SB Nation User Blog: Andrew602

Arizona Cardinals Power Rankings Round up: Week 9

Andrew602 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:39:57 -0000

With another win on the road, the Cardinals bounce back to the top ten of most power rankings. This week, the Cardinals average out at 10.9, better then the 13 average of last week.

ESPN - 10th

Halfway to a 10-6 record thanks to four victories in four games away from University of Phoenix Stadium. (Sando)

Yahoo - 9th

Is it fair to say that Anquan Boldin won’t be yelling "You da man!" when coach Ken Whisenhunt hits the practice field?

CBS - 10th

Weird team. Can't win at home, but they dominate on the road. They are easily the class of the NFC West.

FOX - 15th

FIRST-HALF BLESSING: Once again, Cardinals fans should thank their lucky stars of course for Kurt Warner's defiance of age and for superstud WR Larry Fitzgerald, but also for playing in such a weak division.

Sporting News - 11th

What a difference a year makes: Now they perform better on the road than at home.

NFL - 12th

Sports Illustrated - 11th

The Cardinals continued their Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of a season last Sunday at Chicago, looking as good against the Bears as they did bad the previous week in that home loss to Carolina. Now 4-0 on the road, Arizona has yet to get its act together in Glendale. The Seahawks come to town this week, and the Cardinals already throttled them once this season, in Week 6 at Qwest Field. No more excuses for the defending NFC champs. It's time to start pulling away from the NFC West.

What If Sports - 15th

Walter Football - 7th

Poor Matt Leinart tossed an interception on his only attempt of the game Sunday. Ken Whisenhunt should punish him by telling him that he can't hang out with Nick Lachey this week.

Yahoo Team Ranker - 10th

ROTB Collective Rankings

ROTB Mid-Season Awards

Andrew602 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:39:53 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

3 days ago: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) scores on a reception in front of Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Browse more photos »

We're now eight weeks into the season and it's about that time to dish out the ROTB mid-season awards. The Cardinals have had an up and down season and have had their problems with consistency, but regardless of all that they're first in the NFC West with a 5-3 record. The offense has failed to live up to last year's expectations, but after last weeks crushing defeat over the Chicago bears, there's new hope for this unit. The defense on the other had, has more then exceeded expectations and they are rolling with Bill Davis at defensive coordinator. The Cardinals are an ever-improving team with playoffs in their sights, but for now let's see who wins ROTB mid-season awards.

Best Offensive Player: Larry Fitzgerald

Should this really be a surprise? Fitzgerald may be having a disappointing year to some after the bar was set a mile high in the playoffs last year, but Larry has remained composed and professional through it all. After a slow start to the season, Fitzgerald has quietly climbed back into the ranks of the top 5 receiving stats, and continues to perform week in and week out. Another hurdle that Larry has made is beating the so-called "Madden Curse". Most players that have appeared on the cover of the popular game in the last few years have received a significant injury. Perhaps that could go to Troy Polamalu, who also appeared on the cover with Fitzgerald, and who was injured in week 1.
2009 Stats - 56 Receptions, 632 Yards, 11.3 Average, 7 Touchdowns

Best Defensive Player: Darnell Dockett

Darnell Dockett is one of the leaders on defense, and his constant disruption of the opponents offensive line won't always show on the records, but the effort that Nine O puts forth on every play makes a significant difference on defense. Dockett can play the run and get in the backfield like the best of them, and hasn't had a problem making himself a household name. When he hasn't been on the field, it's obvious that opposing teams can move the ball much easier. Dockett is one of the most important keys on the defense.
2009 Stats - 26 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 7 Tackles for a loss

Most Improved Player: Tim Hightower

Tim Hightower has followed up a fairly average rookie season with an improved sophomore year. At times, Hightower doesn't even look like he's in his second year, and often appears to be an 8 year veteran. His pass blocking has greatly improved, but more importantly are his receiving skills. Hightower is currently second on the team with 40 receptions and has been dependable if Warner is unable find an open receiver. It's obvious that Hightower was able to learn more from Edgerrin James then we thought, and it's showed so far this year.
2009 Stats - 283 Rushing yards, 5 Touchdowns, 40 Catches, 307 Yards

