Cardinal Of The Week: Week Sixteen

This is the first time the Cardinals have lost in a while, but at least they were able to make things interesting before making the loss to the Bengals even more excriciating. And at least I am now able to fill this article with more people than I would have if the game ended after the third quarter.

Last week, O'Brien Schofield also won his first CotW poll with 36% of the 230 votes closely followed by John Skelton with 33%.

Beanie Wells - 14 carries for 53 yards

He didn't necessarily have the best game, but Beanie wound up going over 1,000 yards for the first time in his young career early in this game so I have to put him on here. He also did help spark the offense to start off the second half with a couple of good runs in a row, but then Skelton threw another pick taking away the momentum he was starting to build.

Larry Fitzgerald - Six catches for 105 yards, Touchdown (11 targets)

At some points in this season, I have been more impressed by him than I was in 2008. His numbers (especially catches) aren't the same, but it is what he is doing with inconsistent Quarterback play and the lack of an established number two receiver that is impressing me. The guy just goes out there every week, plays his heart out, and makes jaw dropping catches and big plays (some of the best catches I have ever seen from him came this year too).

This week, he helped start the comeback with his 30 yard catch and run that also showed he is faster than people give him credit for. And then he just kept getting open to make big plays for the offense including a catch where the Bengals defense completely forgot to cover him and he got to the one yard line. Fitz showed some of why he makes the big money on Saturday.

Calais Campbell - Seven tackles, Sack, two pass deflections, forced Fumble, QB hit

If this guy doesn't get resigned someone should be fired. The first priority during the offseason should be giving Campbell a new contract. He does it all, gets sacks, makes big tackles, bats down passes, and he also forced the fumble that should have led to the game tying touchdown for the Cardinals. But as Rich Eisen put it, the Buffalo Wild Wings guy tripped up Doucet with the sprinklers so it was all for naught.

Kerry Rhodes - Five tackles, two pass deflections, two Fumble recoveries

Another solid game from Rhodes after his return from an injury. Did a nice job in coverage, and he also recovered the fumbles that Campbell and Adrian Wilson forced late in the game to give the Cards a chance at the comeback.

There was also a play where it looked like he injured the foot that caused him to miss a good chunk of the season as well, but he came back from it. Nice toughness Kerry. A bunch of us thought that he would be out for the game again after we saw it happen.

Honorable mention for Daryl Washington as well. He had a decent game and I considered putting him here, but it was kind of tough to do that after watching Jerome Simpson do a front-flip over him for a Touchdown.