Notes from the Nest: Cardinals vs. Dolphins
Sep 30, 2012, 6:01 PM | Updated: Oct 1, 2012, 3:13 am
Have a question or comment for Adam? Feel free to post it here or tweet Adam at @theAdamGreen
8:29 left in OT
Cardinals get a first down and then feel that’s close enough for Feely. The kicker is brought in for a 46-yard attempt.
Kick is good, Cardinals win 24-21. Somehow. Wow.
11:59 left in OT
Cardinals get to Tannehill on third and six, as the rookie throws up a duck that is picked off by Kerry Rhodes. Cardinals have the ball at the Miami 47 now with a chance to win with any score.
14:00 left in OT
Cardinals go three-and-out — even losing three yards — and kick it away. Dolphins have the ball at their own 21. They score, it’s over.
14:55 left in OT
William Powell nearly breaks the return, as it stands it’s good for 41 yards. Cards begin at their own 34. Score a touchdown and the game is over. Kick a field goal and the Dolphins get a shot.
Punt, and it’s nervous time in Glendale.
End of the fourth quarter
Overtime. Cardinals win the toss and they want the ball.
:22 left in fourth quarter
Facing a fourth-and-10 from the 15-yard line, Kolb hits Andre Roberts for a touchdown. We’re all tied up.
Wow.
2:00 left in fourth quarter
Kolb is sacked on consecutive plays and it’s now 3rd and 18. Line isn’t holding up, Kolb isn’t looking short. That’s a bad combination.
2:51 left in fourth quarter
How about a fumble instead? Daryl Washington forces a Tannehill fumble, Vonnie Holliday comes up with the ball.
Cardinals have the ball at their own 49, Kolb has a chance to atone for his ridiculous mistake.
5:15 left in fourth quarter
Kolb takes a sack, and following a couple short passes the Cardinals punt. Down 7 with 5:15 left, the defense must come up with a stop here.
An undefeated season hangs in the balance.
7:05 left in fourth quarter
Brian Hartline gets free and catches a bomb from Tannehill. Play goes for an 80-yard TD and just like that the Dolphins are back on top. What a revolting sequence of events for the Cardinals.
Two point conversion is good and it’s 21-14 Miami.
7:17 left in fourth quarter
Kevin Kolb makes the most Kevin Kolb throw ever by trying to force the ball to Fitzgerald in the end zone. On second and goal. Ball is picked off and just like that the Cardinals blow a great opportunity.
It’s Kolb’s second pick of the day. Both were bad, this one is the worst.
Still 8:05 left in fourth quarter
Ruling on the field is confirmed, and Cards have a chance to possibly put this one away here. First and goal from the three.
8:05 left in fourth quarter
Legedu Naanee makes the catch and fumbles the ball while trying to make a move. Patrick Peterson picks it up and races down to the Miami 3.
This one is being reviewed and it’s close. It’s also a HUGE play, in case you weren’t sure.
9:45 left in fourth quarter
First, Kolb hits Robert Housler down the seam for 33 yards on one play, then puts one right on the money to Roberts for a 46-yard touchdown on the next.
Kolb looked every bit the quality QB on that drive, and suddenly the Cardinals have a 14-13 lead.
11:12 left in fourth quarter
Cardinals once again stop the Dolphins on 3rd and short, and this time Peterson not only catches the punt cleanly, but doesn’t fumble on the return. However, a block in the back is called on Alfonso Smith and the Cardinals will begin the drive on their own 19.
Kind of need a score here.
12:56 left in fourth quarter
Back-to-back sacks end that idea.
First, former Cardinal Karlos Dansby comes through the middle of the line untouched, then Cameron Wake gets to Kolb for the fourth time on the afternoon.
It’s a career-high in sacks for Wake.
Dolphins have ball at their own 22 and are likely a score away from putting this one in the bag.
14:11 left in fourth quarter
Adrian Wilson sacks Tannehill on third down and the Dolphins punt. Patrick Peterson, who has been pretty careless on returns today, drops the punt, picks it up, runs with it, and fumbles. The Cardinals recover and begin the drive on their own 42. Great field position here, offense needs to take advantage.
End of third quarter
The third quarter ends with the Dolphins losing nine yards on an errant pitch to Reggie Bush. It will be 3rd and 11 when play resumes. A stop here would be big.
1:33 left in third quarter
Cardinals pick up a couple of first downs by way of Fitz, but the drive stalls and Zastudil is brought on to punt.
Bess fair catches the ball at the Miami 17, which is where the drive will start.
3:44 left in third quarter
Greg Toler comes up with an interception on a third down pass, and the Cards have the ball at their own 39. Receiver fell down on the play.
4:59 left in third quarter
Cardinals do just enough to give Zastudil a little room to kick it away, which he does. Ball rolls to the Miami 34 and right now the Dolphins have won the field position game.
6:33 left in third quarter
Dolphins are forced to punt, but Patrick Peterson was not forced to fair catch the ball at the Arizona 3. Yeah, that was a mistake.
8:16 left in third quarter
An apparent Adrian Wilson interception is overturned upon review, and once again fans are yearning for the days of replacement officials.
OK, maybe not, but it seems like the close calls have not gone Arizona’s way today.
Greg Toler follows it up with a pass interference, and Miami is marching.
9:46 left in third quarter
Now that’s more like it!
Kolb and the Cardinals put together a good drive, culminating with a 3-yard TD strike from the QB to Fitzgerald. Arizona really needed that, and it’s now 13-7. Perhaps a momentum shift?
