Arizona Cardinals salvage season with road victory
By Jim Koch
It wasn’t real pretty but the Arizona Cardinals defeated a division rival despite the absence of quarterback Carson Palmer
It was late in the first half and the Arizona Cardinals were once again struggling. The San Francisco 49ers had just taken a 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert to Jeremy Kerley. It was hard to imagine the Cards scoring points with Drew Stanton at the controls, so things were looking bleak.
The Cardinals needed a big play to change the momentum. They got it.
On the 49ers ensuing possession, linebacker Chandler Jones delivered big time for his new team. He was able to bat a Gabbert pass into the air and then into the waiting hands of Calais Campbell. A huge interception which set up the Arizona offense at the Niners 21-yard line.
On the very next play Stanton found Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown, tying the game right before the half. The Cardinals played much better in the second half and went on to win the contest 33-21, improving their record to 2-3.
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A loss would’ve probably wiped out the season. History says that teams that lose four out of their first five games most likely don’t make the playoffs.
One thing that last night’s game showed was how important Carson Palmer is to the team (as if we didn’t already know). Stanton struggled to complete passes, despite throwing for two scores. He’s consistently inaccurate and his errant passes cause many a drive to fizzle out.
The Cards will now have 11 days before they play their next game. This will benefit Palmer and other injured players, giving them extra time to heal. Fans can only hope that Stanton’s services will no longer be needed, that Palmer will get healthy and stay healthy.
The season is not over Cards fans, not by a long shot. The victory over San Francisco has put them back on the map. And after a horrendous 1-3 start that’s all we can ask for.