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So now let's take a look at the few good things and many, many bad parts of the week 4 loss to the Broncos, a game I hope to forget as soon I can.
The Good
Andre Ellington: If there's one guy we can count on, it's our starting RB (something that would've sounded crazy just a few years ago). Ellington once again brought his one-two punch of receiving and rushing, taking in 4 receptions for 112 yards and a TD, as well as turning 16 rushes into 32 yards and a TD. If there's any reason to not lose hope for the season, it's this guy. He will carry the team.
Calais Campell: Until his injury, Campbell was having a game to remember. The star defensive end made heads turn when he intercepted Peyton Manning in the 2nd quarter, almost bringing it in for a pick-6. His presence on the field will definitely be missed for the next three to four weeks.
Drew Stanton: Some may disagree, but I really think Stanton deserves a place here. His stats suffered due to the many, many dropped passes by the receiving corps, but overall, the backup QB has done his job well. He once again kept the Cardinals in the game with no turnovers, and helped drive them down the field for scoring opportunities. Whether it's him, Carson Palmer, or Logan Thomas that comes out for next week's game against the Redskins is yet to be seen, but Stanton deserves praise for his ability to step up and take over.
The Bad
The Receivers: I don't think I've ever been as mad at the Cardinals receiving corps as I was during the game. In fact, I can't even remember a time I was mad at all about the team's WRs. But to put it simply, they were god-awful. 8 dropped passes, and several of them were drive killers that led to Denver points. Absolutely ridiculous.
Rob Housler and Ted Ginn Jr.: These two deserve a section of their own. Let's start with Housler, who was once the heralded "TE of the future". How is he still receiving plays? After missing another potential TD pass from Stanton in the 1st drive of the game, Arians and Keim will have to have a long chat about his role with the team. And Ginn, who scored the go-ahead TD in the Giants game, has since failed to produce. He had his own share of drops, as well as a muffed punt that almost cost the team a turnover. At this point, Housler and Ginn are more liabilities than weapons.
Antonio Cromartie: Cromartie was assigned the Broncos #1 WR Demariyus Thomas, and Thomas absolutely wrecked him. Thomas played Cromartie all day, ending the game with 8 receptions for 226 yards and 2 TDs. You don't win games when your starting CB gives up numbers like that.
Injuries: This team has to be one of the unluckiest of all time. Joining Darnell Dockett and Daryl Washington on the list of missing defensive stars, Campbell (as previously mentioned) will be missing three to four weeks with a knee injury (the result of an incredibly dirty play by Broncos TE Julius Thomas). The already injury-plagued defensive line will have to find yet another replacement for one of the team's leaders. In addition, Drew Stanton, who is the Cardinals backup quarterback, went out with a concussion early in the 3rd quarter, bringing in rookie Logan Thomas to finish the game. And to top it off, star CB Patrick Peterson left with an ankle injury. It's hard to make a blowout even worse than it already is, but the injuries did just that.
The 4th quarter: The Cardinals entered the game having not given up a single point in the 4th quarter all season. They left Denver having given up 17, a true summary of their performance.
It'll be a tense week as we see where Stanton and Peterson are in terms of health, and above all, who will be starting at QB. The Cardinals need a win against the visiting Redskins to keep their lead in the NFC West, and hopefully next week, this article will have more "goods" than "bads".