Biggest Surprise: Calais Campbell

I don't want to say it's a surprise, but nobody knew what Campbell would do this season. After Antonio Smith left via free agency, second year man Calais Campbell was left to fill his roster spot. He's greatly surpassed what was expected, and has been a force at defensive end so far this year. He's already second on the team with three sacks, and currently has two blocked field goals. Campell's relentless and athletic football skills are something that Cardinals fans will look forward to for a long time.
2009 Stats - 28 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 4 Passes defended, 2 Blocked kicks

Biggest Disappointment: Anquan Boldin

After coming off a pro bowl year and entering his 7th season as a Cardinal, Boldin stated himself that he would turn it on and have his best season yet. Anything but that has happened as he's statistically projected to have his worst season since he's been in Arizona. He's also been dealing with injuries, which have caused him to be at less then 100% the majority of the season. Perhaps the biggest disappointment has been when Anquan lashed out on coach Whisenhunt this past week, saying he wasn't "man enough" to tell him he'd been deactivated. I hope I'm wrong and he proves otherwise, but right now 2009 has been a disappointment for Boldin.
2009 Stats - 35 Receptions, 404 Yards, 11.5 Average, 1 Touchdown

Best Rookie: Beanie Wells

With Cody Brown lost for the year, the only other significant rookies this year have been Greg Toler and LaRod Stephens-Howling, who primarily play on special teams. Wells finally came on three weeks ago against the New York Giants when he scored his first touchdown. He brings explosive play to the offense, and his down-field running compliments the Cardinals pass attack perfectly. Wells hasn't started a game yet, but may take over duties by the end of the season.
2009 Stats - 310 Rushing yards, 4.4 Average, 1 TD

That's it for the mid-season awards. Naming an MVP right now was too difficult for me, so I'll open the poll to see who the ROTB community wants. I think it may be easier once the season is over to see where this team is headed, but who knows. One thing I can say is that it's much easier to hand out awards when the Cardinals are 5-3 and currently in 1st place in the division. Who are you award winners and why?

Poll

Who is the Arizona Cardinals MVP after 8 games?

Arizona Cardinals Weekly Flock

Andrew602 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:49:31 -0000

It's Wednesday and that means just five more days(including today) until the Cardinals take on the Seattle Seahawks at home. With the slowest part of the week approaching, let's take a look at some Cardinal-talk around the web.

At ESPN, Mike Sando takes a look at who's stock is rising and who's is falling. No surprise that Kurt Warner's is rising after his five touchdown performance. Anquan Boldin joins the falling list after his post game comments towards head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Also from ESPN, Tommie Harris makes his apology to Deuce Lutui, but another Bears defensive lineman Israel Idonije accused Duece of playing dirty. Really? Never thought of him as a dirty player but ok.
Sando then looks at the play by play before Harris was ejected, showing that he and Lutui were shoving each other before the punch.
Sando also looks at how the NFC West can produce another Super Bowl team. Offense is a key for the Cardinals to make a run towards the end of the season.
Kurt Warner wins NFC player of the week for his five touchdowns against the Bears. This marks the 8th time in his career he's won it and the 4th time as a Cardinal.
Darren Urban talks about Matt Leinart not being fazed by the interception, and that he knows he'll be fine.
Urban also discusses the state of the Cardinals after eight games and how Ken Whisenhunt feels. The Cardinals know how important it is winning at home.
Paola Boivin talks about the situation with Anquan Boldin, and that they may be better without him.
From Bob McManaman, he discusses how the Cardinals must protect the nest and that the Cardinals may be onto something if they can start winning at home and on the road.

Grading the Offense: Cardinals vs Bears

Andrew602 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:02:27 -0000

by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

3 days ago: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston (15) is congratulated by teammate Larry Fitzgerald, right, after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. The Cardinals won 41-21. Walking away is the Bears' Hunter Hillenmeyer (92). (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

View full size photo »

In their most recent victory of the season, the Arizona Cardinals saw their best overall offensive performance. The offense was rolling through the first half, not punting the ball and racking up 31 points. Kurt Warner had his best game of the season, while the rushing game was the best it's been in a while. The Cardinals offense is built on explosive play, and that's something they showed on Sunday. It's also something they must continue to improve on throughout the season.

Kurt Warner - Kurt showed once again why nobody should doubt him. After having a terrible game at home against the Carolina Panthers, Warner was able to travel on the road and butcher the Bears secondary. He managed to only get sacked once, and didn't turn the ball over as well. Kurt Warner gets to face a Seahawks defense he carved up just a few weeks ago, possibly stringing back to back games with multiple touchdowns.

