12-13-10: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings

After the Jay Feely show ended, I think we all woke up happy today.

Broncos vs. Cardinals - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
A kicker scored Arizona's first touchdown in three games. Jay Feely 's scamper was the kick-start the Cardinals sorely needed. Feely became the fourth kicker in 40 years to run for a touchdown and matched his career best with five field goals, including a 55-yarder, in the Cardinals' dominant 43-13 victory over the Denver Broncos that ended the Cardinals' seven-game losing streak.

A Good Day All Around
The kicker scored a touchdown and, for a while there, everything else too.

Wrap-up: Cardinals 43, Broncos 13 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
What it means: The Cardinals finally ended their losing streak, which had run to seven games. They can exhale. This performance qualified as an ugly one most of the way, but Arizona needed a victory any way it could get one. Breaking it open in the fourth quarter had to feel good. The Broncos came along at right time. They fired coach Josh McDaniels days earlier and continued to flounder.

Arizona Cardinals roll Denver Broncos to end skid
No $500 bottles of champagne were popped and no confetti fell, but the Arizona Cardinals had something to celebrate Sunday. They snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Denver Broncos 43-13 at University of Phoenix Stadium. When you haven't won since Oct. 10, even a victory over the lowly, dysfunctional Broncos is reason for jubilation.

John Skelton's performance re-energizes Arizona Cardinals and the fan base
It has been a rotten year for Cardinals quarterbacks. The original starter is lost in a fog, battered by concussions. The backup dislocated his shoulder and walks around with his arm in a sling. The carnage was enough to make big-hearted Deuce Lutui seek out John Skelton's parents before Sunday's kickoff. "I told them, 'Don't worry about your baby. He's going to be OK,' " Lutui said. Re-energized fans in the Valley surely are nodding their heads in agreement.

Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely's gloves come in handy in win
So that's why Jay Feely wears gloves, eh? He didn't want to give away trade secrets, but people have wondered why the Cardinals' kicker would wear a pair of gloves on game day.

Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald sets team receptions record
For a few agonizing minutes Sunday, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald thought he had set a team record and made a colossal mistake all in the same play. Fitzgerald needed one catch to move past Anquan Boldin as the franchise receptions leader, and he appeared to get it on the Cardinals' second play. But he dropped the ball, and officials ruled it a fumble. Coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged and the call was reversed, sparing Fitzgerald some embarrassment.

KTAR.com - A day of records for the Cardinals in win over Broncos
It was a day for records for the Arizona Cardinals in their 43-13 win over the Denver Broncos.

Jay Feely makes history for Cardinals - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Jay Feely became the first NFL kicker since 2001 to score a rushing touchdown when the Arizona Cardinals' kicker supplemented his five field goals with some unexpected production on the ground Sunday. Better yet for Feely, his team won the game, claiming a 43-13 victory over Denver at University of Phoenix Stadium. The ESPN Stats & Information blog has some good info from Elias Sports Bureau putting Feely's performance in perspective:

Steady Skelton Shows Enough
Rookie quarterback doesn't get flustered in first NFL start -- a win

Feely's Fantastic Show
The play is called "Wolverine," and that makes sense, since the man running it went to the University of Michigan. The Cardinals run it frequently in practices, waiting for the right moment, and the right moment had been close before – only to have a run to the end zone by kicker Jay Feely foiled by a penalty or something happening at the last second. Then the ball sat on the Denver 5-yard line Sunday.

Video Gallery
Cards beat Broncos 43-13 to end losing skid

Video Gallery
Jay Feely off the field

Video Gallery
GameDay: Broncos vs. Cardinals highlights

NFL Videos: Cardinals postgame press conference
Cardinals react following game with Broncos

NFL Videos: GameDay: Broncos vs. Cardinals highlights
Highlights of the Cardinals' 43-13 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Unbelievable video of Metrodome collapse from inside stadium - Shutdown Corner - NFL  - Yahoo! Sports
The Metrodome collapsed early Sunday morning after a blizzard dumped 17 inches of snow on Minneapolis. Because of the damage to the stadium, Monday's scheduled New York Giants-Minnesota Vikings game was moved to Detroit's Ford Field Cameras were positioned inside the stadium and caught the collapse on tape. To call the video incredible would be an understatement. It looks like the beginning of Armageddon

Broncos aftermath
Well, it’s been a while since the aftermath was after a win, and not aftermath of a disaster. More to write, but in a good way.

