New Orleans Defeats Arizona, 31-24

by tomvanwyhe on Dec 17, 2007 5:03 AM MST in General Arizona Cardinals News

It's officially over now. There was a part of Arizona fans -- at least for myself -- that felt a sort of faint hope the team would be different this season. And after a few weeks the season was shaping up that way. Unfortunately, injuries and the team's uncanny knack to blow games that matter most only made 2007 the most painful. It only seemed fitting this weekend the Cardinals would lose to another team fighting for a playoff spot. In a game of "who wants it more" New Orleans was that team.

It was a game the Cardinals were evenly matched with the Saints. Unlike New Orleans, however, the Cardinals committed costly penalties and Kurt Warner threw his weekly interception and fumbled for the tenth time this season.

"It was just too many mistakes for us today," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I really believe that we are on the right track. We're getting players in the right situations (but) we're not making those plays. ... Maybe we could use a little more confidence."

Drew Brees, meanwhile, was darn near perfect. Completing 26-of-30 for 315 yards and two touchdowns, Brees ensured a victory for the Saints and kept Arizona at bay.

Not that the Cardinals didn't have opportunities. In fact, midway through the fourth quarter the Cardinals took possession of the ball on a crucial fumble at their own 43 yard line with the game within seven points and with all momentum in their favor. Three plays later and it was 4th-and-13, time to punt with six minutes on the clock.

And while the New Orleans running game should have been the least of Arizona's worries, the team managed to allow Aaron Stecker a pair of scores on the ground and, late in the game, he pounded his way to a crucial first down that sealed the win.

"We've lost a lot of games we should have won this year," Warner said. "The No. 1 thing we cannot allow ourselves to do is go backward. We can all sit around and say we're out of the playoffs. ... The bottom line is, if we are going to be a playoff team, we are going to have to find a way to win."

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Thank you

For finally providing an SBN site for the Cards. I look forward to checking in to see what's new around here and hopefully the site will catch on.

As for the game: Total, repetitive disappointment once again. Is it safe to say that this season has absolutely been destroyed by injuries and idiotic mental breakdowns? It is so tough to root for this team sometimes.

by AZSEAfan @ Revenge Of The Birds on Dec 17, 2007 3:15 PM MST reply actions

Thanks

For checking the site and I hope you'll return often in the future!

As to the game and season, yes it's safe to say that mental breakdowns have been the reason for the failures. Ultimately, it hurt to lose Matt Leinart for the season, if only because he's missed a full season of play and, as we've witnessed, Kurt Warner isn't what he used to be.

The other thing that has hurt the team a lot is the lack of a running game. I was happy to see that the Edge had a pair of 100 yard games and he opened the season strong, but since then he hasn't been successful on the ground. Part of the reason is the Cardinals haven't run the football enough, despite the promises of Whisenhunt. He's the type of back who get stronger as his total carries build.

The good news is that the team showed some real promise this season. And I think the team can only be better in year two as they continue to accept Whisnenhunt's philosophies.

Go Cards!

by tomvanwyhe on Dec 17, 2007 4:57 PM MST reply actions

Yes and no

I agree that the Cards haven't run the football enough. They are 11th in the NFC in total attempts and only 14th(out of 16) in yards per game. On paper, it is totally inexcusable when you consider the pre-season preachings. Reality tells a different story though. Thanks to many 1st quarter foul-ups, we've found ourselves playing catchup in way too many games which has forced us to rely on the passing game. It seems that when we've had leads to maintain, we have done a great job of forcing the ball down the field on the ground.

It also doesn't help that Levi missed a few games right when he was starting to get into a rhythm and then the never ending penalties that are constantly putting the guys in 2nd and 3rd and long situations.

I still think that this Cards team was better off with Warner at the helm than they would have been with Leinart. I really hope Matt may have learned a thing or two even without getting that valuable playing time.

by AZSEAfan @ Revenge Of The Birds on Dec 17, 2007 5:12 PM MST up reply actions

Fair enough

I think it's fair that the Cardinals have been forced to pass the football more frequently because of -- as you put it -- "fouled up" first quarters and halves. So to that extent I can forgive Whisenhunt.

And the point about Warner being the better option is something I also totally agree with this season. The question coming into 2007 is whether the team was playing for 2007 or the future. Whisenhunt made it clear early on he isn't overly concerned with the future as he pulled Leinart in and out of games and going forward with a dual-quarterback system. Head to head Warner is a better quarterback than Leinart this season, but as one regresses as age does its thing, the USC alum will only get better. Unfortunately, a season's worth of play for Leinart would have made him that much better for next season and beyond.

Like you said, I hope he learned a few of the finer points of the game while watching on the sideline this season and studying film in his free time.

Go Cards!

by tomvanwyhe on Dec 18, 2007 6:14 AM MST reply actions