Running Backs - Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower both demonstrated that even though they are young, they can produce like veteran backs. They compliment each other, with Hightower handling 3rd down responsibilities, and Wells getting the big rushing plays. Neither ran for over 100 yards, but altogether managed to put 182 rushing yards on the Bears defense.

Wide Receivers - Larry Fitzgerald shouldn't be tweeting about Kurt Warner's age anymore, as Fitz has been targeted 72 times this year, only behind Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, and Reggie Wayne. On Sunday, Fitzgerald couldn't be contained by Charles Tillman, eventually leading to his two scores. Steve Breaston showed up and did exactly what we expected - played ball. Without Boldin, the Cardinals are 5-1, a number that wouldn't be possible without Steve Breaston. Early Doucet also performed well in place of Boldin.

Offensive Line - The Cardinals offensive line played the best game of the season, physically imposing their will on the Bears defensive line. The holes that were opened up were generous for the running backs, and Kurt Warner was only sacked once. Not only that, but Warner was rarely under pressure, and was given plenty of time to get rid of the ball.

My Offensive Grade: A

Scoring a season high in points and throwing five touchdown passes will generally give you praise, and that's exactly why I gave the Cardinals offense an A. They played all parts of the offense very well, didn't make any mistakes, and scored enough to put the game away early. What did you grade the offense and why?

Poll

How would you grade the Cardinals offensive effort on Sunday?

Arizona Cardinal of the Week: Week 9

Andrew602 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:22:06 -0000

After the Cardinals impressive win over the Chicago Bears yesterday, I can say with confidence that it's much easier to post the Cardinal of the week. Let me get back to the painful loss last week one more time to congratulate Tim Hightower for winning last week's COTW. Sunday, the Cardinals quite possibly played their best offensive game of the season, and there were many players that stepped up to lead their team to a 4-0 start on the road. It shouldn't be shocking that all the candidates are on offense, starting with the player that had a monster game.

Kurt Warner - Is this really a contest? Kurt Warner easily redeemed himself for his awful performance last week. He tied a franchise single game record with five touchdowns, and eventually led the Cardinals to 41 points on Sunday. If Warner can keep up this pace, the Cardinals shouldn't have a problem hanging with any teams in the league.

Larry Fitzgerald - We saw the Fitzgerald of last year on Sunday. Fitz caught two touchdowns in the win, and more importantly 123 receiving yards, a season high. Larry was at the end of several first downs, and appeared to be unstoppable at times lining up against Charles Tillman.

Steve Breaston - Breaston did a solid job starting next to Fitzgerald in the absense of Anquan Boldin. He had a good game and even caught a touchdown late to ice the game. Breaston also added 25 yards to the rushing total, and was dependable once again with punt return duties.

Tim Hightower - I thought about naming Beanie as well but when it came down to it, Tim has a wider variety of skills, and that has been the determining factor this season keeping him the starter. Hightower can catch out of the backfield, and is also an important piece in pass protection.

When it came down to it, nobody on the defense did enough to stand out. As a whole, they did get pressure on Jay Cutler and forced a turnover, but they also allowed 369 passing yards and almost let the game get close. As always, if you feel anybody should be added to the list, just drop a comment listing who and why. Who did you vote for?

Poll

Who is the Arizona Cardinal of the Week?

ROTB Survival Pick'Em: Week 9 Results, Week 10 Picks

Andrew602 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:36:11 -0000

First let me start off by saying that the crop has become a little smaller when Tim V(who took a gamble) and Hevchv were eliminated this week. As the stat sheet shows, stay away from the Texans and Packers. They've both combined to eliminate 46% of the members(ouch!). As far as the current status of the league, we're now at the point that if any noobs do join, they won't be able to build a streak longer then any of the current members(in other words, don't join unless you play for fun). As far as this week's schedule, there are some favorable picks, especially for those of you who haven't picked the Saints yet. I also just noticed we finally have Thursday night football this week, which is great. Let's take a look at the damage.

