12-5-11: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Cowboys Aftermath

Whoo!!!! Great win for the Cardinals over the Cowboys, it was nice to them to help us out by icing their kicker, but still great win. I have also noticed from some media people on ESPN and NFL Network that Ray Horton and the defense is getting some praise right now.

So, time for some happy links.

Arizona Cardinals News:

Impossible To Predict
Stephens-Howling's 52-yard TD gives Cards 19-13 OT win over Cowboys

Defense Continues Hot Streak
Notebook: Kolb rallies in Dallas win; Roberts torches Cowboys again

Arizona Cardinals defeat Dallas Cowboys in overtime
The Cardinals continued their unpredictable climb to respectability on Sunday through a method that's becoming a cliche: beating the Cowboys in the final seconds at University of Phoenix Stadium. Running back LaRod Stephens-Howling turned a short reception on a screen into a 52-yard touchdown in overtime to give the Cardinals a 19-13 victory. It was the Cardinals fourth victory in their past five games and improved their record to 5-7. "You know what? Overtime games here are crazy," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I'm just glad we've won more than our share of them." If it's a Cardinals and Cowboys game, count on more drama than a soap opera on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals beat the Cowboys a year ago with a field goal in the final seconds and the year before that with a blocked punt in overtime. That's three games decided on the final play. This one ended, oddly, in the same manner as the Cardinals previous home game, a 19-13 overtime win against the Rams.

Wrap-up: Cardinals 19, Cowboys 13 (OT) - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' performance during their game against the Dallas Cowboys at University of Phoenix Stadium in Week 13:

Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals - Recap - December 04, 2011 - ESPN
The Arizona Cardinals did it again to Dallas. For the third time in their three meetings since 2008 -- all of them in Arizona -- the Cardinals beat the Cowboys in excruciating fashion. LaRod Stephens-Howling caught a short pass from Kevin Kolb and zipped 52 yards for a touchdown in overtime to give the Cardinals a 19-13 victory Sunday, snapping the Cowboys' four-game winning streak.

Dallas Cowboys vs Arizona Cardinals Recap - December 04, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
LaRod Stephens-Howling turned a screen pass into the game-winning 52-yard touchdown in overtime, as the Arizona Cardinals beat the visiting Dallas Cowboys, 19-13. The past two weeks, the Cowboys relied on the leg of rookie kicker Dan Bailey to emerge with an overtime win at Washington and a last-second triumph over Miami on Thanksgiving. He was in position for another game-winning kick after Dez Bryant's 15-yard reception on 3rd-and-11 gave Dallas a first down at the Arizona 31. With seven seconds left in the fourth quarter and the teams deadlocked at 13-13, Bailey drilled a 49-yard field goal. However, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett called a timeout. Bailey's second attempt fell short and sent the game to overtime.

Cardinals' LaRod Stephens-Howling turns catch-and-run into game-winning touchdown vs. Cowboys
LaRod Stephens-Howling couldn't remember how many would-be tacklers he eluded on his frantic, 52-yard catch and run Sunday that beat the Dallas Cowboys in overtime.

Word From the Birds Blog - Cowboys aftermath
After LaRod Stephens-Howling did his primal scream after his touchdown and then was mobbed by his teammates – and it was a serious mob – linebacker O’Brien Schofield grabbed The Hyphen and tossed him over his shoulder like he was his little brother. He carried him "probably, like, 15 yards," Schofield said. "I was so happy. It was one of those moments where you gotta pick him up. He put the team on his back on that play." What exactly are the odds of two straight home games ending in a Cardinals’ 19-13 overtime win?

Kevin Kolb's triumphant return a big stepping stone for the streaking Arizona Cardinals
The big prize was captured 750 miles away, where the 49ers clinched their first NFC West title in nine years. But in Glendale, Cardinals fans were treated to a nifty consolation prize. They celebrated the return of dignity, the return of unfettered optimism, the return of overtime heroics in the Valley. And after a dramatic 19-13 victory over the Cowboys, they clearly were buoyed by the return of their starting quarterback.

