Cardinals Vs. Bengals: 5 Positives From Their 23-16 Road Loss

It's always a challenge trying to find positives in a loss. The beginning of this game was frustrating to watch to and ended as usual in a dramatic, hair-greying flurry of events. The loss officially eliminated the Cardinals from playoff contention and the chances of a winning record. Despite these things there was a silver lining from yesterdays game.

Beanie Wells: Beanie is the first 1000 yard rusher for the Cardinals since Edgerrin James back in 2007. Well's has played through injury and showed some moxie this season bulling over LBs and DBs like a freight train.

Larry Fitzgerald: This will be short as what else can really be said about him? While only having thirty yards in the first three quarters he finished the game with 6 receptions, 106 yards and a TD.

Kerry Rhodes: To be honest, I hadn't really noticed the absence of Rhodes as Rashard Johnson filled in adequately, especially as he accrued more game experience. Today Rhodes reminded us why we traded for him having a solid day recording 5 tackles, two passes defended and two fumble recoveries.

Patrick Peterson: Losing him to an achilles injury is just shy of heartbreaking but thankfully it doesn't appear to be a serious injury. Only time will tell. Before the injury, Peterson played star WR and formal conference rival A.J. Green as well as any could holding him to one catch (the other was on A.J. Jefferson) and almost collecting a INT if not for a dumb mistake on Adrian Wilson leading with his helmet on a QB hit. Peterson has progressed at an incredible rate and has lived up to the hype that has sorrounded him on draft day.

Andre Roberts: To have a third offensive player on the list after a loss seems to be silly but Roberts deserves the accolade after stepping up his game in the last half of the season. Roberts caught 6 passes for 75 yards off an erratic John Skelton. Over the last four games Roberts has 20 receptions for 258 yards and 2 TDs, averaging 13 yards a reception.

On a separate note, while many may be blaming Doucet, I find it hard to. Tripping like he did is stupid ridiculous but if not for 3 Skelton INTs we would have never been in that position. Skelton again played a horrible 3 quarters and a brilliant fourth quarter. Next week we play a tough Seattle team, hopefully we will have positives based on a W and not on a loss.