If I heard about the Arizona Cardinals woes on the east coast one more time, I’ll tell you, no story has been more talked about over the past two seasons than that one. Really, can we finally just shut the heck up about that? Oh, and while we are at it, can we please shut NBC analyst Cris Collingsworth up? He is probably the most annoying announcer in sports. How many negative things does he need to say?
Well, at this point, who cares. The Cards coming up with the biggest win of the season is all that matters. The Arizona defense finally suffered some injuries that could have really set this team back in the fourth quarter tonight. DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie injured his foot, however his replacement Michael Adams did a good job keeping the New York Giants receivers at bay. Matt Ware had a great poke through the arms of Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw to cause a late fumble.
The Cardinals have now won three straight road games for the first time since 1987, which was before the franchise moved from St. Louis in 1988. The schedule sets up well over the next month to really take control of their own destiny. The next five:
Carolina, @ Chicago, Seattle, @ St. Louis, @Tennessee. Those teams currently have a combined record of 7-24. If the Cards can’t sweep through that over the next five weeks, then tonight’s win means little. They need to beat the teams they should beat. The Chicago game could be tough and the Cards can’t rest on the records going to Tennessee. Carolina always proves to be a tough opponent, so it will be important for the Cardinals to prepare and play just like they did tonight. Good teams, no, great teams, do that.
If the Cards can continue to confuse good quarterbacks such as they did this evening to Eli Manning, then the defense should be able to control the line of scrimmage like they did for the majority of tonight’s game, especially in the second half, against the remainder of their schedule.
Let’s also give it up to Cards running back Beanie Wells. He rushed for 67 yards and 5 yards per carry. He did fumble once, which luckily enough bounced out of bounds, however he put stiff arms up and ran with purpose. He scored his first touchdown of the season. He is looking like a good, not great, investment at this point. Just hang on to the ball Beanie!!
Go Cards!!!