Why Has Larry Fitzgerald Struggled So Far In 2012?

Breaking down what Seattle and New England did to keep the ball out of No. 11's hands.

Darnell Dockett Not Surprised The Cardinals Beat The Patriots, Praises Kevin Kolb

Cardinals RB Ryan Williams Emotional After Cardinals Victory Over Patriots

Ryan Williams had to do one thing with a minute to play and his Arizona Cardinals leading the New England Patriots by two points -- hold onto the ball. But on a pitch play to the outside, Williams fumbled after Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes put his head to pigskin.

Thanks to the fumble, the Patriots had set up Stephen Gostkowski for a 42-yard field goal that would give them the win. But Gostkowski missed it wide left and the Cardinals escaped with the victory. Still, Williams was emotional on the sidelines.

Via The Arizona Republic:

"I was just trying my best not to cry on the field, national TV," Williams told reporters after the 20-18 victory, "and I end up crying anyway."

Despite multiple teammates and even Cardinals President Michael Bidwill offering their support, Williams was shaken. TV cameras caught him crying on the sideline after the missed field goal and his Arizona teammates erupted with excitement.

Check out more Arizona Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Cardinals Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton Is Off To A Hot Start, But That Doesn't Mean He Is Leaving After This Season

Kevin Kolb Defies All Odds, Leads The Cardinals To A Stunning Victory

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: 5 Positives And 5 Negatives From The Victory

The good and the bad from Arizona's 20-18 victory over the New England Patrios.

Looking Back At The Cardinals' 20-18 Win Over Patriots And The Rest Of Sunday's Games

Every Monday, Bryan Gibberman looks at the Cardinals game and highlights some of what happened around the rest of the league in his latest "The Morning After" column.

Cardinals Vs. Patriots 2012: Shock And Surprise In Arizona And New England

Well, not many expected Sunday's Arizona Cardinals win over the New England Patriots. Hearts sank all over the Valley of the Sun when the Patriots recovered a late fumble and had a chance at the winning field goal.

But Stephen Gostkowski missed badly, and the Cards won 20-18. Wrote Jess Root on Revenge of the Birds:

No one believed it could happen, but the Arizona Cardinals went into Foxborough and defeated the New England Patriots 20-18 by a strong performance by the Arizona defense, a passing touchdown and a running touchdown by Kevin Kolb and a Stephen Gostkowski missed field goal at the end of the game.

Yes, it really happened. Is it a sign of good things to come for the Cardinals this season? Too early to tell.

Greg Knopping of Pats Pulpit, SB Nation's Patriots blog, took a different approach. He broke down the Pats' loss in numbers. It's quite telling.

For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Head over to Pats Pulpit for Patriots news.

NFL Injury Report: Cardinals' TE Todd Heap Injures Knee

The big injury out of Sunday's Arizona Cardinals-New England Patriots game was the one Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez suffered to his ankle, but the Cardinals didn't come away completely unscathed despite the huge win they picked up in Foxborough, Mass.

Tight end Todd Heap injured a knee, and his availability for next week is in question even though he said he's fine.

Heap's loss could affect the passing game, but the Cardinals' only other significant injury going into the game was to quarterback John Skelton. Skelton was inactive Sunday due to an ankle sprain suffered against Seattle in Week 1, but even if he were deemed healthy, he still might not have kept the job with Kevin Kolb apparently finally ready to justify the big contract he got from the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had key members of their secondary, Adrian Wilson and Patrick Peterson, listed as questionable going into the game, but both played extensively.

For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds.

Cardinals 20, Patriots 18: Watch Stephen Gostkowski Miss FG, Fans Groan

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: Video Highlights Of Arizona's 20-18 Win

Cardinals Vs. Patriots Final Score: Arizona Upsets New England 20-18

The Arizona Cardinals pulled off a major upset over the New England Patriots on Sunday, winning by a final score of 20-18.

Arizona limited the Patriots to one touchdown and survived a late fumble by running back Ryan Williams to get the victory.

The Cardinals led 20-12 in the fourth quarter when Patriots quarterback Tom Brady orchestrated a drive that resulted in a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski. New England was unsuccessful in the two-point conversion, however, making the score 20-18.

Arizona was attempting to run out the clock when Williams fumbled, giving New England the ball back with a little over a minute left.

