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AP: 94bb7931-2a2e-4da8-9ad2-3cb9e147299c
Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis (83) scores a touchdown in front of Arizona Cardinals defensive back Hamza Abdullah in the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
On the one hand, if you look at the numbers, the Cardinals were lucky they didn't get whacked the way they usually do when they jump a couple of time zones. On the other hand, if you were watching the game you know it was a game the Cardinals could have won……should have won.

A weird game as we take a trip into four down territory.

First Down: The defense

No defense (a double entendre if I ever heard one). In the first half the Redskins were so wide open I thought maybe they had cooties. Did the Cardinals go see "Contagion" the night before? Were they freaked out by any close contact? The defense improved in the second half, actually coming up with stops on third down. But when it was money time the Cardinals just couldn't get off the field. On their go-ahead drive the Redskins moved with such ease it was an inevitability that they would score.

Second Down: Tim Hightower

Got his revenge. Backed up his words. 20 carries, 96 yards, it's all good for Timmy. So why in the second half did the Cardinals see a heavy dose of Roy Helu instead? I don't know, but of the three running backs on Sunday - Hightower, Helu and Beanie Wells - Hightower was third among them in yards per carry (a fantastic 4.8). Helu had 7.4 yards per carry; Beanie 6.6.

Third Down: Kevin Kolb

Stood in that pocket and got decapitated while delivering a perfect strike to Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown that gave the Cardinals a 21-13 lead. Yeah, the interception in the red zone was a killer; a needless risk when a field goal would have worked just fine. And yes, the chances of further decapitation behind that offensive line are about as good as those of Simon Cowell using a line about cats screeching in his new TV show. But watching this Sunday Night Football game - the one in which Mike Kafka is now quarterbacking the Eagles - it's plays like the one to Fitz that make me glad Kolb is here and not there.

Fourth Down: Beanie Wells

Followed up his solid effort last week with another one this week. I wish that whatever it was that the coaching staff saw that resulted in all those yards in the second half could have been noticed sooner. And I continue to echo the thoughts of Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic; Beanie falls down too much. He needs to stay on his feet more. But much like Kevin Kolb, if Beanie can be the guy we've seen so far, he'll be fine.

6 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    What? "1st down"should be: Stuckey
    September 19, 2011 8:53 am
    Fumbled the ball. (Based on the way Kolb was moving the ball) If Stuckey would have protected that pass and got the 1st down it would have been a completely different turnout. The Cards were down by 1. They just needed a FG to win the game... Mistakes. You live and learn by them! (I bet you'll never catch Ortiz with his hands down again!)
  • Abuse
    BrewCrewAZ wrote...
    Gut Feeling
    September 19, 2011 9:48 am
    My gut feeling is that, barring a Stuckey fumble, we would have driven down into field goal range. The defense is atrocious. We do not have the parts for a 3-4. I'd love to go back to a 3-4, where Dockett is a natural. At least get Porter out of their and put some youth into the game like Schofield and Acho. Whisenhunt is too bull-headed sometimes. We can't blitz on every play because we don't have the cover guys to play 1-on-1 all the time. Rhodes and Wilson still can't seem to figure out where they're supposed to be.
  • Abuse
    theuglytruth wrote...
    The Offense is to blame
    September 19, 2011 11:15 am
    ...not the defense. You can't expect the defense to be on the field 75% of the game and expect them to be successful. Our play calling in the first half was pathetic, Beanie didn't get the touches until the 3rd quarter and the offense failed control time of possesion. With the amount of pressures, INT's and sacks...the cards should've been in control. But the offense failed to execute and keep drives alive.
  • Abuse
    the cooker wrote...
    Time for Coaches to be accountable
    September 19, 2011 12:01 pm
    Hey Whiz! tired of hearing it is a process getting better! Guess what the fans still pay ticket prices as if they were ALL first class games. We sure don't see high school pricing at the beginning of the season and then go up if and when you figure out who to play and how to coach. You don't have Warner anymore to save your behind so time to step up to the plate and deliver.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    The guys
    September 19, 2011 2:50 pm
    Are somewhat correct about the D. To their credit they held WAS to 22. They do lack explosion off the snap tho. The offensive playcalling was good in my opinion. The Cards started the game passing which opened the running lanes in the 2nd half. Beanie still got like 90 yrds on the day. It was a well rounded ball game until Stuckey fumbled. If Stuckey didnt fumble, Kolb would've at least got them within FG range.
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