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Cardinals put up good fight but lose 27-20 to the Chargers

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page by ravenhater on Sunday 31 December 2006 at 10:29 pm

The Cardinals played well, but the Chargers were the better team.  Kurt Warner completed 22 of 32 passes for 356 yards and a TD.  Edgerrin James had a solid game with 16 carries for 66 yards (4.1 ypc) and a TD.  Anquan Boldin had a solid game with 4 catches for 112 yards and he ran the ball 2 times for 18 yards.  Bryant Johnson caught 3 passes for 76 yards.  Larry Fitzgerald caught 4 passes for 33 yards and a TD.

The defense didn’t play too well for the Cardinals in this game.  The Chargers carried the ball 33 times for 169 yards (5.1 ypc).  The Chargers also completed 20 of 26 passes for 218 net yards passing.

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Diego Chargers

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,This Week's Matchup Report by ravenhater on Friday 29 December 2006 at 6:42 pm

The Arizona Cardinals have been hot lately as they’ve won 3 of their last 4 games.  The Chargers are scorching hot as they’ve won 9 games in a row.

The Cardinals would be smart to run the ball as often as they can.  Edgerrin James (1,093 yards rushing) could find running room against a Chargers defense that is allowing 101.0 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry so far this season.  The Cardinals will also have to throw alot of short passes because Kurt Warner is starting this game against a Chargers defense that has 60 sacks this season. 

The Chargers will just give the ball to LT and watch him work his magic.  Tomlinson (1,749 yards rushing) should have a field day against a Cardinals defense that is allowing 115.2 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  The Cards pass defense is also a little soft as they allow 231.7 net yards passing this season.  So maybe Philip Rivers can shake his slump of the last couple of weeks and have a good game throwing the ball.

The Chargers have too much firepower for the Cardinals to contend with.  This game could be over by halftime.

Cardinals hang on and beat the Niners 26-20

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page by ravenhater on Tuesday 26 December 2006 at 12:21 pm

The Cardinals played a good game on offense and defense in their win on Sunday in San Francisco.  The bad news is that Matt Leinart sprained his throwing shoulder and will miss the final game of the season.  Leinart played well before he got injured as he completed 9 of 13 passes for 162 yards and a TD.  Kurt Warner relieved him and played decent as he completed 9 of 13 passes for 105 yards.  Edgerrin James had another solid game as he carried the ball 29 times for 105 yards (3.6 ypc).  Once again, Marcel Shipp stole a goal-line carry away from James.  Shipp carried the ball 5 times for 13 yards (2.6 ypc) and a TD.  Larry Fitzgerald led the way for the Cards with 4 catches for 93 yards and a TD.  Anquan Boldin (4 rec, 64 yards) and Bryant Johnson (4 rec, 53 yards) each pitched in on the passing game.

The defense played real well as a unit against the 49ers.  The Cards held the Niners to 12 carries for 49 yards (4.1 ypc).  The Niners completed 18 of 29 passes for 174 net yards passing.

This was a solid win for the Cardinals who improved to 5-10 on the season with this win.

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,This Week's Matchup Report by ravenhater on Thursday 21 December 2006 at 4:01 pm

The Arizona Cardinals have played much better of late, having won 3 of their last 5 football games.  The 49ers are coming off a huge victory at Seattle last week that kept their slim playoff hopes alive.

When the Cardinals have the ball, look for them to give the ball to Edgerrin James a little more than usual against a Niners defense that is allowing 121.3 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry so far this season.  Matt Leinart will definately get to attack the Niners secondary that is allowing 222.3 net yards passing per game and has allowed opposing QBs to have a 91.2 rating against them.   Anquan Boldin (75 rec, 1,027 yards) and Larry Fitzgerald (61 rec, 820 yards) should both have good games.  The only thing that Leinart has to worry about is CB Walt Harris who has 6 INTs this season.

The 49ers look to keep it basic and feed the rock to Frank Gore (1,491 yards rushing, 5.5 yards per carry)!  The Cards defense is allowing 119.9 yards rushing and 4.1 yards per carry so far this season.  Look for Alex Smith to take some shots downfield to Antonio Bryant, Arnaz Battle and Vernon Davis.  The Cards pass defense has allowed 235.9 net yards passing per game, but Smith must be aware of where Adrian Wilson is on the field at all times.  Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson is a big-playmaker as he has 4 INTs and 4 sacks from his safety position this season.