The Patriots appeared to score a touchdown on the next drive, but it was called back on a penalty, giving Arizona another chance. The Cardinals held the Patriots out of the endzone, and New England missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired.

Arizona QB Kevin Kolb finished 15/27 for 140 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for another score. Larry Fitzgerald recorded just one reception for four yards.

The win improves the Cardinals to 2-0, while the Patriots drop to 1-1.

For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Head over to Pats Pulpit for Patriots news.

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: Arizona And New England Tied 6-6 At Half

The Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots are tied 6-6 at halftime. The Cardinals defense has held Tom Brady and the New England offense in check all day as Brady only has 75 passing yards through the first 30 minutes.

Arizona started off the game with a 13 play drive that stretched 60 yards and resulted in a 38 yard field goal from Jay Feely. New England's first play from scrimmage resulted in a Tom Brady interception by Patrick Peterson, which set up the Cardinals in New England territory.

After an Arizona three and out, the Cardinals trotted on Jay Feely for another field goal to make the score 6-0.

The Patriots responded with a long scoring drive of their own. New England went 11 plays in just over five minutes, resulting in a Stephen Gostkowski 46 yard field goal.

In the second quarter, Arizona had a hard times getting things going on offense. The Cardinals had two punts and a Kevin Kolb fumble. Another Gostowski field goal for New England tied the game up at six early in the second quarter.

Kevin Kolb went 8/15 with 59 yards and a fumble. Beanie Wells has just 22 yards on eight carries, and Arizona has had a hard time finding success in the running game since since their opening drive.

Arizona also has had a hard time finding Larry Fitzgerald, who has only one catch for four yards in the first half.

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: Cardinals Lead Patriots 6-3 After 1st Quarter

The Arizona Cardinals lead the New England Patriots 6-3 after one quarter of play from Foxboro. Arizona got points on their first two drives of the game.

On their opening drive, the Cardinals drove down the field on a 13 play drive that went over six minutes and resulted in a Jay Feely 38 yard field goal. Kevin Kolb went 4/6 on the drive and Beanie Wells rushed for 12 yards on four carries.

On New England's first play from scrimmage, Darnell Dockett batted a Tom Brady pass in the air and Patrick Peterson made an acrobatic interception to set up the Cardinals at the New England 36 yard line.

The Cardinals went three and out, but got points on a Jay Feely 47 yard field goal. Feely's second kick of the game put Arizona up 6-0 with just under eight minutes to go in the first quarter.

On New England's second drive of the first quarter the Patriots drove down the field, but were stopped on third down inside the Arizona 30 yard line. Rookie cornerback Jamall Flemming batted down a third down pass intended for Brandon Lloyd to force a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.

The Cardinals went three and out on their next possession, forcing the first punt of the game from Arizona.

The quarter ended with New England driving the ball near midfield, and Arizona leading 6-3.

Cardinals Vs. Patriots Inactive Lists Offer No Surprises

The Arizona Cardinals released their inactive list for Sunday afternoon's game against the New England Patriots and, luckily, there weren't any surprises. Quarterback John Skelton is the top player on the list, but his status was never in question as the team named Kevin Kolb this week's starter mid-week.

The Cardinals other inactives for the Patriots game are tight end Jim Dray, wide receiver LaRon Byrd, running back William Powell, lineback Jamaal Westerman, offensive guard Senio Kelemete and offensive tackle Pat McQuistan. That means that this week's players listed as questionable on the injury report -- Patrick Peterson, Adrian Wilson and Rashad Johnson -- will likely be a part of the game plan.

The Patriots will be without Shane Vereen, Greg Salas, Alfonzo Dennard, Daniel Fells, Jake Bequette, Justin Francis and Marcus Forston.

For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Head over to Pats Pulpit for Patriots news.

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: 5 Key Matchups

What are the matchups that will decide the outcome of the Cardinals/Patriots game today?

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: What Must Arizona Do To Pull Off A Surprising Victory?

Cardinals Face Patriots In Week 2, Hope To Answer Questions

The Arizona Cardinals, after a Week 1 victory at home over the Seattle Seahawks, now have the first real test of their defense. The unit that finished 18th overall in the league a year ago, but was very effective in the second half of the season, will face the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady.

