SB Nation Arizona - Eagles Vs. Cardinals: Arizona Knocks Off Philadelphia, 27-6https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2012-09-26T17:24:52-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31204652012-09-26T17:24:52-07:002012-09-26T17:24:52-07:00Beanie Wells headed to I.R.
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<p>The Arizona Cardinals received some bad news on Wednesday as running back Beanie Wells has been placed on the Injured Reserve - Designated to Return list due to turf toe, <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardschatter/status/251052638928506880" target="_blank">reports beat writer Darren Urban</a>.</p>
<p>That means that the oft-injured former Ohio State Buckeye can't return to action until Nov. 25 under the NFL's new injured reserve rules and leaves Ryan Williams to carry the full load for the time being for Arizona. The challenge the team faces now is lack of depth at a position where injuries have been rampant.</p>
<p>Williams is dealing with a knee ailment, but figures to practice in full all week leading up to Sunday's contest vs. the Miami Dolphins. When he checked out of the Week 3 contest briefly, he was only dealing with a cramp and not the knee issue that caused him to miss last season.</p>
<p>Wells averaged 2.6 yards per carry through three games in 2012, with just 76 yards on the ground on 29 carries.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/9/26/3414776/nfl-week-4-cardinals-vs-dolphins-beanie-wells-headed-to-i-rMichael Jones2012-09-24T15:24:09-07:002012-09-24T15:24:09-07:00Arizona Cardinals Ken Whisenhunt Press Conference: Kolb Still At QB
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<p><span>Kevin Kolb</span> remains the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> starting quarterback, and coach Ken Whisenhunt said former starter <span>John Skelton</span> is moving closer to being ready. Asked what he thinks will happen once Skelton is ready, Whisenhunt said nothing beyond the following:</p>
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<p>Whiz on QB choice: "I don't want to sound like a broken record, but we'll see when John is healthy enough to play."</p>
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) <a data-datetime="2012-09-24T18:12:42+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Cardschatter/status/250296716996251648">September 24, 2012</a>
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<p>So the coach won't say how he thinks the seemingly endless quarterback saga will play out between Kolb and Skelton, but the facts are these: The Cardinals are 3-0, their defense is imposing, Kolb is managing the games well and Skelton isn't needed to revive a stagnant offense right now.</p>
<p>Other news from Monday out at Cards headquarters, <a href="http://blog.azcardinals.com/2012/09/24/about-the-qb-dont-worry-about-it/" target="_blank">via Darren Urban of azcardinals.com:</a></p>
<p>Nothing new on the status of running back <span>Beanie Wells</span> (toe injury) or defensive tackle <span>Darnell Dockett</span> (hamstring). Whisenhunt did say he hopes that tight end <span>Todd Heap</span> (knee) and safety <span>Adrian Wilson</span> (groin) can play Sunday against the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more coverage of the Cardinals, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Revenge Of The Birds</a></i>.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/9/24/3384926/cardinals-eagles-dolphins-nfl-week-4Jose Romero2012-09-24T11:00:16-07:002012-09-24T11:00:16-07:00NFC West Update: Cardinals On Top After Week 3, Pigs Remarkably Not Flying
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<p>So, by a show of hands, who had the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> sitting atop the NFC West alone after the first three weeks of play?</p>
<p>If any of you are bold enough to claim that you did, I'm bold enough to claim that your full of it.</p>
<p>But with Arizona's (3-0) public spanking of the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a> and the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a>' jaw-dropping upset over the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco 49ers</a> (2-1), the Cardinals are now the kings of the NFC west castle.</p>
<p>And if you look at their upcoming schedule, it could remain that way for a while.</p>
<p>The Cardinals' next four games are as follows: Miami at home, St. Louis on the road, Buffalo at home and Minnesota on the road.</p>
<p>I'm not saying any of these games are exactly slam dunks with the parity the NFL has showcased this year. But when you consider the caliber of opponents the Cardinals have defeated the last two games, I think it will be marginally shocking if they weren't resting at 7-0 come Week 8.</p>
<p>Following the conclusion of Week 8, Cardinals fans will have a much better grasp on Arizona's true chances to win the division with the Niners rolling into town. Win or lose though, it will be interesting to see how Arizona reacts with their defense getting arguably their two stiffest challenges of 2012 directly after (Green Bay and Atlanta on the road).</p>
<p>But I'm getting ahead of myself. Back in this time that we call the present, we finally know that the 49ers are in fact human. And with that revelation, it's looking more and more like this division is no longer a given.</p>
<p><i>To continue the Cardinals conversation, head on over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Revenge of the Birds. </a></i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2012/9/24/3381242/arizona-cardinals-nfc-west-san-francisco-49ersCody Ulm2012-09-24T09:34:56-07:002012-09-24T09:34:56-07:00Arizona Cardinals Injury Report: Statuses Of Beanie Wells, Darnell Dockett Still Up In The Air