Who's Alive

Who's Dead

Travis23(9) - BAL,MIN,CIN,PIT,DAL,NYG, IND, SD, ATL bcloirao(9) - SEA, WA, NYG, JAX, MIN, GB, PHI, CHI, ATL manphibian(9) - NO, MIN, WA, PITT, NYG,BAL, IND, DAL, ATL SenSurround(9) - SEA, WA, CHI, GB, PHI, DAL, IND, SD, NE

KDean75(8) - NO, WA, SF, PHI, BAL, NE, SD, SEA

Wongy, azsportsfan31, Bezekira, StuckinColorado, thereallacardsfan, Pyromnc, CARDSxFAN32, ar4gsw, Hawkwind, Hibernian, Desert_Bird_Watcher, Cuckoo for Coco Puffs, PhoenixChief, azcardswinez, AJBirdWatcher, superpsck, kj197728, Jallred350, CardsIrish, Rottphiler, TBru, Fitz Jizzle, Giannaros, sc464, Red Reign, Boogatt66, Andrew602, Drullin'OverDaCards, robloosli, Chg91, Carddan, b0rd3rline, TrojanZags, Thomaldo, Irishcardinal, CardstuckinVA, Tim V, Hevchv

The Stats

#	Teams	Times Picked	Players Saved	Players Lost
1	Ravens	15	15	0
2	Redskins	15	15	0
3	Packers	13	4	9(23%)
4	Saints	12	12	0
5	Giants	11	11	0
6	Texans	11	2	9(23%)
7	Vikings	10	10	0
8	Eagles	9	5	4(10%)
9	Chargers	9	9	0
10	Steelers	7	5	2(5%)
11	Seahawks	7	5	2(5%)
12	Cardinals	6	2	4(10%)
13	49ers	6	6	0
14	Jets	6	1	5(13%)
15	Colts	6	6	0
16	Cowboys	6	6	0
17	Patriots	5	5	0
18	Bengals	4	4	0
19	Falcons	4	4	0
20	Bears	3	3	0
21	Raiders	2	1	1(2%)
22	Titans	2	1	1(2%)
23	Lions	2	1	1(2%)
24	Panthers	2	2	0
25	Broncos	1	1	0
26	Jaguars	1	1	0
27	Browns	1	1	0
28	Chiefs	1	0	1(2%)
29	Bills	1	1	0

Week 10 Schedule

Thu, Nov 12	Time(ET)	TV
Chicago at San Francisco	8:20 PM	NFL
Sun, Nov 15	Time(ET)	TV
New Orleans at St. Louis	1:00 PM	FOX
Tampa Bay at Miami	1:00 PM	FOX
Detroit at Minnesota	1:00 PM	FOX
Jacksonville at NY Jets	1:00 PM	CBS
Buffalo at Tennessee	1:00 PM	CBS
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh	1:00 PM	CBS
Denver at Washington	1:00 PM	CBS
Atlanta at Carolina	1:00 PM	FOX
Kansas City at Oakland	4:05 PM	CBS
Seattle at Arizona	4:15 PM	FOX
Dallas at Green Bay	4:15 PM	FOX
Philadelphia at San Diego	4:15 PM	FOX
New England at Indianapolis	8:20 PM	NBC
Mon, Nov 16	Time(ET)	TV
Baltimore at Cleveland	8:30 PM	ESPN

Bye Week: NY Giants and Houston

Post Game Reaction: Kurt Warner Has Ice Water in Veins, Cardinals win 41-21

Andrew602 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:13:38 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

3 days ago: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Browse more photos »

The headline should say it all - Kurt Warner and the Cardinals continue to roll on the road. They've now won four straight road games, defeating quality opponents at that. Kurt Warner is a cold blooded quarterback, as he's dismantled teams and played significantly better in opposing teams stadiums this year. The defense did what they had to do and if it weren't for a Matt Leinart interception, the Bears may have only scored 14 points. We'll break down the game more during the week but for now let's look at some positives and the few negatives.

The Positives

- Kurt Warner dominated the Bears defense, scoring 4 out of his 5 touchdowns in his first half. I won't give any names, but I'm thinking he might have seen some of the negativity on this site. Kurt Warner showed that he can surely bounce back from a bad game, and lead this team on the road once again.

- The running game did their job and produced solid numbers against the Bears defense. They amassed 182 rushing yards on the ground, making it easily their season high. The combination of Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower are proving to be successful.

- Aside from the Matt Leinart turnover, the Cardinals played virtually mistake free and only committed 2 penalties for 15 yards. This kind of football is something the Cardinals need to continue the rest of the season.

- The defense only allowed 70 rushing yards, a number that is sure to lower their defensive average.

- The 49ers lost to the Titans, making that four straight losses and dropping their record to 3-5. The Cardinals also get to return home to face the lowly Seahawks next Sunday.