Gerald Hayes, Derek Anderson both inactive
The Cardinals have put on the inactive list, and it carries one slight surprise: linebacker Gerald Hayes is out as a "healthy scratch." So my thought Friday that Daryl Washington would get more defensive work comes true in a big way. Hayes has struggled of late, so I am sure they want to get Washington’s speed on the field. Quarterback Derek Anderson is also inactive (and not the third quarterback) due to concussion symptoms. So the Cards have just two QBs today.

Arizona Cardinals Blow Out Denver Broncos, 43-13 - SB Nation Arizona
Kicker Jay Feely made up 25 of Arizona’s 43 points, including a touchdown run and five field goals to help the Cardinals defeat Denver, 43-13, at University of Phoenix Stadium.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Post-game spread
Well, just when you think this season can't possible get more bizarre, the Cardinals blow out the Broncos, 43-13. That's their largest margin of victory since Oct. 17, 1993, when they beat the Redskins, 36-6. Go figure. In a losing season that includes seven consecutive losses, the Cardinals blow someone out by 30 points. With a rookie QB from Fordham making his first start.

What is quarterback Tim Tebow's future with the struggling Denver Broncos?
As the rest of the beaten, battered and busted Broncos, with bowed heads and slumped bodies, walked slowly through the bowels of the stadium, one player sprinted down the hall and turned the corner into the locker room. Tim Tebow's run was the Broncos' longest and best of the Broncos' longest and second-worse day of the season. It also was Tebow's only rush of the game. He threw a few passes ... on the sideline late in the third quarter after Kyle Orton injured his ribs. But, yet again, Tebow didn't start, didn't play, didn't even get a sweat stain on the most popular-selling jersey in the NFL.

KTAR.com - Cardinals beat Broncos in Skelton's first career start
Going into Week 14 the Arizona Cardinals were on a seven-game losing streak. Their last win - a 30-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints - coming in rookie Max Hall's first career start. Fast forward almost two months to the day and the Cardinals get a win in another rookie quarterbacks first career start. This time it's John Skelton.

KTAR.com - Doug: Notes from Cardinals win against Broncos
- Opinions Entries at ktar.com

KTAR.com - Espo: Kicker was offensive spark for Cardinals
The only people who should be excited by someone who kicks for a living are the ones dating or married to a Rockette. With that said, somehow I was enthralled by the performance of a kicker all Sunday afternoon.

KTAR.com - Burns: The Jay Feely Show in Glendale on Sunday
To sit here and say I knew it was coming would be a lie. But a little birdie told me weeks ago that the Cardinals were itching to bust out a Jay Feely fake field goal. That little birdie….was Jay Feely. So I sat on that little nugget, as you have to, and waited and wondered if the Cardinals would ever have the opportunity to bust it out. The Cardinals busted it out alright…for a touchdown that busted the Broncos, ended the seven-game losing streak and provided respite in this dreary Cardinals season.

Confusion reigns in muddled NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Week after week, like fools, we come seeking clarity. We find only confusion.

NFC West race tightens | ProFootballTalk
Someone has to win the NFC West. We just don’t know which team it will be. And whether that team can muster even an 8-8 record.

Arizona Cardinals-Denver Broncos play of the game
Arizona Cardinals-Denver Broncos play of the game, The Cardinals had the ball on the Denver 5-yard line. There was 4:09 left in the first half. It was 4th and 2.

FOX announcers believed Redskins scored on a fith down - Shutdown Corner - NFL  - Yahoo! Sports
Thanks to confusion in the FOX announcing booth, viewers watching Sunday's game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins thought a potential game-tying touchdown occurred on an extra "fifth" down. With the Redskins down seven points and driving for the equalizing score, the team gained a first down at the three-yard line after a Donovan McNabb(notes) pass to Anthony Armstrong(notes). The FOX booth, unaware that the play resulted in a first, believed the next play was second-and-1 instead of first-and-goal. As the plays continued, FOX showed the wrong down and the booth of Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa announced the action as such. So, what they thought was third down was actually second down, and so on. You can imagine the confusion that ensued:

Week 14 early game quick slants | ProFootballTalk
While the Eagles and Giants smile after watching Sunday’s results, here are your Week 14 early quick slants:

Jets can forget about division crown as offensive slump continues | ProFootballTalk
There was no late game magic for the Jets this time. Instead, there were constant dropped passes, misfired throws, and poor communication from the entire Jets passing game in a 10-6 l0ss to the Dolphins. Mark Sanchez completed just 17-of-44 passes for 216 yards and an interception in the loss. He fumbled four times, losing one.