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> may have won in convincing fashion Sunday over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> but they did lose two key contributors to injuries along the way with running back <span>Beanie Wells</span> and defensive end <span>Darnell Dockett</span> both leaving the game.</p>
<p>Wells was forced from the game in the second half after being hampered by a toe injury. He was running ineffectively before that with 18 yards on eight carries and Wells informed the media after the game that he could have turf toe, <a href="https://es.twitter.com/Cardschatter/status/250027028043161600" target="_blank">according to Darren Urban. </a>Wells is expected to be evaluated Monday which means more news should be coming out later in the day.</p>
<p>As for Dockett, the disruptive pass rusher exited the contest in the fourth quarter with what is being called a right hamstring injury. If Dockett is unable to go next week against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a>, it would be a huge blow to Cardinals' front seven considering he played in 70% of the defensive plays Sunday. <a href="https://es.twitter.com/kentsomers/status/250023913365590016" target="_blank">Kent Somers reported </a>that there's a possibility Dockett's status will be updated Monday as well.</p>
<p><i>For more Cardinal coverage, head on over to<a href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" target="_blank"> Revenge of the Birds</a>. </i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/9/24/3382790/nfl-injury-report-cardinals-week-3Cody Ulm2012-09-24T08:40:49-07:002012-09-24T08:40:49-07:00Kevin Kolb Turns In Best Performance As An Arizona Cardinal Sunday Against Eagles
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<p>One number has defined much of <span>Kevin Kolb's</span> career in Arizona: $65 million. Yet in Sunday's 27-6 slaughtering of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a>, Kolb had a far more minuscule numeral protruding from the box score: zero, as in zero interceptions for the third straight game.</p>
<p>Yes, I realize that's not the most sexy of statistics. But when you have an elite defense like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> are currently fielding, there is no number more important.</p>
<p>Before we start assigning labels though, let's refrain from calling Kolb (17-of-24, 222 yards and two touchdowns) a game manager. Kolb wasn't going out there and trying not to lose Sunday; he was doing everything that the coaches were asking from him. And then some.</p>
<p>In the beginning when the game was still competitive, Kolb was accurate and decisive, putting the ball where only his teammates could make a play while orchestrating a handful of gradually effective drives. And that all occurred without the assistance of any sort of ground game as Arizona ball-carriers combined for just 32 yards on 13 attempts in the Cardinals 24-0 first half.</p>
<p>Sure, you could complain that Kolb didn't step on the Eagles throat and build on the lead like a quarterback such as <span>Tom Brady</span> or Matt Ryan would. But that's not how the Cardinals play football and nor should they start.</p>
<p>See, when it comes to expectations for Kolb, this should be the limit. If they start asking him to go out there and win shootouts, fans are going to be treated some disastrous results behind this faulty offensive line. As long as he can continue to get the ball out quickly while putting the ball in the hands of his playmakers (cough, cough <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span>), then the Cardinals will continue with this winning formula.</p>
<p>More than anything though, it was incredibly rewarding to see Kolb and company finally taking advantage of the favorable positions that the defense and special teams units put them in so often. If Kolb can keep this confident composure and maintain a potent attack operating essentially from three-step drops, then there's no reason to think that this team can't continue to hang with the NFL's finest.</p>
<p>And that's a statement we will just file under the "things you never thought would be written about Kevin Kolb following the 2011" department.</p>
<p><i>For more Arizona Cardinals conversation, head on over to <a href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" target="_blank">Revenge of the Birds. </a></i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2012/9/24/3381408/kevin-kolb-arizona-cardinals-philadelphia-eaglesCody Ulm2012-09-24T07:27:34-07:002012-09-24T07:27:34-07:00Cardinals Vs. Eagles: Five Positives And Five Negatives From The Big Home Victory
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<p>The Arizona Cardinals manhandled the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, kicking them off to a 3-0 start, the best in Arizona Cardinals franchise history. Their 27-6 win put the league on notice that the Cards are the real deal and should not be taken lightly. Here are the positives and negatives other teams will see when they look at the game tape. </p> <p>For the first time in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> franchise history, the team is off to a 3-0 start. They have not done that since 1974 when the Cardinals were still based in St. Louis. Their win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> displayed many great traits about the team, but it also had some ugly moments as well. Here are the positives and the negatives from the Cardinals' big win. </p>
<p><b>Positives</b></p>
<p><b>1. Fumbling: </b></p>