Dallas Cowboys' timeout shelved chance for victory
The Cowboys will be forced to relive the final seconds of regulation after making some strange choices and allowing a possible victory to slip away. On third and 11, quarterback Tony Romo completed a pass to Dez Bryant for 15 yards, putting the Cowboys at the Arizona 31. Instead of calling a timeout with about 20 seconds left, Romo spiked the ball with 7 seconds remaining. As the play clock was winding down, coach Jason Garrett called time out, in effect icing his own kicker, Dan Bailey. "We were at about 6 (seconds) and we were still getting settled in," Garrett said. "So we banged the timeout just to get an opportunity to snap well and get the kick as clean as possible." Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said he was glad "they iced the kicker" because it saved him from doing it.

Arizona Cardinals-Dallas Cowboys play of the game
The setup: The game was tied 13-13. Dallas had the ball on the Cardinals' 31-yard line. There were seven seconds left in the game.

Arizona Cardinals rewind: What we learned in 19-13 overtime win over Dallas Cowboys
Kent Somers breaks down what we learned in the Cardinals' 19-13 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys in Glendale. It was Arizona's fourth win in five games.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Post-game spread
What are the odds? In consecutive home games, the Cardinals have won 19-13 in overtime. In both games, opponents could have won on field goals in the last seconds of regulation. In both games, the Cardinals scored on big plays to win.

Cardinals defense continues improvement - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals have been winners in four of their last five games to improve their record to a respectable 5-7. There have been many keys to the recent surge: Patrick Peterson's electrifying punt returns, Beanie Wells' hard- nosed running and clutch plays from quarterbacks John Skelton and Kevin Kolb at opportune times. But the biggest key, by far, has been the play of the Cardinals' defense, which seems to be getting the hang of new defensive coordinator Ray Horton's scheme.

Cardinals work overtime to defeat Cowboys - ArizonaSports.com
Kevin Kolb hit LaRod Stephens-Howling on a 52-yard touchdown pass in the first possession of overtime to lift the Arizona Cardinals to a 19-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Cardinals on the rise? Team gives reason to believe - ArizonaSports.com
At 5-7, the Arizona Cardinals find themselves just two games out of an NFC Wild Card spot. Let that sink in for a moment, you know, the fact that the playoffs are not out of the realm of possibility for a team that started the season losing six of its first seven games. And with three of their final four games at home...OK, they're probably not going to make a late postseason run, but to even be in the conversation is something that didn't seem possible not long ago. Funny what kind of difference a few weeks can make.

Coach W knows LSH's value - ArizonaSports.com
The Cardinals beat the Cowboys 19-13 Sunday in front of a sold out crowd at University of Phoenix Stadium. Whether the majority of fans were wearing blue and silver or Cardinal red is up for debate. Either way, it was the Cardinals fans that left the building smiling ear-to- ear after a LaRod Stephens-Howling touchdown in overtime.

Cowboys ice their own kicker in 19-13 OT loss - ArizonaSports.com
Icing the kicker. A time-honored tradition that involves calling a timeout before an opposing kicker attempts a big field goal. You know, an opportunity to let the kicker think about the enormity of what he's about to attempt, and inevitably botch it. That tradition does not include climbing in the head of your own kicker when a game is on the line. But that's exactly what Dallas head coach Jason Garrett did on Sunday just before his kicker, Dan Bailey, was in his approach to kick a potential game-winning 49-yard field goal

Kolb shakes off rust, has big second half in win over Cowboys - ArizonaSports.com
Kevin Kolb entered the game 1-6 as a starter for a team that won three of four in his absence. After 30 minutes of football, Kolb had led the Cardinals to just three points while completing 7 of 11 passes for just 44 yards, numbers that are anything but inspiring. But then the second half arrived, and so did an entirely different quarterback. Kolb completed 9 of 14 passes in the second half and overtime, racking up 203 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass to LaRod Stephens-Howling, improving Arizona's record to 5-7 while Kolb doubled his win total as a starter here in the desert.

Andre Roberts contributes in Cardinals' win - ArizonaSports.com
When Steve Breaston opted to sign a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs this past preseason, there was a lot of talk about the Arizona Cardinals needing to go out and sign a veteran receiver to flank Larry Fitzgerald. Seemingly every day, there was a new name churning through the rumor mill with a connection to the Cardinals. Braylon Edwards. Malcolm Floyd. Plaxico Burress. Terrell Owens. None of them were signed. Instead, the Cardinals opted to stay with young receivers Andre Roberts and Early Doucet to do the job. Early on Roberts looked lost as the Cards limped out to a 1-6 lead. But as the season has worn on, Roberts has looked more comfortable and confident, and that was evident on Sunday.