The Negatives

- Matt Leinart had one opportunity to play a significant amount of time and blew it. He had one pass attempt that was picked off and would later set up a Bears touchdown.

- The Cardinals pass defense allowed 369 passing yards, a number that can be misleading due to the Bears lack of a rushing game. The Cardinals will need to buckle their pass defense down with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers coming to Arizona later in the year.

- Anquan Boldindidn't suit up for the game, a choice that was apparently not his. He stated after the game that he was warming up on the field and returned to the locker room to find his stuff gone. He stated he was never told he wouldn't play today, and that nobody was "man enough" to tell him. Whether or not he was treated fairly, those are never words you want to hear from one of your star players.

- Tight end coverage continues to be a problem. The Cardinals already have an aging linebacking corps, and continue to get hurt by good receiving tight ends. Greg Olsen had three receiving touchdowns, easily a career high.

Final Thought

One thing's for sure, and that's how easy it is to write about the Cardinals after a good win. They dominated for the most part of the game, and are continuing to improve in all fazes of the game. I'm sure I speak for many when I say, can the Cardinals play all of their games on the road? What are your thoughts on the game?

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears: Open Game Thread

Andrew602 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:09:38 -0000

Arizona Cardinals	Chicago Bears
4-3	4-3

Time: 2:00 PM ET	TV: FOX
Weather: 61°F, 10% Rain	Sirius: 713(Diretv)
Location: Chicago, IL	Online: Game Center
Stadium: Soldier Field	Since '01: 0-3
Favorite: Bears	SBNation: Windy City Gridiron

Cardinals vs Bears coverage

Who Has the Edge?

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
QB		Jay Cutler can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he wants to be - will it be on Sunday? Meanwhile, Kurt Warner is coming off quite possibly his worst game as a Cardinal, and needs to prove why he returned to the team for another two years.
RB	Split	Although Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower are improving the running game every week, the Cardinals still rank dead last in the NFL in rushing. Matt Forte hasn't lived up to his rookie year's expectations, but has still put together some solid games so far this season. The Bears have a higher average, but that doesn't say much.
WR		The Bears hope that Devin Hester can be the long-term answer at wide out. Aside from him, they're depth is young. The Cardinals have the best receivers in the league, but have yet to shine to their abilities. Boldin may be out, but Fitzgerald and Breaston should be fine.
TE		Greg Olsen is part of a young tight end class that is starting to make their mark in the NFL. He's been Cutler's favorite target so far this season also. Ben Patrick has produced solid play since returning from suspension after week 4, but he's not at the receiving level of Olsen.
OL	Split	Both offensive lines have had issues this year. Orlando Pace and Olin Kreutz bring experience to the Bears offensive line. The Cardinals offensive line has had problems against quick defenses, but has slowly made some production, both in passing and running situations.

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
DL		The Bears have a lot of defensive lineman that can get the job done, but nobody that will make the pro bowl anytime soon. The Cardinals had their troubles last week, but have been shut down for the most part this season.
LB		I'm giving this one to the Bears. They have Lance Briggs and an overall better stability at linebacker. The Cards 'backers have had a couple good games, but have ultimately been torched this season.
CB		The Cardinals secondary continues to improve after being burned in the beginning of the season. Through the last 3 games, they've greatly lowered the opponents passing average, going from 32nd to 20th in the league. The Bears have Charles Tillman, but are foggy after him.
S		Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle continue to play their best football together and are leading the secondary. Possibly startig this Sunday for the Bears will be Al Afalava and Josh Bullocks - who?
ST		The Bears have good special teams coverage, a solid kicker and punter, and Knox, Manning, and Hester returning kicks. The Cardinals special teams has been dependable this year but can't compete here.
Coach	Split	Given the talent on the team, Lovie Smith has been able to get production out of his team and keep the Bears in the division race. Whisenhunt has done the same and both coaches have taken their teams to Super Bowl and lost. Close call.
Edge	Result	Analysis
Draw	7-7	Given the similarity between the two teams, this game is too close to call. Both have had similar seasons and both stand at the same record. Giving the Bears the edge because they're at home would also be foolish given how good the Cardinals have been on the road. This game could go either way.

Go Cardinals!!!

The Saturday Sim: Cardinals-Bears

Andrew602 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:56:53 -0000

Warner couldn't escape his dreadful performance from last week.

