Looking Back At The Cardinals' 27-6 Victory And At The Rest Of Week 3

The Arizona Cardinals are 3-0, and this time it didn't take some crazy finish to earn the notch in the win column. Arizona sacked Michael Vick five times, forced three turnovers, hit Vick numerous other times and Kevin Kolb found Larry Fitzgerald nine times didn't turn the ball over.

The play that summed up the game? It would be the fourth down play that the Eagles had as their last ditch effort to make a comeback. Vick didn't even try to make a play. He threw it away at a receiver's feet before getting hit yet again.

Arizona has a tough schedule this year, but two of their tougher games have already happened. With the Dolphins, Rams and Bills coming up, it is not too crazy to think that the Cardinals could start the season 6-0. But that would be crazy if it happened, considering all the QB turmoil in the offseason and preseason.

How good has the Arizona pass rush been? They have 12 sacks on the season. Six different players have gotten to the quarterback -- Calais Campbell (two), Quentin Groves (two), Daryl Washington (three), Kerry Rhodes, O'Brien Schofield, Sam Acho and Paris Lenon (two). One man who has not yet logged a sack is Darnell Dockett, who has been playing lights out this year. He seems to be in the backfield with his blocker on every play and disrupting things.

Larry Fitzgerald owns the Eagles. With nine catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, he now has 707 in his career, and was the youngest to reach 700. But with the touchdown he scored, that makes nine he has scored against Philly in only five games, and he has scored in each and every one of them.

How about the quarterback controversy...or the non-controversy. As of right now, there isn't a single fan clamoring for John Skelton. Kolb has now thrown for four TDs and has not thrown an interception. And he hasn't lost a game.

Ryan Williams had himself a redeeming game. He struggled early, although he did have a big catch. He made big runs late in the game and ended with 83 yards on 13 carries. However, Beanie Wells is injured again. This time it is his toe.

Is there anyone better than Daryl Washington right now on the defensive side of the ball? He has 29 tackles and three sacks in three games. He plays all over the field and even came sprinting down the field to make the final key block on Jame Sanders' 93-yard fumble return. He introduced himself to Michael Vick several times, likely reminding him of the ribs he hurt last season.

Arizona has won 10 of their last 12 games. No one else can say that in the regular season. Nobody. When will people figure out that Ken Whisenhunt is a damn good coach? The players all believe in him, they are hungry, they are humble and they play for one another. It is everything you ask for as a coach. And to think that this team started 1-6 last year. Whiz never lost that lockerroom.

This Cardinals team looks like last year's 49ers team. That's scary good stuff.

Western hemisphere...around the NFC West

After a 4-0 Week 2, were it not for the Cardinals, the division could have been looking at an 0-4 Week 3. The 49ers laid an egg against the Vikings and gave up 24 points and three touchdowns. For some perspective -- the vaunted Niners defense allowed three TDs to Minny on Sunday. Arizona has allowed two in three games.

The Rams lost to the Bears and Seattle plays the Packers on Monday night. Sam Bradford did not look good, as he threw two interceptions and could not find the end zone.

Extra points:

1. Peyton Manning doesn't look like Peyton Manning yet. Will the Broncos end up looking silly with that contract?
2. Even though he lost, Robert Griffin is fun to watch.
3. Former ASU Sun Devil Vontaze Burfict logged seven tackles in a win over Griffin and the Redskins. As terrible a story he was for the draft, he might turn that around and make it a fairy tale.
4. The Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals are all 3-0. Which one of those teams is the surprise? Oh, and the Saints are 0-3.