12:43 left in third quarter
Greg Toler drops what should have been an interception, and then Carpenter misses a 51-yard FG. So yeah, Cardinals will take it.
Arizona has the ball at its own 41, let’s see if the offense made any adjustments after what was an abysmal first half.
12:52 left in third quarter
Ryan Tannehill: Great quarterback or greatest quarterback?
The rookie continues his impressive play and now has the Dolphins with a 3rd and 15 at the Arizona 33. Arizona needs to make a stand here and keep this game within two scores.
15:00 left in third quarter
Jay Feely is flagged for unnecessary roughness on the kickoff. Yeah, that really happened.
Halftime
That wraps up the first 30 minutes of football. Mercifully.
The Cardinals are only down 13, but it seems like more. The offense has been putrid, the defense has been shaky and the Dolphins have been the better team.
Still plenty of time to turn things around (and hey, it’s only a two-score game), but something has to change.
Miami will get the ball to start the second half, so that’s no bueno.
:03 left in second quarter
Carpenter boots a 27-yard FG through and the Dolphins are up 13-0. This half has gone poorly, to say the least.
:19 left in second quarter
Cards get to about midfield before Kolb gets picked off for the first time this season. Was looking for Fitz on the back-shoulder fade, only didn’t get it to him.
Dolphins have the ball in AZ territory and could really make things tough with a score here. Remember, they get the ball to start the second half…
1:56 left in second quarter
Dolphins took my advice, and Jarvoskie Lane gets met in the backfield but powers forward into the end zone. The PAT is good and Miami has a 10-0 lead.
This is what happens when an offense is inept: defense is on the field too much. That said, Arizona’s D has given up way too much yardage today.
Cardinals will get the ball back and have two timeouts in their pocket, meaning they could still get some points on the board before the half.
Almost feels like they need to, doesn’t it?
2:00 left in second quarter
Tannehill hits Hartline for 19, and it’s 4th and goal from the 1. If I’m Miami I go for it here, with the idea that a field goal keeps it a one-score game and at worst you leave Arizona the ball at their one.
2:14 left in second quarter
Miami uses the big play to get deep into Cardinals territory, then the Cards use a big play to push the Dolphins back.
An O’Brien Schofield sack makes it 3rd and goal from the 20, and the D has a chance to keep this a one-score game. Would be a big momentum boost.
5:45 left in second quarter
Another Cardinals drive ends with a Cameron Wake sack. I’m no expert, but methinks the coaches should give Bobby Massie some help. The rookie is really struggling and it is killing the Cardinals.
As for the punt, the bounce goes Arizona’s way and it is downed at the Miami five.
7:45 left in second quarter
Paris Lenon makes a great tackle to stop the Dolphins on 3rd and 1. Peterson fumbles the ensuing punt, but the Cardinals recover. Add in a block in the back, and the Cards will begin the drive from their own six.
9:57 left in second quarter
Kolb ruled sacked on a play where he got out of Cameron Wake’s grasp, ref with the quick whistle to blow the play dead. Cardinals punt.
Dolphins have the ball at their own 11, and it’s about time the Arizona defense makes its presence felt.
13:15 left in second quarter
Dolphins go 64 yards in 14 plays, finishing the drive with a 32-yard Dan Carpenter field goal. Patrick Peterson made a real nice play to break up the third down pass in the end zone, so all in all the D held up OK.
That said, third downs have been an issue. As has the Arizona offense. Need to start moving the ball.
End of first quarter
The first quarter ends with the score tied and the Dolphins in Arizona territory. Tannehill looks real good, Arizona’s secondary seems to be a step slow, and so far this game has not gone according to plan.
2:02 left in first quarter
Dolphins catch a break (maybe?) when forward progress is ruled on the field, meaning a fumble wasn’t actually a fumble. Nice to have you back, real refs.
At any rate, Dolphins have the ball at midfield and are looking pretty good on offense. Tannehill has been on target and looked like anything but a rookie.
4:04 left in first quarter
Kolb can’t connect with Floyd deep, Williams comes up with a short run and then Kolb throws behind Fitzgerald on third down. Cardinals punt it away, and Zastudil boots it out of bounds at the Miami 22.
Not a good offensive series for the Cardinals, just a little bit off.
5:03 left in first quarter
Just as I type about how the Cardinals aren’t getting to Tannehill, Sam Acho comes up with a sack. Arizona holds and forces a punt. Patrick Peterson’s return goes nowhere and the drive will begin at the Arizona 22.
7:04 left in first quarter
Ryan Tannehill threads the needle on consecutive third down plays and the Dolphins are driving. Cards haven’t been able to get to the rookie yet, and he’s making them pay.
10:19 left in first quarter
Promising drive takes a turn for the worse when Kolb is sacked by Cameron Wake on 3rd down. Cardinals punt it away, Dolphins have the ball at their own 11.
Decent mix of run and pass, Kolb looked sharp on that drive.
14:51 left in first quarter
William Powell returns the kick and promptly fumbles the ball. Anthony Sherman recovers, Cards have ball on their own 31.
Let’s see if Kolb and the offense can build off last week’s success.
1:00 until kickoff
Referee Scott Green tells players it’s good to see them and he’s happy to be back. We’re glad to see you, too. Cardinals will receive the ball first.
9:00 until kickoff
Cardinals defense being introduced to the crowd, many of which have yet to take their seats. I’ve settled into my cozy spot in the press box with a bowl of ice cream by my side and am ready for this game.
As for the game, the Cardinals will be without the services of Darnell Dockett, which could become an issue given the fact that the Dolphins are a very good running team.
We’ll see.
