Who had the better game: Steve Breaston, or Adrian Wilson?

by JoeCB1991 on Sep 13, 2010 12:31 AM MDT

ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 12: Adrian Wilson #24 of the Arizona Cardinals knocks down the final pass of the game against the St. Louis Rams during the NFL season opener at the Edward Jones Dome on September 12 2010 in St. Louis Missouri. The Cardinals beat the Rams 17-13. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

The Cardinals had an ugly 17-13 win over the Rams to open the season, but two players stood out in a big way.

Adrian Wilson made his impact first. After a fumble by Tim Hightower and a good return by the Rams, Wilson blocked the field goal by the Rams after leaping over the Rams Field Goal team (This team is good at blocking kicks, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had one in 08 and 09, Calais Campbell had two in 09 and another one during the Preseason), he also had an incredibly athletic Interception early in the 1st half, along with a Sack where he leaped into Bradford. Then he sealed the game (although the pick that Kerry Rhodes had late in the game should have ended it, but Hightower "fumbled" after his knee hit the ground on the next play and the Refs didn't overturn it. Just like in the Bears Preseason game) by picking off Sam Bradford on the final play.

Steve Breaston had a great game too. He had 7 catches for 132 yards, and he was also making some great adjustments to balls that were a little bit off target at times. When the passing game was struggling for most of the game, Breaston brought the offense back to life be getting open and making plays. He also made one incredible play that kept the score from becoming 20-10. Derek Anderson fumbled after a sack in the 3rd quarter, and it looked like it was going to be recovered for a Touchdown, but right before the Defender got to the Endzone, Breaston swatted the ball out of his hands and the Cardinals recovered it.

They both had a great game, but I thought Wilson had a slightly better one, and he should be the Defensive player of the Week for the entire NFL.

Poll

Who had the better game: Wilson, or Breaston?

Adrian Wilson: 2 Tackles, Sack, 2 Picks, Blocked Field Goal

275 votes

Steve Breaston: 7 Catches for 132 yards (long of 35), Tackle and Forced Fumble that prevented a Rams TD

339 votes

614 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

A-Dub

Breaston had a great game….A-Dub was flat out dominant.

RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Sep 13, 2010 12:38 AM MDT reply actions

AW

Breaston played exceptional and proved any doubters that may exist wrong. Honestly considering how optimistic many of us were about our offense and how bad it was at times he single handily saved us from losing. His big plays and big catches deserve it.
But AW played on a different level. His desire to win tonight was inspiring. If he continues to play at this level he will secure himself a bid as one of the best safeties all time. I know I am going a bit overboard but he hes has consistently preformed, with no injuries, on a team that was once the laughing stock of the league to one feared in the playoffs. He reminded me why I love football.
Ok, enough man love.

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." - Bill Shankly

by Jesse Reynolds on Sep 13, 2010 12:52 AM MDT reply actions

How can you really vote for just one

Breaston partially saved the game by running down the fumble recovery and knocking it lose in the end zone for a touchback not to mention his receiving yards,and Wilson with two ints a sack and a blocked fg..So I vote Wilson for the defence and Breaston for the offence

by cardsfannc on Sep 13, 2010 6:11 AM MDT reply actions 2 recs

Wilson set the tone for the D...Breaston for the O

Agree. My vote is for Wilson, but I think its great that the voting is so close. Both guys showed up and provided the necessary spark to carry the team….

by Cardzfan on Sep 13, 2010 7:42 AM MDT reply actions

Breaston

Not to take away from AW at all, but he made the plays we have come to expect from him. He did have a big impact while fighting leg cramps late in the game. My vote goes to Breaston because he prevented a back-breaking TD and provided the spark we needed on offense late in the game to take the lead.
Wilson made one game saving play and Breaston made two (arguably of course).
Knowing our team, had St. Louis scored that TD on the fumble by Anderson the momentum shift would have been overwhelming. No doubt in my mind we would have had a very low chance of overcoming that.
Both played amazing, but if I had to choose, Breaston.

by cardsfanforlife24 on Sep 13, 2010 9:45 AM MDT reply actions

Same

The direct result is that he saved a TD which would’ve made us lose. I’m pretty sure all of Wilson’s plays probably saved us a good 6-7 points total also. But in the end, we sort of expected it from Wilson, where Breaston showed that we can expect him to do those things in the future.

by KholdStare88 on Sep 13, 2010 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions

Wilson saved the game three times.

