Arizona Cardinals Week 4 Recap, Giants @ Arizona

We have now seen our Cardinals falter after beating the Carolina Panthers in Week One, losing Two in a row to the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins. Hopes were high as they were set to battle the New York Giants in Week 4. Lets take a trip down memory lane.

Passing:
Eli Manning- 27/40, 2 TD's, 0 INT
Kevin Kolb- 20/34, 0 TD's, 1 INT

Rushing:
Beanie Wells- 27 Carries, 138 Yards, 3 TD's
Ahmad Bradshaw- 12 Carries, 39 Yards, 1 TD

Receiving:
Hakeem Nicks- 10 Catches, 162 Yards, 1 TD
Larry Fitzgerald- 8 Catches, 102 Yards, 0 TD's
Jake Ballard- 3 Catches, 33 Yards, 1 TD

Turnovers:
Giants- 2 (Technically 3)
Cardinals 2

Drive by Drive:
1st Quarter:
Giants began the game with the ball, returning the opening kickoff 22 yards. The next 2 plays would be incomplete passes intended for Giants WR, Mario Manningham. On 3rd and 10, Hakeem Nicks was called for a false start, setting up a 3rd and 15. The ensuing play would give Arizona the ball as Manning dumped the ball off to RB Ahmad Bradshaw. Calais Campbell laid the wood on Bradshaw forcing him to fumble, which gave Arizona the ball deep in Giants territory.

(0-0)

The Cardinals would take the ball from the 16 yard line and would be unable to capitalize on the excellent field position. Beanie Wells would lose 1 yard on 1st and 10, Kolb would then complete an 8 yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald, only to throw an incomplete pass the next play. Feely would boot the 27 Yard FG to give Arizona a 3-0 lead.

(3-0)

After a Giants 3 and out, the Cardinals looked like they would put more points on the board, moving from their own 48 to the Giants 17 yard line. But on a 3rd and 6 Kolb would scramble and sacked for a 7 yard loss, fumbling in the process.

Second Quarter:

3-0 would be the score heading into the second quarter, where Arizona would continue their drive. On a 3rd and 17 Kolb would hit Rookie TE, Rob Housler for a 16 yard gain, setting up a Kolb to Larry 4th and 1 for four yards. Another promising drive would end in a FG, making it 6-0 Arizona.

(6-0)

The Giants would take the lead on this drive with a Brandon Jacobs 13 yard Score.

(6-7)

With 29 Seconds remaining in the 1st Half, the Giants would kick a Lawrence Tynes FG to extend their lead by 4.

(6-10)

Second Half:
Third Quarter:

Cardinals would open up the second half with a 10 play, 82 Yard Drive, capped off by Beanie Wells first of 3 TD's.

(13-10)

With 3:24 left in the Third Quarter, David Carter would force Eli Manning to fumble the ball which would be recovered by Darnell Dockett at the New York 5. The Cardinals drive would end with a 1 yard TD Rush by Beanie Wells, his second of the day.

(20-10)

Next Drive the Giants would respond with a drive that killed the final 2:55 of the Third Quarter, and 3 minutes of the 4th.

(20-17)

Kolb would only move Arizona 7 yards before being intercepted by former Cardinal Antrel Rolle. Luckily the Giants wouldn't be able to move the ball farther than the Arizona 44, causing them to punt yet again.

With 8:25 remaining it would appear that the Giants would need a miracle to win the game after Beanie Wells extended the lead to 10 with his 3rd and final TD of the game. However Eli Manning would take his team down the field, and hit Jake Ballard for the TD, making it a 3 point game with 3:37 remaining.

(27-24)

It seemed Arizona would win, 3:37 left, Beanie Wells is on fire, run out the clock right? Nope. Wells would pick up 3 yards on a 1st and 10. New York would call a timeout. Kolb would then hit TE Jeff King for a 3 yard reception. Giants call timeout number two. On 3rd a 4 with 3:24 left, any sane Offensive Coordinator will call a run, maybe to the outside since that's where Wells was doing well. Nope, Miller would put the load on Kolb who would throw it incomplete.

The Giants would get the miracle they needed. On the first play of their Game Winning drive, it appeared that Victor Cruz fumbled the ball, the Refs ruled him down. Ken Whisenhunt would challenge the play only to learn that the Refs could not review the play because it was impossible to review whether he gave himself up intentionally or truly did fumble. The next play Manning would find Hakeem Nicks for the game winner.

(27-31)

The Cardinals would have one final shot, but rushed into a 4th and 2 with 1 timeout remaining in a 56 Second game on the Giants 30.

Final Score: 27-31
Giants (3-1)
Cardinals (1-3)

What went Wrong:

A multitude of events went wrong. The Defense couldn't make a stop when the Cardinals needed, poor play calling in key situations, and Kevin Kolb's decision making on the Cardinals final play. Beanie Wells spectacular day was outshone by a Giants victory.

What Could have Happened but Didn't:
One drive that stands out to me was the Cardinals first. Recovering the ball on your opponents side of the field should result in points, but when you recover it inside their 20, you expect a TD. That TD was the difference maker in this one.