Merry Christmas everyone who is a big enough Cardinals addict to still visit this site on Christmas morning.
Here is your little roundup of links, now get back to your families (after reading all of our fine articles on RotB of course).
Arizona Cardinals News:Fourth-Quarter Magic Falls Short
Struggles create too big a hole to rally in 23-16 loss to Bengals
Arizona Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Cincinnati Bengals
The Arizona Cardinals mounted another furious late-game rally, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 23-16 loss to the Bengals on the road. The Cardinals fell to 7-8 on the season and were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Down 23-0 heading into the fourth quarter, the NFL's best comeback team nearly pulled off its most improbable one yet. Arizona took advantage of Cedric Benson's two fumbles, getting a pair of touchdown passes by John Skelton and Jay Feely's field goal with 3:16 left. The Cardinals had their chance to pull even. Early Doucet got behind the defense on a fourth-down play from the Cincinnati 17-yard line, but tripped at the goal line and fell, letting the pass fall incomplete.
Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson hurt against Cincinnati Bengals
Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson hurt his left Achilles tendon while making an interception Saturday and left in the third quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Peterson picked off Andy Dalton's underthrown pass and pulled up while running. He fell to the ground and grabbed his leg. The interception was nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty.
Leap Leaves Imprint In Cincy
Notebook: Peterson strains Achilles in loss to Bengals
Word From the Birds Blog - Bengals aftermath
It’s Christmas Eve, 30,000 feet above Missouri according to the "moving map" in the seatback in front of me, and at this point, it’s tough to not think more about my kids and the next 24 hours than the Cardinals. That’s what happens when the finish doesn’t go the Cards’ way – a Cardiac Cards game in reverse. All the components were there for another amazing rally. I have no doubt, frankly, that had Early Doucet caught that ball, or the Cards had been able to find their way to a tying score, that they would have won in overtime. But that didn’t happen, and after so many of the late breaks that went their way over the past month, the tangling of feet just seemed bound to happen. The law of averages and all that.
Too little, too late for the Cardinals on multiple fronts
Early Doucet took the fall. He redefined road trip. He delivered an awkward, horrible gaffe Saturday, the kind that once defined a hapless organization. But don't pin this one on Early. Blame a 23-16 loss to the Bengals on a quarterback who only performs late. "The first three quarters were forgettable, to say the least," Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald said. We know the feeling.
Arizona Cardinals-Cincinnati Bengals play of the game
The setup: The Cardinals trailed 23-16. There was 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was 4th and 5 from Cincinnati's 17-yard line.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Post-game spread
With the Cardinals eliminated from the playoffs, I think back to the six-game losing streak. Several players during that stretch commented about how much of the season was left, 15 games, then 14, then 13, etc. That's the way they had to look at it, but there's a lesson in losing early, too. It hurts. A close loss in October counts as much as one on Christmas Eve.
Cardinals-Bengals rewind: What we learned
Kent Somers breaks down what we learned in the Cardinals' 23-16 loss to the Bengals, which eliminated them from postseason contention.
Wrap-up: Bengals 23, Cardinals 16 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' 23-16 road defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16:
Doucet’s trip sets up Bengals in playoff position | ProFootballTalk
Skeltonmania almost did again. Almost. Down 23-0 to start the fourth quarter, the Cardinals fell short 23-16 against the Bengals after another improbable fourth quarter comeback came just short.
Arizona Cardinals vs Cincinnati Bengals Recap - December 24, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Though the final score read 23-16, the Bengals' victory over the Cardinals on Saturday will be remembered not so much for the final tally or the fact that it was a win, but that it provided the image of Jerome Simpson soaring over a defender with a full forward somersault to get into the end zone. Oh, and it also gave the Bengals the edge to claim the AFC's second wild card spot.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals - Recap - December 24, 2011 - ESPN
The Bengals had just enough left to stay in the thick of playoff contention. Andy Dalton threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Cincinnati withstood yet another fourth-quarter comeback by Arizona, holding on for a 23-16 victory Saturday that put the Bengals in the driver's seat for a wild card. Another small crowd at Paul Brown Stadium saw the Bengals (9-6) secure only their third winning record in the last 21 years and take the wild card lead after the Jets lost 29-14 to the Giants.
ANIMATED: Jerome Simpson Flips Into The Endzone - SBNation.com
You've seen guys like Henry Ellard do flips to celebrate touchdowns. You've even seen guys flip into the endzone. Maybe you've even seen them do it to avoid a tackle. But, man, this has to be one of the first times you've seen a guy flip over a tackler to score a touchdown AND land on his feet. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson did just that against the Arizona Cardinals.
Cardinals vs. Bengals highlights
Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes, and Cincinnati withstood yet another fourth-quarter comeback by Arizona, holding on for a 23-16 victory that kept the Bengals in playoff contention.
Cards Daily - Postgame Reaction CIN
The Cardinals suffer a tough loss to the Bengals, dropping them out of playoff contention. Coaches and players give their reaction in the locker room.
Fitzgerald 30-yard TD reception
Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald takes a short pass from QB John Skelton and sprints into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
NFL News:
Rapid Reaction: 49ers 19, Seahawks 17 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers following their Week 16 game Saturday at CenturyLink Field:
Wrap-up: Steelers 27, Rams 0 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams following their 27-0 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16:
Adrian Peterson Suffers Knee Injury; Team Reportedly Fears Torn ACL - SBNation.com
Adrian Peterson's 2011, already marred by an ankle injury, has likely been ended in Week 16 by a gruesome knee injury.
Tony Romo Leaves Week 16 With Hand Injury; X-Rays Negative - SBNation.com
Tony Romo will not return to Saturday's game after hitting his hand on a defensive lineman's helmet. X-rays were negative, but the hand swelled severely.
Cowboys-Giants flexed to Sunday Night Football | ProFootballTalk
The results of Saturday’s games created a lot compelling playoff scenarios for Week 17. But only one game next week was guaranteed to include a win-and-in scenario if played on Sunday night. And so that game, Cowboys-Giants, will be played next Sunday night.
Bill Cowher Talking With Chargers, NY Post Claims - SBNation.com
A report claims Bill Cowher has already talked with the Chargers, despite Norv Turner not (yet?) getting fired.
SPOTTED: Random Tim Tebow Fan In Detroit - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
This young man looks as though he made a wrong turn somewhere. It's the only explanation for showing up at Ford Field in a Santa hat and Tim Tebow jersey.
VIDEO: Danny Ware Hits Innocent Bystander Tom Coughlin On Sidelines - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
Tom Coughlin's Giants were doing their level best to make Saturday's game against the Jets as painful as possible to endure. And then Danny Ware hit Coughlin while being pushed out of bounds to reinforce that concept. Video after the jump.
Brandon Jacobs, Rex Ryan Seem Like Best Friends - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
Brandon Jacobs and Rex Ryan exchanged words after the Giants dropped the Jets on Saturday, and they weren't happy words. Jacobs gave Ryan an earful, even threatening to punch the Jets coach in the face, though both sides went to their corners and cooler heads prevailed. At least for now. This kind of sums up the conversation between the two. Seems nice and civil.
Brandon Jacobs to Rex Ryan: "It’s time to shut up, fat boy" | ProFootballTalk
The Jets-Giants trash talk didn’t end after the Giants win on Saturday. According to multiple reports, Brandon Jacobs and Rex Ryan got into a yelling match after the game.
Jets upset Giants by putting curtains over Super Bowl logos - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
The New York Giants have the odd distinction of being visitors in their home stadium on Sunday, thanks to an interconference matchup with their fellow Met Life Stadium tenants, the New York Jets. They were treated like it before kickoff.