Cardinals Vs. Seahawks: 5 Positives From Their 23-20 Victory
While 8-8 and no trip to the playoffs isn't what we all wanted, could there have been a better game to end the season? Watching last nights game was like watching a football before Goodell turned the league into touch football. If felt like their two dozen huge hits, a dozen personal fouls and more pushing and smack talking than a half dozen WWF fights rolled into one.
After the break, five positives:
1. Larry Fitzgerald shows us why he's worth 200 million dollars: It seemed like every catch Larry made was huge. Two awesome one-handed catches, one of them diving. Bouncing off big hits and rolling for yards. Larry ended the day with 9 catches and 146 yards. Larry for the season had 1400 yards on 80 receptions, 8 TDs with a average of 17.6 yards per reception, a career high.
2. Larod Stephens-Howling: While LSH didn't break the 100 mark he had 21 carries for 93 yards, both career highs. LSH filled in for Beanie Wells and played a good game. LSH is a well loved player for the Cardinals and it was good to see him have a good game.
3. Daryl Washington, Darnell Dockett and the Defense: It's always hard to seperate one player from the defense. A good defense works as a unit and not as a individuals and yesterday the defense played spectacular. Washington had 11 tackles, 1 sack, and a PD that could have been a game securing INT. Dockett was as disruptive as he always is and made several big plays. The defense did give a lot of yardage up on the ground but held when it counted, only allowing a TD's on a broken plays. Vonnie Holliday also had a good game filling in for an injured Calais Campbell. The defense also had 4 sacks.
4. The offensive line??? It is weird to say this but the offensive line played a good game. Levi did allow a sack because he picked up the wrong guy, but overall the line protected Skelton and gave him time to through (though he also made a lot of his own time with some epic get-off-me-son maneuvers). They opened up holes for the run game and when it counted, in OT, they paved a path for LSH and allowed Feely to make a chip shot to win the game.
5. Kent Whisenhunt and coaches: The only thing I cannot give a positive is at times the play calling was stale. Overall though the team played with a ton of passion and fought like it was the playoffs. It was a great game and the coaches deserve credit for keeping this team up and not letting them sink.
It was a good season and it has set my personal expectations high for next year.
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Stephens-Howling was phenomenal making his 39 yard run.
Otherwise the run game was pretty much stuffed all day. Take out that one play and he averaged only 2.7 yards per carry. Watching Lynch plow through tacklers all day made it stand out all the more. I really hope we get a healthy season from both Wells and Williams. It will make a huge difference for the offense.
+1
The offensive line wasn’t particularly good in the run-game, and LSH was too busy moving laterally most of the game to actually gain yards. The only big runs came when Anthony Sherman blasted defenders out of the way. He deserves more credit than anyone mentioned here.
I agree in a sense
But LSH was asked to do more than he normally has been and did well.
by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 2, 2012 1:26 PM MST up reply actions
Well let's not forget,
Seattle’s line also consists of 3 DT’s
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
He seemed to get tripped up right away
Surprised Smith didn’t get more carries.
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
Smith didn't get any carries.
I was expecting to see more of him with Beanie out. Thought they could have used Sherman and Taylor a bit more. Trying to run Stephens-Howling up the gut on third and short wouldn’t have been my first choice. The Skelton keeper on 4th down was a better call.
I was wondering why we never saw him
He was in the backfield a few times, but no carries.
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
Patrick Peterson
Blocked a field goal and nearly broke another punt return for a touchdown. Two critical plays in the game. Did it on a bad ankle too.
Fitz
Did all that with a bruised lung and was coughing up blood on the sideline! I have SO much more respect for him now.
No honorable metion,
of a 1st quarter touchdown? Come on people time to look at the big picture.
Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.
If Skelton could hit the broad side of a barn this game wouldn't be close.
Just like many of the other games we have been in. He is lucky he has Fitz, Petersons returns and the defense to constantly bail him out.
by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 3, 2012 8:50 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

by 




