View full size photo »

Ok so it technically wasn't posted right on Saturday, but I finally go the simulation between the Bears and Cardinals done, and let me tell you, it was tough to watch(you'll find out why in a moment). Before I break down the simulation, for those of you who aren't familiar with this, I simulate a game between the Cardinals and their opponent for that given week on the popular game known as Madden. I set it for All Madden difficulty, 8 minute quarters, with a 15 second run off. Then I post the results here. So far Madden has simulated the Cardinals to be perfect, but will that continue today?

First Quarter

The Cardinals receive the ball, and immediately start throwing to their receivers. Unfortunately, Kurt Warner throws one of those passes to Bears cornerback, Charles Tillman- Bears ball. On the Bears first drive, the Cardinals defense pressures Cutler right away, and Calais Campbell comes away with a sack. The Bears are forced to punt. The Cardinals start their next drive throwing the ball frequently again. After a Reggie Wells holding call, Warner throws a nice 42 yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald. Warner looks better on this drive, until I speak to soon and he throws a pick again to Charles Tillman in the red zone. The Cardinals stifle the Bears again, who then punt the ball back to the Cardinals. After a few successful passes, the Cardinals in the 1st quarter in the red zone. It's an exciting first quarter, 0-0

Second Quarter

The Cardinals open the quarter by Kurt Warner throwing a touchdown for 6 yards to Steve Breaston!!! 7-0 Cardinals.

On the Bears next drive, they finally get a first down for the game. They can't keep that trend alive as Calais Campbell gets his second sack of the game. On the punt return, Steve Breaston can't hold onto the ball, and the Bears recover. The Cardinals challenge but lose. They continue to lose when Cutler throws a 5 yard pass to Matt Forte to tie the game. 7-7.

The Cardinals open their next drive with a run, their 1st of the game. After that, they must punt to the Bears and the Bears have to punt back. The Cardinals march down to the Bears end zone, but they can't punch it in, and settle for a field goal. At this point, Kurt Warner has already thrown 24 pass attempts. 10-7 Cardinals

The Bears hurry up with under a minute. Jay Cutler doesn't get pressured, and the Bears get a field goal to tie the game at 10. 10-10

Third Quarter

The Bears open the 2nd half running the ball more. At mid field Hester receives a catch and fumbles, in which the Cardinals recover. Kurt Warner leads the offense down the field, throwing passes better then earlier. Unfortunately, he throws a pass straight to Daniel Manning, who then returns the ball for a pick six. 17-10 Bears.

Kurt Warner and the offense immediately get back to business, airing the ball out with a 30 yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald. In the Bears end zone, Kurt Warner throws another interception to Charles Tillman, his fourth of the game. Ouch!!

The Bears continue running the ball better, and Devin Hester breaks a 36 yard catch to get the Bears into Cardinals territory. At the goal line, the Cardinals defense stuffs three running attempts, forcing the Bears to settle for a field goal. 20-10 Bears

Fourth Quarter

The Cardinals open the final quarter, passing the ball more. They aren't running a hurry up,and attempt to even run the ball a few times. After a Kurt Warner sack, the Cardinals face third and long. Kurt Warner confusingly dumps the ball off, which isn't enough for the first down. Cards punt the ball.

The Bears primarily run, and are able to take the time down to the 2 minute warning, and force the Cardinals to use all three timeouts. There, the Bears are able to kick in a 50 yard field goal. Bears lead 23-17.

With under two minutes left, the Cardinals play hurry up. After three incomplete passes, the Cardinals complete a fourth down pass to Early Doucet. Kurt Warner continues to throw dump off passes, and the Cardinals eventually run out of time. Cardinals lose 10-23.

The Stats

	Cardinals	Bears
Total	387	235
Pass	376	163
Rush	11	72
First Downs	19	12
Third Down	4-9(44%)	1-7(14%)
TOP	18:40	13:20

	comp/att	Yards	TD	INT	Rate
Warner	32/46(69%)	384	1	4	65.8
Cutler	13/18(72%)	178	1	0	122.0

	Att	Yards	Avg	TD
Hightower	3	8	2.6	0
Forte	16	61	3.8	0

	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD
Fitzgerald	5	114	22.8	0
Boldin	5	66	13.2	0
Breaston	6	74	12.3	0
Hester	7	113	16.1	0
Forte	2	21	10.5	1
Davis	1	23	23.0	0

Final Thought

It's an unsettling loss that I hope does not happen this week. Kurt Warner would also not want to have a game like this if he wants to continue being the starter. One thing that the computer can't take into hand is that the Cardinals are a better road team, and I think that will be the difference. What are your thoughts on the simulation?

