SB Nation Arizona - Cardinals Misery Continues With 19-6 Home Loss To Ramshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2010-12-06T06:19:07-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16200742010-12-06T06:19:07-07:002010-12-06T06:19:07-07:00NFL Week 13, Rams 19, Cardinals 6: Injuries, Comments, Changes, Playoff Picture For Rams
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<p>The defense for the Arizona Cardinals played better, holding rookie Sam Bradford to only 189 yards passing without a touchdown and intercepting him once, but Steven Jackson busted free in the fourth quarter for 27 of his 102 yards rushing to score the game's only touchdown in a 19-6 victory for the St. Louis Rams. The win evens the Rams' record at 6-6 and keeps them in pace with the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Carolina Panthers 31-14, in a close NFC West competition.</p>
<p>As we know, the playoff picture in the NFC West is that only the division winner will get in. Were it not for the guaranteed playoff spot for the division champ, it is uncertain whether or not that the winner's record would qualify them for the playoffs if it were based on wins and losses alone.</p>
<p>The Cardinals, at 3-9, will end up with a losing season for the first time under the leadership of Ken Whisenhunt. While they are not mathematically eliminated from the division race, they are three games out of first with four remaining games. Seattle has already beaten them twice, so they would own the tiebreaker in the case they ended with the same record and with only one division game remaining, the Cardinals can only end with a 2-4 record within the division if they win in San Francisco in Week 17. That would be the other tiebreaker.</p>
<p>So while mathematically they are not out, everything else says they are.</p>
<p>There were some positives that came out of the game. The defense was much improved. Darnell Dockett had perhaps his best game of the season. He had five tackles, but more importantly was in the backfield consistently and disrupting the line of scrimmage.</p>
<p>Kerry Rhodes was active, having a sack, an interception, seven tackles and was around the ball a lot.</p>
<p>As for injuries, after a week where several starters were a little hurt, it appears that there were no injuries to speak about on the defensive side of the ball.</p>
<p>Offensively, it was another story. Whisenhunt said he believed that the team "did some things at the start of the game that showed we had a chance to be a decent team" and that they did a good job running the football (105 yards for the game), but that they "needed to score touchdowns" rather than settling twice for Jay Feely field goals. The issue was, according to the coach was that the team "we didn't get it done at the quarterback position."</p>
<p>Derek Anderson was 7/20 for 93 yards and an interception. He was pulled in favor of Max Hall in the third quarter because of his play, but Whisenhunt clarified that "Derek was not himself and he took some shots in the first half" and that he was getting checked out for a concussion after the game.</p>
<p>Hall's appearance was brief, as he suffered a dislocated shoulder on a play where he fumbled and recovered the ball. He said that he will be out probably 3-4 weeks, which means his season is likely over.</p>
<p>Rookie John Skelton got some playing time and showed why the team was high on him and selected him in the draft. Whisenhunt said that he has not decided who will start next week, but most fans will say that they want to see Skelton the rest of the way to give him experience and see what he can do.</p>
<p>Already there is talk of signing another quarterback. XTRA's Mike Jurecki tweeted th<a href="http://twitter.com/mikejurecki/statuses/11626872202854400">at the Cards will sign UFL QB Richard Bartell</a>. He also spoke to former Cards quarterback Josh McCown, who said that he would be interested in trying out. I would not expect whoever they sign to start, so expect either Anderson or Skelton against the Broncos.</p>
<p>It was just a few days ago when Whisenhunt said, "I'm not trying to play young guys to get a look at them. I'm more interested in getting this turned and getting a win." He may now be forced to play his younger guys out of necessity. Already against the Rams, O'Brien Schofield saw some time replacing Clark Haggans. Skelton played. Hall played, but then got hurt. Dan Williams played and Gabe Watson was inactive.</p>
<p>It isn't what the coach was wanting, but since the veterans have not been getting it done, he may have to play the younger guys to see if they are in fact a better option for greater production.</p>
<p>Larry Fitzgerald caught four passes, so he is tied for the lead in career receptions for the team. His next catch will put him alone at the top. By not scoring a touchdown, he still needs three to take over that record.</p>
<p>As for the Rams, the playoffs are within sight. They hold the head-to-head tie break with Seattle right now, but Seattle has the better division record (3-1 to St. Louis' 2-2). Both teams have two home games remaining. Both have games against potential playoff teams (the Rams travel to New Orleans and host Kansas City, while Seattle travels to Tampa Bay and hosts Atlanta). Both still have another contest against San Francisco. But it will likely come down to the Week 17 game between the Seahawks and Rams in Seattle that will determine the division champ.</p>
<p>For the Cards, next up are the 3-9 Denver Broncos in Glendale, in battle for pride only.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2010/12/6/1858060/nfl-week-13-rams-19-cardinals-6-injuries-comments-changes-playoff-pictureJess Root2010-12-05T18:59:07-07:002010-12-05T18:59:07-07:00Cardinals Misery Continues With Home Loss To Rams, 19-6
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<p>The Arizona Cardinals managed only two first quarter field goals and Rams' running back Steven Jackson scored in the fourth quarter on a 27-yard run, leading to a 19-6 loss to the NFC West-leading St. Louis Rams. The Rams kept pace with the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Carolina Panthers 31-14, evening their record at 6-6 and keeping themselves in the NFC playoff picture. Jackson rushed for 102 yards and rookie Sam Bradford threw 187 yards and an interception, on 18/29 passes.</p>
