Arizona Cardinal Of The Week: Week 15
It wasn't the most impressive of wins, especially since it was against the Detroit Lions - yeah the same Lions that couldn't win a game last year and only have two wins this season. Regardless, the Cardinals did just enough to edge out their opponent, and eventually crown themselves NFC West Division champions for the second year in a row. During the game, several players stood out as key contributors, but none as much as the five below.
Beanie Wells: It's hard to argue that anybody had a better day then the rookie running back. Wells carried the rock only 17 times but was able to tack on 110 rushing yards - the first 100 yard game of his career - and added a 2nd half touchdown that helped the Cardinals get back into the game. The biggest contribution that Wells brought to the game was the big play. He had four runs over 10 yards, and has 25 total for the year. It doesn't look like it will be long before we see Wells as the Cardinals starting running back.
Anquan Boldin: It's still surprising just how much Boldin benefited from resting back in week 9 against the Bears. Since then, in six games he's caught 39 passes for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. On Sunday he made several big catches, including the game-winning touchdown with less then two minutes to play. Anquan only needs 125 yards in the next two games to eclipse 1,000 yards for the 5th time in his 7 year career.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: We touched up on his performance earlier but we'll go over it again in case you missed it. DRC had interceptions against two different quarterbacks on the day, and also had 4 passes defensed. The biggest note on the game has to be his play on the Lions best player, Calvin Johnson. Johnson was held to just 3 catches for 35 yards, one of his worst performances of the season.
Adrian Wilson: His stats don't stand out, but it's hard to leave Adrian Wilson off the list when he became .5 a sack away from joining the 20/20 club. It's a prestigious club to be in, considering most safeties will never reach 20 of either category. Wilson doesn't have as many sacks as we'd expect, but It is obvious that teams game plan against Wilson when he's blitzing the quarterback. A Dub also added 5 more tackles to give him 70 on the year, which is the second most on the team.
Ben Graham: Graham gets nominated once again for another very impressive performance. The Aussie knocked 3 more punts inside the 20, putting his league-leading total at 37. Graham has been one of the most consistent players on special teams, and he hasn't had a touchback since week 5 against Houston(only has 3 on the year).
As always, if you feel anybody should be added to the list just drop a comment below. Who did you vote for and why?
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Comments
Has got to be Beanie.
Beanie not only had the 18 yard td at the beginning of the 4th but he also had 57 rushing yards in the 4th. Those yards would be huge as they would help lead to the game winning touchdown by Q.
Wells
I’m with Pyro, Wells is the guy. He was dominant when he got the call and demonstrated that he could potentialy carry the team if given significant oppurtunities to tote the rock.
Okay you got me
Yes I know it was against the Lions. They’re still an NFL team albeit not a very good one.
I understand Beanie driving the offense for the points, but it goes to DRC...
Without his INTs the game could have been very scary. Imagine the fuel that would have been added to the fire if the Cards had beat the Vikings and then lost to the Lions?
Ugh ::tugs at collar:: that would have been terrible.
BTW, Breaston deserves a stern talking to. That muffed punt was BS.
Section 102, Row 18
+1...apparently 90% of fans only give a rat's ass about offense.
100 yds + a TD for starting back on the winning football team should be considered just an average day at the office…
however, 2 INTs plus shutting down a top 5 receiver is an OUTSTANDING game for any cornerback.
Section 135, Row 35
by AJ BirdWatcher on Dec 21, 2009 5:48 PM MST up reply actions
I gave him my vote based on how he played in the 4th quarter.
He played a huge part in why we won this game.
A little exaggerated
“100 yds + a TD for a starting back on the winning team should be considered just an average day at the office”
Maybe for a true running team, but that hasn’t exactly been our MO over the past few years. Whenever a passing team gets that kind of production from a back it’s pretty significant, especially when the TD he scored put us back in front after a 17-point letdown. He also got his 100 yards on only 17 carries.
Having said that, DRC had a great game – I thought it was pretty much a toss-up between the two.
Fair enough LB
I never meant to take anything away from Beanie’s stellar game. I think in the upcoming seasons 100 yd games will become more of the norm for him, and it won’t be as big a deal to everybody
My primary point was that fans are so in love with offense & scoring points that individual defensive performances such as DRC’s last sunday are often vastly overshadowed by their offensive teammates.
Section 135, Row 35
by AJ BirdWatcher on Dec 23, 2009 9:03 AM MST up reply actions
No doubt
that offensive overshadows defense. Just didn’t want you thinking that those of us who voted for Beanie didn’t give DRC’s performance strong consideration.
Yeah, seeing as how this is our 2nd 100+yd rushing game for a single back this year
We’re a bit starved for them, eh?
Hard not to vote for Beanie
A Card running back with 100 yards, a TD run that was fantastic, and didn’t fumble? Hell, Warner could have thrown for 400 yards and a 5 TD’s and I would still pick Beanie.
A running game is what got us through the playoffs last year…
They are who we thought they were!
Ben Graham, Boldin, DRC, Beanie
It was good to see these guys do there thing and deliver us this win.
Beanie had a great game but DRC was able to do everything he did while nursing turf toe. Shockey from the Saints had the same injury and watched his team get their first loss while DRC kept the Cards in the game. And is it just me or is anyone else wondering why Mike wasn’t added to this? He came in and did a great job for his first game with the Cards. Just saying!
Remember no matter where you go in life...there you are!
Good catch, Nugent played well
He’s a great replacement kicker and will serve very well until Rackers gets well. His FG was clean and quality. It’s too bad he didn’t have the range on kickoffs that Rackers does.
Section 102, Row 18
I went with Beanie
I can’t believe that he dropped as far as he did in the draft. Getting him is a steal as far as I’m concerned sicne he should have been a top 10 pick. And it was nice to see him taking the picture with the kid before the game.
Although, DRC is a close second.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.








![That NFC West preview from EA sports I promised all of you [thanks to Operation Sports.com for posting the video on Youtube]. Cardinals start at 0:43 in the video, and you get to hear The Whiz talking about the Beantower. Its a shame his section isn't a little bit longer.
And nice job cheaping out EA by just using the Collinsworth commentary from the game on Stephen Jackson.](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/132051/2_small.jpg)