ROTB War Room: Jay Cutler

Andrew602 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:56:42 -0000

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

Jay Cutler is one important key to the game tomorrow. The Cardinals defense must pressure Cutler into mistakes and not allow the deep ball.

Browse more photos »

In the Saturday edition of the ROTB War Room, will take a closer look at Jay Cutler's season. After a roller coaster off season, Jay Cutler found a new home in the city of Chicago. Cutler has had an up and down season to say the least, but is a threat any time he throws the ball. He's a threat to his team by the sheer chance of him throwing an interception, and a threat to the opposing defense because of is all around skills. Now, we'll look at who Jay Cutler has thrown against, and how he's played.

Week 1 vs. Green Bay - 17/36 277 Yards, 47.2 %, 1 TD, 4 INT, 43.2 rating - Result: Loss

Week 2 vs. Pittsburgh - 27/38 236 Yards, 71.1 %, 2 TD, 1 INT, 104.7 - Result: Win

Week 3 at Seattle - 21/27 247 yards, 77.8 %, 3 TD, 1 INT, 126.4 rating - Result: Win

Week 4 vs. Detroit - 18/28 141 yards, 64.3 %, 2 TD, 0 INT, 100.4 QB rating - Result: Win

Week 6 at Atlanta - 27/43 300 yards, 62.8 %, 2 TD, 2 INT, 79.6 rating - Result: Loss

Week 7 at Cincinnati - 26/37 251 yards, 70.3 %, 1 TD, 3 INT, 64.1 rating - Result: Loss

Week 8 vs Cleveland - 17/30 225 yards, 56.7 %, 0 TD, 1 INT, 66.7 rating - Result: Win

Now let's take a look at the defenses he has faced, and how they stack up this season:

Green Bay: Are 9th in the league, allowing 184 passing yards a game. They're 26th in the league allowing 13 touchdowns, but have 11 interceptions which is the 4th most in the league. They feature pro bowl corners and are an athletic defense.

Pittsburgh: It should be mentioned that Troy Polumalu didn't play this game, allowing Cutler to air the ball out more. The Steelers have allowed only 9 passing touchdowns, which is the 9th best in the league. They are also allowing 214 pass yards a game, which is 16th in the league.

Seattle: Seattle had a banged up secondary this game, and are currently allowing 224(18th) passing yards a game, and have allowed 10 touchdowns, good for 16th in the league.

Detroit: The Lions remain having a terrible pass defense after their defeated season a year ago, and have given up 18 passing touchdowns, which is 31st in the league. They also allow 252 pass yards a game, good for 26th in the league.

Atlanta: The Falcons have a young inexperienced secondary, who currently allow 256 passing yards a game, which is 31st in the league. They've also given up 10 passing touchdowns, tying them for 16th overall. Atlanta has had problems defending the pass all season.

Cincinnati: Another young secondary in the Bengals, allow 253 pass yards a game, which ranks them 30th overall, and have allowed 10 pass touchdowns, tying them with Atlanta and Seattle. Pressue on Cutler was key to this game, as the Bears offense only scored 10 points.

Cleveland: The most recent team Cutler has faced is the porous Browns. The Browns have allowed a 239 passing yard average(24th), and have given up 10 touchdowns as well. Right now any team could beat the Browns.

Final Thought: While Jay Cutler may seem like a top 10 quarterback in some eyes, the defenses he's faced have been some of the worst in the league. 16th, 18th, 26th, 31st, 30th, and 24th are some of the passing defenses he's faced this year. All four of Chicago's wins have come against some of the worst passing defenses in the league and a Steelers defense without Polumalu. The Cardinals currently rank 20th in the league, allowing 233 passing yards per game, and have allowed 11 passing touchdowns, which is tied for 20th. If the Cardinals can pressure Jay Cutler enough to force him to make ill-advised throws, they'll have a much better chance of winning this game.

SB Nation User Blog: Andrew602

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ArizonaCardinals

ChicagoBears

4-3

4-3

Who Has the Edge?

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

QB

RB

Split

WR

TE

OL

Split

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

DL

LB

CB

S

ST

Split

Draw

7-7

Go Cardinals!!!

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Chicago
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