both of them still to play on their schedule. I am never a proponent of saying it’s still early, especially in the NFL, however the Cards will have their chance to play the same guys the Hawks did. If they win those games, then they stay right with the Hawks. Easier said than done and right now its hard to say what to expect from the Cards with all the personnel changes. One thing I know, the Cards get linebacker Daryl Washington on October 5th in that Carolina game. It won’t be a moment too soon.