<p>In a losing effort, Tim Hightower ran well, gaining 81 yards on 15 carries. But the story was the inability of the Arizona offense to score points. Starter Derek Anderson started well, but could not find the end zone and was intercepted once. He was pulled from the game in the second half, finishing 7/20 for only 93 yards.</p>
<p>Max Hall replaced him, but injured his shoulder recovering his own fumble, and he left the game after completing 1/3 passes and a pick. Rookie John Skelton finished the game and made a couple of decent throws. He finished 3/6 for 45 yards.</p>
<p>Larry Fitzgerald tied the franchise record for career catches with four in the game, but could not find the endzone, so he remains three TDs away from the team record for receiving scores.</p>
<p>With their seventh consecutive loss, the Cardinals assured themselves that they will end with a losing record for the first time since Ken Whisenhunt became their head coach.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2010/12/5/1857549/cardinals-misery-continues-with-home-loss-to-rams-19-6Jess Root2010-12-05T07:07:08-07:002010-12-05T07:07:08-07:00NFL Week 13: Arizona Cardinals Face St. Louis Rams 2:15 PM AZT, Try To Muddy Playoff Picture
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<p><span>Sam Bradford</span>, Steven Jackson and the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a> are in town today at 5-6 to try and solidify their position in this year's playoff picture to face <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> and the 3-8 <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a>. Arizona is coming off an embarrassing loss to the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a> on Monday Night Football and has lost six straight ballgames, sitting now in last place of the NFC West. The Rams, on the other hand, sit atop the division at 5-6.</p>
<p>This contest is important for both teams. St. Louis seeks to reach .500 for the season. The Cardinals are trying to find a way to snap this terrible stretch they have gone through.</p>
<p>The Cardinals come in a little banged up on defense, although no one may miss any time. DE <span>Calais Campbell</span> (ankle), CB <span>Greg Toler</span> (foot), LB <span>Clark Haggans</span> (groin) and DT <span>Dan Williams</span> (knee) are all listed as questionable for the game. It is hopeful that Campbell and Toler will be able to return to the starting lineup after having missed the previous game. <span>Steve Breaston</span> (knee), <span>Darnell Dockett</span> (shoulder), <span>Max Hall</span> (illness), <span>Paris Lenon</span>, <span>Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie</span> (shoulder) and <span>Matt Ware</span> (shoulder) are all probable for the game.</p>
<p>For the Rams, TE <span>Michael Hoomanawanui</span> is out for the game. CB <span>Jerome Murphy</span> is doubtful. RB <span>Mike Karney</span> is questionable. The rest (P <span>Donnie Jones</span>, CB <span>Justin King</span> and DT Darell Scott) are listed as probable.</p>
<p><b>Key matchups:</b></p>
<p><i>Sam Bradford vs. AZ defensive secondary: </i></p>
<p>Arizona has not shown an ability to stop teams from scoring or moving the ball, nor has the team forced many turnovers since its victory over New Orleans. Bradford as a rookie is arguably already the best quarterback in the division, having passed for 17 TD passes and only 9 interceptions. Arizona's pass defense has been shoddy all year. It is ranked 25<sup>th</sup> in the league in passing yards allowed.</p>
<p>Outside of a spectacular game in Week 1 against the Rams, <span>Adrian Wilson</span> has not been good. <span>Kerry Rhodes</span> has made some plays, but has not been a great help to Wilson. DRC has not been effective this year. There has not been much of a pass rush by the front seven, thus forcing the defensive backs to stay with their assignment for longer. Look for Bradford to exploit this weakness.</p>
<p><i>Steven Jackson vs. AZ defensive front seven</i></p>
<p>With 883 yards rushing on the season, Jackson is looking to eclipse 1000 yards for the sixth straight year. Facing the 31<sup>st</sup> ranked rushing defense, a unit that allowed 123 yards to and old <span>Brian Westbrook</span> on Monday night, Jackson just might accomplish that.</p>
<p><i>Good <span>Derek Anderson</span> vs. Bad Derek Anderson</i></p>
<p>Some will argue that Good Derek Anderson isn't real. But he has looked best on the team's first drive of the game and then again late in games. He frequently overtaken by "Bad DA" in the middle of the game, who throws passes high and too deep. We know he "puts his heart and soul" into his job, as he so stated in his now-famous postgame tantrum Monday night, but results have not shown up on the field for the most part.</p>
<p><i>Ken Whisenhunt vs. Arizona fans</i></p>
<p>Most fans are ready to throw or have already thrown in the towel on the season. Whisenhunt wants to win ballgames. Fans are asking about playing young guys to develop them and see what they have and are even talking about packing it in for the remainder of the season in an attempt to put the team in the best position to be able to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. In response to playing the rookies he stated, "I'm not trying to play young guys to get a look at them. I'm more interested in getting this turned and getting a win."</p>
<p>There you have it. Don't expect to see Max Hall starting. The coach believes that Derek Anderson is the best choice for winning games. Whisenhunt sees a favorable schedule, a weak division, and a team that is ideally more talented than the level of play. This means that turning things around either puts them in a position to yet win the division or puts them in a winning frame of mind for the offseason to carry over into next season. As for rookie QB <span>John Skelton</span>, the only way he gets into a game is because of injury to both Anderson and Hall.</p>
<p>In other information, University of Phoenix Stadium will have the roof open for the game for the first time this season.</p>
<p>Larry Fitzgerald has the chance to break a couple of records. With five more receptions, he will be the franchise leader in that category. With three touchdown receptions, he would set that team record as well.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/12/5/2325727/nfl-week-13-arizona-cardinals-face-st-louis-rams-2-15-pm-azt-try-toJess Root