<p><b></b>For once, the turnover differential seemed to be on the Cardinals' side. Arizona managed to get <span>Michael Vick</span> to fumble twice in the game, while also getting a big special teams turnover as well. The Eagles have now turned the ball over 12 times in 12 quarters of football this season. The biggest one came at the end of the first half when Cardinals safety <span>Kerry Rhodes</span> sacked Vick, jarring the ball loose. <span>James Sanders</span> scooped it up and returned it all the down the field, giving Arizona a command 24-0 halftime lead and sinking the hopes of the Eagles. </p>
<p><b>2. Pressure: </b></p>
<p>The Cardinals, as alluded to in the last point, managed to get pressure on Vick throughout the day. In the game, they had five sacks, 20 hits and 12 knockdowns. Many questioned whether or not Vick was even going to make it through the game after watching the blows he was taking. Keeping him in check is ultimately what won Arizona this game. </p>
<p><b>3. No Touchdowns Allowed:</b></p>
<p>The Cardinals' defense was spectacular, so much so that they did not allow a touchdown to the league's #1 rated offense. In fact, through three games this season, the Cardinals have allowed only two opposing players to reach the end zone. That is quite a feat given the teams they have played thus far. </p>
<p><b>4. <span>Kevin Kolb</span>: </b></p>
<p>Despite having the pending birth of his newborn on his mind, Kevin Kolb was fantastic on Sunday. He looked like more than a game manager, which was evident in his deep 37 yard pass to <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> for a touchdown. Going 17/24 for 222 yards and two touchdowns really put Kolb in the driver's seat for the starting quarterback job and it showed his former team that they may have made a huge mistake. </p>
<p><b>5. Larry Fitzgerald Breaks Another Record: </b></p>
<p>In the first quarter of Sunday's game, Larry Fitzgerald managed to break yet another league record. This time, he became the youngest player ever to record 700 career receptions. That means he beat out greats such as Jerry Rice, <span>Randy Moss</span> and any other receiver you can think of. Quite a feat for a very special player and a future Hall of Fame receiver. </p>
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<p><b>Negatives </b></p>
<p><b>1. <span>Early Doucet's</span> Drop: </b></p>
<p>Last year it was tripping in the end zone, this time it was dropping a key pass that could have easily gone for a touchdown. Doucet's first quarter mishap came in the red zone where he seemed to turn his head to look at the goal line before seeing the ball into his gloves. Luckily for the Cardinals, his mistake didn't hurt too bad, as rooie wideout <span>Michael Floyd</span> made his first reception as a pro which also gave him his first touchdown as well. </p>
<p><b>2. The Run Game:</b></p>
<p>Outside of <span>Ryan Williams</span>' late game heroics, the run game, once again, looked a bit stale for the Arizona Cardinals. <span>Beanie Wells</span> managed to grab 18 yards on the ground after rushing the ball 8 times. <span>LaRod Stephens-Howling</span>, who usually manages to play well, toted the ball 8 times for a whopping -14 yards. Arizona, despite not having a ground game this season, is somehow 3-0. </p>
<p><b>3. Replacement Referees:</b></p>
<p>Where do I start with this one? First, the refs decided to waste what seemed like half an hour of my day to decipher a holding call in the first half. Then, they failed to call multiple penalties throughout the game, which really could have shifted the whole match. Defensive holding, offensive holding and ever horsecollar infractions were not penalized. When do the regular refs come back, again? </p>
<p><b>4. Red Zone Efficiency:</b></p>
<p>So far this season, the Cardinals have seemed to stall a bit in the red zone. Against the Eagles, they went 1/4 in terms of being able to score a touchdown. When playing explosive teams, it does not suit the Cardinals to walk away with scoring just a field goal. They need to start recording 7 more often, or it may come back to haunt them one of these games. </p>
<p><b>5. Injuries: </b></p>
<p><span>Adrian Wilson</span>, <span>Todd Heap</span> and <span>John Skelton</span> were already inactive for Sunday's game, so the Cardinals could ill-afford to lose anymore of their key players. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Running back Beanie Wells did not return after the third quarter. He sustained some sort of toe injury to which the extent of is not known. <span>Darnell Dockett</span>, one of the team's best defensive linemen, went down in the fourth quarter and could be seen on the sidelines with his leg wrapped in ice. The Cardinals can only hope that his injury does not linger. Finally, Ryan Williams left in the fourth after running out some clock for the Cardinals. It seems as if it was just a leg cramp, but after watching him go down for the season in 2011, it is very worrisome to see him go to the ground like that. He should be fine for next week's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>. </p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/9/24/3382172/cardinals-vs-eagles-five-positives-and-five-negatives-from-the-bigTyler Nickel2012-09-24T05:01:52-07:002012-09-24T05:01:52-07:00Eagles Vs. Cardinals 2012: Undefeated And Overlooked In Arizona
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> are 3-0 for the first time since 1974, which makes them 3-0 for the first time since coming to Arizona. Now that's worth celebrating, at least for another week, in the desert.</p>
<p>Consider this, too: The Cardinals are in a good position to go to 4-0 and 5-0 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> coming up next. They've already beaten three solid teams. Here's an interesting number from Jess Root from Revenge of the Birds:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Seventy-five percent of teams that start off 3-0 make the playoffs. It is way too early to talk about that, but with two of the team's expected toughest games already out of the way and with wins in both, you have to like the chances this team has.</span></p>