Arizona was number one in third down defense and number two in red zone defense in 2011. After one week, their defense is fourth overall in the league, but New England is seventh on offense after one week and was the second highest yard producing unit in 2011

The Cardinals, who have had issues at the quarterback position, are expected to start Kevin Kolb, who was beat out for the starting job by John Skelton. However, Skelton suffered a low ankle sprain in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks and Kolb came in and led the team to a game-winning drive.

So while head coach Ken Whisenhunt has not named a starter yet, all signs point to Kolb getting a shot at possibly taking the job that was supposed to be his all along.

Offensively, Arizona struggled in Week 1. They are the league's number 30 offense. They rushed for a total of 43 yards last week. New England'sStevan Ridley rushed for 125 against the Tennessee Titans.

Lots of questions remain for Arizona. They historically are terrible on the road in the East. They do not play well in the 1PM start time. However, over their last 10 games, they are 8-2. That record is bested only by their opponent, the Patriots, who have won nine of 10.

Will the Cardinals be able to produce enough offense against the Pats to keep Tom Brady off the field? Will the defense hold up? Who will cover New England's tight ends? Find out today.

Get more Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds.

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Cardinals vs. Patriots 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

Previewing this weekend's game between the Cardinals and Patriots.

NFL Schedule 2012: Week 2 TV Coverage Maps For Arizona Area

Week 2 of the 2012 NFL Season promises to be a great one. With many of the league's top teams set to face each other on Sunday afternoon, there will be plenty of football action on FOX, CBS and NBC throughout the day. Let's take a look at the local television schedule for the Arizona area.

CBS Early Game: Beginning at 10 a.m. PT on CBS, the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles will meet at Lincoln Financial Field. Both teams won their opening games, although the Eagles looked sloppy in a near-upset with the Browns. It'll be Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf calling the action in the booth.

FOX Early Game: The Cardinals and Patriots will battle at 10 a.m. on FOX. Arizona will be playing without quarterback John Skelton, while the Patriots looked awfully impressive in their season-opening win over the Titans last week. Dick Stockton and John Lynch will call the game from Foxboro.

CBS Late Game: The Steelers and Jets will get together on CBS at 1 p.m. in Arizona. Pittsburgh is coming off a loss to the Broncos, while the Jets blew the Bills out in Week 1. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will be in the booth for this showdown.

Sunday Night Football: The 49ers and Lions will meet on NBC at 5:20 p.m. for SNF. San Francisco was very impressive in their win over the Packers last week, while the Lions snuck out a win over the Rams. The announcers will be Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth as usual.

Larry Fitzgerald Not Worried About His Quarterback Or The Replacement Referees

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald was on Fox Sports Radio recently to discuss his team's upcoming matchup with the New England Patriots. Arizona enters the game as a two touchdown underdog according to many betting websites, but Fitz doesn't seemed too worried. And he isn't worried about who's throwing him the ball either.

Kevin Kolb is scheduled to be the starting quarterback this week with John Skelton still nursing an ankle injury. When asked whether or not that will affect him much, Fitzgerald had this to say (via Sports Radio Interviews):

"I don't think it's too big. This is not like high school, where between your starter and your backup you've got a senior going to a junior. Both these guys are professionals, they work really hard, they throw good balls. So I wouldn't say there's a huge discrepancy in terms of accuracy or placement of the ball. We're running the same exact system, and they both have been in the system for two years now, so I don't think there's that big of a difference."

Also, many fans have been upset with the officiating thus far. To this point, the NFL and the regular referees have not come to an agreement yet, leading the league to put replacements from all over the spectrum on the field. They may be messing up calls according to some, but Fitzgerald hasn't noticed a difference.

"I don't think there's much of a difference right now, but obviously there's been some calls missed along the way, but that's to be expected. These guys are coming in and doing the best they can."

We will see how they affect the game tomorrow between the Cardinals and the Patriots.

For more Cardinals news, check out Revenge of the Birds.

NFL Injury Report: Cardinals Cornerback Patrick Peterson Listed As Questionable But Expected To Play

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (groin) is expected to play Sunday against the New England Patriots despite his questionable tag, according to the Arizona Republic's Kent Somers.