With that blocked kick, the Rams would have been 3 points closer and would have kicked a field goal on their second to last drive instead of going for it on 4th down. The interception at the beginning of the game probably took away at least a field goal, and the pick at the end of the end preserved the win. Breaston had an amazing game, but he didn’t do much I didn’t expect him too, except for the amazing strip at the endzone. It’s close, but AW takes it.

by AlaskanCard on Sep 13, 2010 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions

His interception at the end of the game was a fluff stat

It was just a question of which red jersey was going to come down with it.

by badmatty53 on Sep 13, 2010 12:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Yes, they both saved the game

It was just a matter of opinion on who had the more impressive save, and I picked Breaston.

by KholdStare88 on Sep 13, 2010 4:15 PM MDT up reply actions

I don't think

a blocked field goal at the beginning of the game can count as ‘saving the game’. it may have changed the game because they got 3 points instead of none but you assume we play the exact same game whether we blocked the field goal or not which is impossible, the momentum shift alone changes that. My point is that knowing the tendencies of the Cardinals, had the Rams gotten a TD off the fumble combined with our poor offensive performance, we would have crumbled and allowed the Rams momentum to carry them to a win (arguably of course and luckily it’s irrelevant).
I’m just glad we have two amazing players who are giving us a reason to debate this.

by cardsfanforlife24 on Sep 13, 2010 6:49 PM MDT up reply actions

Very hard to pick one or the other

They were both integral to the win. Without Breaston’s ball strip near the goal line, the Cardinals might have lost. Without Wilson’s last play interception, there was a chance the Cardinals could have lost. But, I voted for Breaston.

Bloggin' 'bout AZ sports ... SB Nation Arizona

by Justin Burning on Sep 13, 2010 11:49 AM MDT reply actions

I'm glad the poll is close

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Sep 13, 2010 12:14 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

That's an incredibly hard decision

I wish there was a “Both” option. I chose Steve Breaston, though, because without him, DA would have been -132 yards, and he did save the Cardinals from going down 20-10.

But Adrian Wilson played as good, in my opinion. He blocked a field goal, intercepted the ball twice, sacked Sam Bradford, and he also saved the game with that interception at the end. So, in my opinion, they’re both players of the game.

by Skii on Sep 13, 2010 12:18 PM MDT reply actions

Tie

A Dub stopped literally anywhere from 9 to 17 points from happening from the 3 he directly took away to his first pick that looked like a rams scoring drive to the game winning throw that was taken away by his second pick.
Breaston had a career day in Rec Yards and big plays on 3rd down and also had 2 of the biggest plays on the defensive side of the ball as well tackling the would be score on the first fumble recovery and then stripping the second one as the big d lineman was rumbling bumbling stumbling into the end zone so both where key players

The Devil Birds just got cha

by DaCards on Sep 13, 2010 1:17 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

Yeah I forgot about Breastons tackle on that first fumble

I voted for Wilson but that might have to tip it in Breastons favor.

by Birdman from Mesa on Sep 13, 2010 4:51 PM MDT up reply actions

Tie

A-DUB dominated, even with cramps, but Breston’s forced fumble was the play of the game.

by chrisjmtz on Sep 13, 2010 5:53 PM MDT reply actions

Wilson

Breaston had a great game. Maybe he surprised people who aren’t Cardinals fans. To me he performed as expected. The strip at the goal line was awesome. His play all night was inspired. With Fitz playing injured and Doucet out of the game he did carry the offense.

Wilson played on a level beyond expectation. In addition to the sack he forced Bradford to dump the ball when he blitzed. That’s not on the stat sheet. It should have been intentional grounding too. Another example of the jacked up officiating yesterday. The first interception was an incredible play on the ball. Bradford was admittedly concerned with A-Dub for the entire game. It’s damn close really. I give the edge to Wilson as he impacted every defensive play by his presence alone. That blocked field goal was killer too.

by hadrarius on Sep 13, 2010 6:48 PM MDT reply actions

Wilson!
He had an amazing game, loved seeing his stats pop up in my fantasy league too.
I loved that sack on Bradford, right in his face.

by Pantology on Sep 13, 2010 9:18 PM MDT reply actions

Pumped

that both of my NFL teams won, albeit in ugly fashion. The Cards beat the Rams, and the ’Skins upset the ’Girls in DC. (Alex Barron, you awful, beautiful son of a bitch!)

Mr. Science Boy

by DbacksSkins on Sep 14, 2010 3:15 AM MDT reply actions