Stephens-Howling leads Cardinals over Cowboys in overtime | ProFootballTalk
The Dallas Cowboys appeared to be cruising toward the playoffs, but they hit a speed bump today in Arizona.

Garrett tries to defend shaky clock management | ProFootballTalk
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett iced his own kicker on Sunday in Dallas’ loss to the Cardinals. That was a funny, frustrating, unlucky decision for the Cowboys head coach. But it wasn’t nearly the worst coaching move he made in the final seconds on Sunday.

Seahawks, Cardinals could make playoffs - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The way NFC games fell Sunday, fans began wondering whether the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals had realistic shots at earning a wild-card playoff berth. Five non-division leaders in the NFC have better records than Seattle and Arizona at present. But ESPN's NFL Playoff Machine does show scenarios whereby Seattle or Arizona could qualify for postseason. I put together this one showing Arizona earning a No. 5 seed at 9-7. Another one shows Seattle doing the same.

VIDEO: Jason Garrett Iced His Own Kicker - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
I have no idea why Jason Garrett did this, but he cost the Dallas Cowboys the game. After moving the ball into field goal range with clock management that should've been set to Yakety Sax, Tony Romo spiked the ball to stop the clock and get the special teams unit on the field. All was well. So well, in fact, that Dan Bailey drilled the 49-yard field goal attempt with the score tied at 13 and just seconds to go. Except he didn't. Bailey's field goal didn't count because Garrett ICED HIS OWN KICKER. Seriously, this is a thing that happened. The clock was already stopped, and Garrett called a timeout at the last moment. He even looked like he was going to ice an opponent's kicker.

Cowboys vs. Cardinals highlights
The Cowboys went to the desert looking to continue their winning streak. But the Cardinals had other plans, winning 19-13 in overtime.

Cards Daily - Postgame Reaction DAL
The Cardinals win in thrilling fashion over the Cowboys in overtime. Listen to coaches and players reaction from the locker room after the victory.

Stephens-Howling walk-off 52 yd TD Catch and Run
Cardinals RB LaRod Stephens-Howling scores on a 52-yard touchdown run in overtime to help Arizona defeat Dallas 19-13.

Video: Analyzing the Cardinals' win over the Cowboys
Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic shares his thoughts on the Cardinals' surprising 19-13 overtime victory over the Cowboys.

Arizona Sports News:

ASU football to face Boise State in Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona State is headed to Las Vegas. The Sun Devils on Sunday accepted a bid to play in the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl where they will face No. 7 Boise State on Dec. 22. It marks ASU's first bowl game since 2007. It also will be the last ASU game for coach Dennis Erickson, fired last week after losing four in a row to finish 6-6.

NFL News:

Rapid Reaction: 49ers 26, Rams 0 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams following the 49ers' 26-0 victory at Candlestick Park in Week 13:

Silver linings: Rams vs. 49ers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The facts: The St. Louis Rams fell to 2-10 with a 26-0 road defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13.

NFL Week 13 Debrief: Packers Still Perfect, Tebow Still Winning, Cowboys Still Choking - SBNation.com
The Packers and Broncos won again, the Cowboys blew it and the NFL playoff picture becomes a lot more interesting. It's all in the Week 13 NFL Debrief.

NFL Week 13: Complete Scores And Highlights From Sunday's Action - SBNation.com
Also, Matt Forte and Andre Johnson leave early with injury, Steelers pile on Bengals, Miami routs Raiders and more.

Matt Forte Injury: Bears RB Sprains MCL, According To Report - SBNation.com
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte reportedly sprained his MCL on Sunday. The extent of the injury, or a recovery timetable, is not yet know.

Quarterback Is Why The Broncos Are Winning, But Not Tim Tebow - SBNation.com
The Broncos won their fifth game in a row with Tim Tebow as the starter and everyone is still trying to figure out how this is happening. Bomani Jones thinks it has a lot to with the QB, but just not the one under center for Denver.

Sunday’s five most valuable players, Week 13 - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more

Sunday’s five least valuable players, Week 13 - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more