Somers considers Peterson to be closer to probable than questionable with head coach Ken Whisenhunt having a conservative approach to his injury report. Fellow secondary members Rashad Johnson (thigh) and Adrian Wilson are also questionable but Somers believe they'll be on the field as well.

Cardinals fans have to be hoping that Somers is correct in his analysis as Peterson is expected to match up against big-play machine Brandon Lloyd.

Peterson has yet to miss a game in his young NFL career after setting a standard of playing through injuries during his rookie campaign. The 6'1", 219-pound defensive back opened the season with a strong showing against the Seattle Seahawks last week, holding Sidney Rice to just 36 yards on four receptions.

For more Cardinals news and additional injury updates, head on over to Revenge of the Birds.

Week 2 NFL Picks: Cardinals Vs. Patriots

Week 2 expert picks from around the NFL.

Beanie Wells Injury: Cardinals Running Back Participates In Practice

Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells was a full participant in both Wednesday and Thursday practices, according to the team's injury report. That could be good news for Ken Whisenhunt's squad, which started Ryan Williams in Wells' place in Week 1 after Wells injured his hamstring late last week.

Williams struggled against the Seattle Seahawks, rushing eight times for nine yards and fumbling the ball once. Wells played in limited action but only had seven carries for 14 yards as Arizona's run game only produced 43 yards on 20 carries last weekend.

Other notables from Thursday's practice were limited practices for linebacker O'Brien Schofield and cornerback Patrick Peterson. Schofield has been limited in the last two practices with a knee injury while Peterson missed full workouts on Thursday because of a groin issue.

Adrian Wilson was also limited with an ankle problem.

Quarterback John Skelton again did not suit up, as he's expected to miss Sunday's game against the New England Patriots with a low ankle sprain.

Check out Revenge Of The Birds for more on the Arizona Cardinals or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Cardinals Vs. Patriots: Looking At Stevan Ridley And Chandler Jones

In their Week 1 win two players jumped out, one on each side of the ball, which could be the beginning of the Patriots reshaping their image -- running back Stevan Ridley and defensive end Chandler Jones.

Kevin Kolb Will Start Vs. Patriots

The Arizona Cardinals will turn to Kevin Kolb for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

NFL Odds Week 2: Cardinals Vs. Patriots

The New England Patriots are two touchdown favorites to defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 of NFL action, according to OddsShark. The betting lines opened at a 13-point advantage, jumped to 15.5, then leveled out at 14. The over/under is set at 48.5 for the two teams.

The game in Foxborough, Mass., definitely rings of home field advantage for the Patriots, but the Cardinals showed better than many expected in their opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Arizona won 20-16 and stopped a late Seattle drive to win, but the Cardinals lost quarterback John Skelton to a sprained ankle.

Skelton has not been ruled out to play against New England, but by the looks of it, the keys will be given to Kevin Kolb, who led Arizona on a game-winning touchdown drive last week.

New England is coming off a 34-13 victory against the Tennessee Titans, where the Patriots held the Titans to 20 yards rushing for the day.

Check out Revenge of the Birds for more on the Arizona Cardinals or head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Despite How Kevin Kolb Plays Against The Patriots, John Skelton Should Remain The Starter... For Now

NFL Schedule 2012: Cardinals Face Tough Road Test At Patriots

The 2012 NFL schedule is moving into Week 2 and the Arizona Cardinals face a difficult early-season road game against the New England Patriots on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT. The Arizona defense played well against the Seahawks in Week 1, but Seattle was starting a rookie in Russell Wilson. The task will be much tougher against Tom Brady.

Elsewhere around the NFC West, the division-favorite San Francisco 49ers take on the Detroit Lions at home on Sunday night at 5:20 p.m. PT. The Seahawks host the Cowboys, while the Redskins visit the Rams. Both those games are scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PT.

Some of the key match-ups around the league include the Chicago Bears traveling to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at 5:20 p.m. PT. The Ravens make the trip to Philadelphia to meet the Eagles on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT, while Peyton Manning and the Broncos cap the Week 2 schedule by heading to Atlanta on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. PT.

For a complete list of games and times, be sure to check out S.I's NFL schedule page.

Get more Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds.