Rex Ryan almost benched Mark Sanchez | ProFootballTalk
Rex Ryan said after Sunday’s disappointing loss that Mark Sanchez was hardly the Jets’ only problem. (That’s true.) Then again, Ryan said he almost benched Sanchez for 40-year-old quarterback Mark Brunell. As our buddy Bob Glauber points out, Sanchez has thrown eight touchdowns with eleven interceptions in the last seven games. He also fumbled four times Sunday, and has nine fumbles for the season.

Packers playoff hopes take hit, more early-game analysis - Andrew Perloff - SI.com
Quick-hitting insight from today's 1 p.m. games ...

Metrodome roof damaged, NFL considering other sites for Giants-Vikings game - NFL - SI.com
Brett Favre is getting help from the Minnesota Vikings' medical staff, the athletic trainers and perhaps even the weather gods as he tries to keep his incredible consecutive starts record going.

Cowboys running back asks Vick for autograph after game - Shutdown Corner - NFL  - Yahoo! Sports
If you can't beat 'em, get their autograph.

Week 14's five least valuable players - Shutdown Corner - NFL  - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more

Week 14's five most valuable players - Shutdown Corner - NFL  - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more

Vick: Autograph request was a "first" for him | ProFootballTalk
Michael Vick has a way of making other NFL players look ordinary during a game, then turning them into fans once the game is over. As we mentioned last night in our game recap, Cowboys running back Tashard Choice asked Vick to sign his glove after the game so Choice could give it to his nephew.

Cowboys say DeSean Jackson is "disrespectful" | ProFootballTalk
For Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, scoring a 91-yard touchdown Sunday night wasn’t enough: He also had to show up the Cowboys by stopping short of the goal line and falling backward into the end zone. That drew a 15-yard celebration penalty, and it also drew some criticism in the Cowboys’ locker room after the game.

Seahawks vs. 49ers - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Not only is Alex Smith playing for a job next season, he might be helping coach Mike Singletary save his. A switch of quarterbacks named Smith did wonders to keep San Francisco's hopes alive.

Rams vs. Saints - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Malcolm Jenkins is starting to play more like the five-time Pro Bowl safety he replaced in New Orleans' starting lineup. Jenkins intercepted two passes near the Saints' goal line and returned one of them 96 yards for his first career touchdown in the Saints' 31-13 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Buccaneers vs. Redskins - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
If ever an extra point was going to go awry, this was the time.

Browns vs. Bills - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
A comedy of errors by the Cleveland Browns was just what the Buffalo Bills needed to come away with another victory.

Packers vs. Lions - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
The Green Bay Packers couldn't find the end zone without Aaron Rodgers ' arm to carry them. The Lions knocked Rodgers out of the game and snapped a trio of dubious streaks in a 7-3 win Sunday. Drew Stanton threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Heller midway through the fourth quarter and Detroit held on.

Raiders vs. Jaguars - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
As the Jacksonville Jaguars trudged into the locker room down 10 points at halftime, Maurice Jones-Drew called an impromptu meeting. The Jaguars responded even better to his motivational speech than the running back planned.

Bengals vs. Steelers - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Carson Palmer talked all week about how former college teammate Troy Polamalu is the NFL's best defensive player. Then Palmer went out and helped make a strong argument that Polamalu is exactly that.

Falcons vs. Panthers - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
It was cold and damp, more than half the seats were empty and an infighting, one-win team playing out the string was on the other side of the field. Cause for the NFC's top team to come out flat? Not for these Atlanta Falcons , thanks to a big play on the first snap from scrimmage.

Patriots vs. Bears - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Bad weather didn't bother Tom Brady . The big, bad Bears didn't, either.

Dolphins vs. Jets - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Mark Sanchez slowly picked himself off the turf while the Miami Dolphins celebrated around him. Six days after an embarrassing loss, the New York Jets were left trying to explain another one, falling 10-6 at a soggy New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday.

Chiefs vs. Chargers - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Quarterback Matt Cassel didn't travel to San Diego after having an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday. It looked like the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs stayed home, too.

Eagles vs. Cowboys - Recap - December 12, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Michael Vick faked a handoff and threw deep to DeSean Jackson , a perfect strike for 60 yards. With that one play, the Philadelphia Eagles sent the Dallas Cowboys a strong message - we're coming after you.