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<p>The Cardinals were just dominating over the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. They flew to the ball on defense like a pack of wolves. And they're playing with a chip on their shoulder on defense. <a href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2012/9/23/3380096/at-3-0-ken-whisenhunt-still-does-not-believe-the-arizona-cardinals" target="_blank">See these player reactions: </a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2012/9/23/3380096/at-3-0-ken-whisenhunt-still-does-not-believe-the-arizona-cardinals" target="_blank"></a><i>For more coverage of the Cardinals, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Revenge Of The Birds</a></i>. <i>For more coverage of the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a>, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Bleeding Green Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/9/24/3381172/nfl-cardinals-eagles-2012Jose Romero2012-09-23T18:23:28-07:002012-09-23T18:23:28-07:003-0 Arizona Cardinals 'Still Not A Good Team'
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<p>With their 27-6 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> improved to 3-0. It is the first time since 1974 that they started the season with three wins. However, don't think that head coach Ken Whisenhunt thinks it is that great yet.</p>
<p>After the game, he said to the media that he was very happy with the team, but that "3-0 doesn't mean anything to me other than we've got another game this week." </p>
<p>No one in the league could say that they had imagined any scenario in which the Cardinals start the season 3-0. They are just now beginning to give the defense some credit. But has the team become a good team?</p>
<p>"We're not a good team yet," said Whsienhunt after the game. "We're only a good team is we continue doing what we're doing."</p>
<p>That, of course, is the message that every football team gets from their coach. The difference is that this team really buys into it. </p>
<p>After allowing the previously number one ranked offense (averaging 471 yards per game in the first two weeks) to just a pair of field goals and 308 yards of total offense, the defense will get a little more attention. The pass rush has been consistent and from a lot of players. After sacking <span>Tom Brady</span> five times a week ago, they got <span>Michael Vick</span> another five times. <span>Daryl Washington</span> picked up a pair of sacks, and <span>Quentin Groves</span>, <span>Kerry Rhodes</span> and <span>O'Brien Schofield</span> picked up the other three. </p>
<p>But don't tell the players that they might start getting some respect. They don't believe it. </p>
<p>"No one respects our defense," said Schofield. "No one respects our team, and that's okay. You have to earn respect."</p>
<p>After three games, the Cardinals are allowing only just over 13 points a game. They have allowed only two touchdowns. On Sunday, the highly touted <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> defense gave up three alone to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>. When teams get in scoring range, the defense is stout. They simply make plays when it counts. </p>
<p>A perfect example of that is the play at the end of the half, when <span>James Sanders</span> scored on the 93-yard fumble return. </p>
<p>Said Kerry Rhodes, who made the hit on Michael Vick to force the fumble:</p>
<p>"It's all about playing to the whistle. They got a good pass across the middle, and I was able to hit him and stop him from getting into the end zone. Once we stopped them from getting in, we just played good ball. Coach (Ray Horton) called a great play, and I just came free and was able to get the ball out. It was a good call by coach, and everybody else played well and gave us a chance to get off the field."</p>
<p>That play reminded Ken Whisenhunt of a similar play that came as time expired at the end of a half. He did not name it, but everyone knew he was referring to the <span>James Harrison</span> 99-yard interception return to end the first half of the Super bowl against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. </p>
<p>The team has now won 10 of its last 12 games in the regular season. It is the best record of any team in the NFL. most of those have come down to the wire. but that was not the case on Sunday. Some would say that it was nice to get an "easy" win. </p>
<p>Ken Whisenhunt said he doesn't care how tough the games are. "If we have to win it close, if we have to win it ugly, i don't care," he told the media. "A win is a win."</p>
<p><span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> joked that his teammates didn't have their heart racing like at the end of other games. "<span style="line-height: 9px;">we like to get down to the overtime," he joked. "We like those gut-wrenching games." However, he said after that what we all expect. "You take a win any way that you can get it. </span></p>
<p>The Cardinals have three of them now and a decent chance at going 4-0 or even 5-0 as they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> in a week and then the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> the Thursday after that. </p>
<p>75 percent of teams that start off 3-0 make the playoffs. It is way too early to talk about that, but with two of the team's expected toughest games already out of the way and with wins in both, you have to like the chances this team has. </p>
<p><i>Get more Cardinals coverage at </i><a href="http://revengeofthebirds.com/"><i>Revenge of the Birds</i></a><i>.</i></p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/9/23/3379756/nfl-week-3-cardinals-eaglesJess Root