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Larry Fitzgerald Wants Cardinals To Remain Under The Radar

A popular pick to earn the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and often ridiculed for their quarterback situation, it's safe to say that the Arizona Cardinals aren't considered Super Bowl favorites by many. Unrealized by many is that the Cardinals won seven of the last nine games of their 2011 season and made it eight out of 10 with a win in their season opener against the Seahawks.

Perhaps they deserve more recognition than they've received, but wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald wants none of it. "To be completely honest, we prefer it that way," Fitzgerald told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk about the lack of recognition. "We believe in ourselves. We all believe we have a team that can go out and be competitive week in and week out."

After defeating the Seahawks in Week 1 the Cardinals can say they put their money where their mouth, but they'll have a much more difficult task when they travel to Foxboro to take on the Patriots in Week 2. Win there and Fitzgerald very likely won't get his under the radar wish.

Get more Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds.

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Andre Carter Worked Out For The Cardinals On Thursday

It's clear that the strength of the Arizona Cardinals is their defense, as the unit racked up three sacks and two turnovers in a 20-16 win. However, that doesn't mean the team is done looking for opportunities to improve the unit, as the brought in veteran defensive end Andre Carter for a workout on Tuesday, according to Mike Garafolo of USA Today.

Carter, 33, is attempting to find a team to play his twelfth season in the NFL with after five year stints with each the 49ers and Redskins before joining the Patriots for the 2011 season. One of just 17 players to reach double digits sacks during the 2011 season, Carter is No. 10 in sacks among active players and No. 60 all-time with 76 career sacks.

While there are no reports that the Cardinals signed Carter after the workout or that any contract is imminent, if he impressed Arizona in his workout he could potentially added a very experienced pass rusher to an already stout defense.

Get more Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds.

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Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks: Kevin Kolb Most Likely Starting In Week 2

Although it hasn't been confirmed yet, Revenge of the Birds is saying that Kevin Kolb should be safely penciled in as the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals as they take on the New England Patriots in Week 2.

The quarterback situation in the offseason wasn't lacking in questions, and it appears that they might continue for a while. John Skelton was knocked out of a Week 1 20-16 victory against the Seattle Seahawks with a lower ankle sprain. He is expected to miss two to four weeks.

Kolb orchestrated the winning drive against the Seahawks, but Coach Wisenhunt is remaining mum on who will be officially starting, and as Revenge of the Birds points out, the coach isn't a fan of demoting a player due to injury.

Either way, despite Wisenhunt's pursed lips, Kolb will be the starter for Week 2, and perhaps beyond according to Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk.

At one point on Monday, the thinking was that Skelton could be back by Week Three, when the Eagles come to town. Instead, it appears that Kevin Kolb will get the call when the Cardinals go to New England in Week Two, host Kolb's Eagles the next Sunday, possibly the Dolphins in Week Four, and even on the high end face the Rams when the Cardinals go to St. Louis on a short week for Week Five.

Get more Cardinals coverage at Revenge of the Birds.

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2012 NFL Power Rankings: 49ers Capture Top Spot Following Surprising Sunday From NFC West

Here's where your team stands in SB Nation Arizona's power rankings following one week of NFL action:

John Skelton Has Low Ankle Sprain, What Does That Mean?

During his Monday press conference with the media, Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt had good news about quarterback John Skelton and his ankle injury. ON Sunday night after the game, Whisenhunt was hoping and even said we should all say a prayer for John, he was hoping for just a high ankle sprain. Instead, Whsenhunt told the media that Skelton has a low ankle sprain and would not even be ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 contest on the road against the New England Patriots.

So what is a low ankle sprain?

Read full story here

John Skelton Injury: Cardinals QB Will Miss 2-4 Weeks

Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton is expected to miss two to four weeks with an ankle sprain suffered in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 20-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that, according to his source, the situation remains in flux:

At one point on Monday, the thinking was that Skelton could be back by Week Three, when the Eagles come to town. Instead, it appears that Kevin Kolb will get the call when the Cardinals go to New England in Week Two, host Kolb’s Eagles the next Sunday, possibly the Dolphins in Week Four, and even on the high end face the Rams when the Cardinals go to St. Louis on a short week for Week Five.

Skelton's injury is now known to be a low ankle sprain, which is of less concern than the high variety. Kevin Kolb will start at least at New England when the Cardinals visit the Patriots in Week 2.

For more on Skelton's injury and the Cardinals, please check out Revenge of the Birds.