Arizona Cardinals-Oakland Raiders Game Balls
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals defeated the Oakland Raiders 24-13 on Sunday to go 5-1 and maintain first place in the NFC West
The Arizona Cardinals managed the victory over the Oakland Raiders well but these guys listed here who are getting game balls were above the rest on Sunday. Sure, the Cards left some points out there but it was enough to overcome a Raiders team that is better than the 0-6 their record shows.
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Offensive game ball:
Cardinals running back Andre Ellington. Ellington was a workhorse on Sunday. He carried the ball 24 times for 88 yards and also caught six passes for 72 yards. He even overcame cramps in the second half to help the Cards to the victory.
Ellington did not score a touchdown but one of those reasons why was his act of selflessness. He took himself out when the Cards got close to the end zone because he wanted the score to go to running back Stepfan Taylor, who also had a nice day himself as Ellington’s backup.
Defensive game ball:
Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote. He had a team-high four tackles, one of which included the team’s only sack of the day. Foote put pressure on all day as did many Cards players but Foote was the only one who was able to get a clean hit on Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on Sunday.
Special Teams game ball:
Cards kicker Chandler Catanzaro. I may have given it to Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski if the ‘Cat Man’ had not been given the chance to kick a field goal late in the fourth quarter. Not only did the 41-yard kick give the Cards a two-score lead over the Raiders, it meant he was 15-15 now on the season, which ties St. Louis Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein for the record for most consecutive field goals made to start a career.