ARIZONA CARDINALS

Between ‘All or Nothing’: The Cardinals give us ‘Something’

Dec 4, 2016, 8:06 PM | Updated: Dec 5, 2016, 11:16 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) leaves the field after an NFL football game against...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 31-23. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

I came to a football game expecting to write an obituary. Instead, I’m peddling hope like I’m Andy from Shawshank.

Any talk of the Cardinals’ season being over is on hold for now.

The rational and practical side of me understands that the chances of the Cardinals making the playoffs are slim and that given those realities the best thing for them to do is get the best draft pick possible. Steve Keim can hopefully rediscover his draft day magic touch and the Cards can get back on the road to success. Don’t mean to sound like Mr. Spock but wanting a better draft pick when the season is lost is logical.

Instead, what we were treated to on Sunday was a pause on the doom and the dread, a reminder that there is indeed a place between “All or Nothing.”

Sunday’s win was “Something.” And given the state of this football team, and frankly, the state of our state when it comes to sports, we could all use a little “Something.”

Now comes the obligatory reality check. Winning out is the closest assurance the Cards have of getting into the playoffs. One more loss will make it seven on the year, and it’s reasonable to think that won’t be good enough. Of those four games, only one is at home.

But in beating Washington, the Cardinals earned their most satisfying moment of the season by a wide margin. As irrational as it sounds in my own head, I’m glad it happened.

Other random thoughts from the win over Washington:

You’re the best. Around. So says Carson Palmer of his running back David Johnson, calling him “the best player in the NFL, point blank.” I’m sure Bruce Arians will point out a mental error or two tomorrow just to keep the kid humble, but the numbers are staggering. Eighty-four yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. Ninty-one yards receiving and a touchdown in the air. ESPN Stats and Info pointed out he’s the first player to get 100-plus yards from scrimmage in all 12 games to start a season since Edgerrin James in 2005. I can’t help but wonder how much will the Cardinals will ease off on Johnson to keep him fresh for next year when this season’s goals are officially out of reach.

Who wants a biscuit? We know Arians does. A 4th-and-1 late with around four minutes left and Johnson picks up 14 yards. A few plays later, rather than running the ball to kill clock, the Cards execute one of the few deep passes that have worked this year, a 42-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Nelson. By now Cardinals fans are so familiar with “no risk-it, no biscuit” — they’ve probably tattooed it on their shoulder blade — but I liked how Palmer, Arians and Larry Fitzgerald explained it after the game. When you are where the Cardinals are, why not try for a biscuit? It’s desperation time and hardly the moment to play it safe. Not that Arians ever would have anyway.

Bravo Larry, Bravo. Now No. 3 on the all-time receptions list. Now 10th on the all-time yardage list. The youngest player ever to get to 1,110 yards receiving.

Big play defense. The Cards had been missing this for much of the season. But the Calais Campbell sack and forced fumble and the pick by Peterson shows the Cards can still change a game with their defense.

Now comes the Dolphins. More scoreboard watching, more talk of winning on the East Coast. Let’s see how much longer the Cards can stay around in this thing.

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Redskins with tackle D.J. Humphries during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians greets Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) and safety Duke Ihenacho (29) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Kevin Minter (51) sacks Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is hit by Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Kevin Minter (51) celebrates his sack against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) celebrates his field goal with punter Tress Way (5) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) kicks a field goal as punter Tress Way (5) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marcus Cooper (41) stops Washington Redskins wide receiver Ryan Grant short of the goal line during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) celebrates his field goal against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) and free safety D.J. Swearinger (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) eludes the reach of Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) watches his field goal split the uprights as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) celebrates his defensive stop in the end zone with teammate free safety Will Blackmon (41) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) dives for yardage as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) escapes the reach of Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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