Arizona Cardinals Week 12 Power Play

Enough can not be said for the ground production Arizona Cardinals Running Back Beanie Wells had in week 12 at the St. Louis Rams. While playing on an injured knee and with a sophomore Quarterback who wasn't doing him any favors Beanie ran for 228 yards and one touchdown breaking the Arizona Cardinals single game record, setting a new career high for himself, and accounting for 64% of the Cardinals offense against the Rams. The week 12 power play goes to Beanie Wells' 53 yard run just minutes after a tackle that looked like it was going to end Wells' 2011 season and resulted in a fumble recovered by the Rams. On the Cardinals next possession, a surprise was seen, as Wells was back in the game and breaking out a 53 yard run, pushing through the pain of his knee and shredding the label that he was soft.

Wells' week 12 performance continued a recent tradition of Cardinals Running Backs performing well in St. Louis as shown by previous performances by former Cardinal Tim Hightower. But this performance was different from Hightower's previous high rushing yards and touchdowns, because Wells did it on an injured knee, without a real threat from a Quarterback, and in the midst of an up and down career where people have questioned his draft status and his durability at the professional level. We can only hope that after 228 yards and the determination shown to get back on the field after reinjuring his knee that Wells has entered a new chapter in his career as a running back.

The honorable mention this week goes to RB Larod Stephens-Howling for pulling off a five yard run on 3rd and 4 with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Too many times this year the Cardinals have failed to convert in those closing minutes in tight games and have ended up giving the ball back to their opponents only to allow last minute points to steal another win away. LSH showed patience, power, and determination to run the draw and get five and half yards and seal the game for the Arizona Cardinals. From the fans we pass a huge thank you to the Running Backs for showing what they can do when the game rests on their shoulders.