This should be a good football game, but I’m siding with the home team here.  Frank Gore should play a huge game and the Niners have played decent at home.

Cardinals lose tight end for the season

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Injury Reports by ravenhater on Wednesday 20 December 2006 at 6:26 pm

Tight end Adam Bergen hurt his knee last Sunday and has been placed on the Injured Reserve list thus ending his season.   Bergen played in 11 games (7 starts) and caught 15 passes for 111 yards (7.4 avg) and a TD.

Cardinals just can’t hang with Broncos in 37-20 loss

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page by ravenhater on Sunday 17 December 2006 at 9:23 pm

The Cardinals played hard but they were no match for the Broncos today.  Matt Leinart didn’t have to good of a game as he completed 20 of 35 passes for 214 yards and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 23 yards.  Edgerrin James ran well when he was given the chance as he carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards (4.5 ypc) and a TD.  Larry Fitzgerald (5 rec, 77 yards) and Anquan Boldin (5 rec, 60 yards) each played well.

Orlando Huff led the way with 12 tackles for the Cards.  Antrell Rolle added 11 tackles.  Chike Okeafor had a good game with 6 tackles, a sack and 2 forced fumbles.  Robert Griffith added 8 sacks and an interception.  The Broncos got 106 yards rushing, but it took them 38 carries to get them (2.8 ypc).  The Broncos completed 21 of 31 passes for 256 net yards passing.

The Cardinals fell to 4-10 on the season with this loss.

Edgerrin James finally picking it up

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page by ravenhater on Sunday 17 December 2006 at 10:58 am

The Cardinals will look to improve their offensive line in the off-season, but Edgerrin James has to take some of the blame for his poor play.  Hopefully, now that Matt Leinart is really starting to play well it seems that teams are more focused on stopping him and taking their chances with James and he has made them pay lately.  For the season Edgerrin has carried the ball 278 times for 925 yards (3.3 ypc) and 4 TDs.  He also has caught 35 passes for 205 yards (5.9 avg).

Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,This Week's Matchup Report by ravenhater on Saturday 16 December 2006 at 12:40 am
The Denver Broncos are fading fast and have lost 4 games in a row.  The Cardinals are playing their best football of the season as they’ve won 3 of their last 4 games. 

The Broncos will try to do what they do best and that’s run the football.  Tatum Bell (898 yards rushing) and Mike Bell (481 yards rushing) will test a Cardinals defense that is only allowing 79.6 yards rushing per game at home.  If the Broncos establish a running game, then it will slow the pass rush of the Cardinals and give Jay Cutler enough time to attack the weak secondary of the Cards.  The Cardinals are allowing 247.4 net yards passing per game at home this season.  Cutler has not been getting the ball to Javon Walker (57 rec, 923 yards) much since he’s taken over as QB.  He likes to throw to his TEs, so the Cards better watch out for Tony Scheffler who caught 2 TDs passes last week.  Cutler must always be aware of where Adrian Wilson is on the field.  Wilson has 4 interceptions and 4 sacks from the safety position this season.

The Cardinals will continue to run Edgerrin James, who has rushed for 115 yards two weeks in a row.  The Broncos give up an average of 106.1 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry, so the Cards could have some success.  If James is running well, that will slow down the pass rushers of the Broncos and allow Matt Leinart a chance to move the ball thru the air.  The Broncos have allowed 239.7 net yards passing on the road so far this season, and the Cards are sure to try to exploit that.  Champ Bailey (6 interceptions) can only cover one of the Cards receivers and they have 3 good ones.  So Leinart will go after the other corner and the safeties of the Broncos.  Anquan Boldin (70 rec, 967 yards), Larry Fitzgerald (56 rec, 743 yards) and Bryant Johnson will take advantage of the secondary.

The Broncos have allowed 125 points in their last 4 games, all losses.  I don’t think they will magically reverse this trend.  The Cardinals are playing their best football of the season and will kick the Broncos while they’re down.  I’m calling for the upset here and taking the Cardinals.

 

Marcel Shipp doubtful

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page,Injury Reports by ravenhater on Thursday 14 December 2006 at 12:41 am

Marcel Shipp (ribs) is doubtful for Sunday’s game.  That’s a tough break for him as he was just starting to get some carries.

Cardinals beat the Seahawks 27-21

Blogged under Bloglockers,Front Page by ravenhater on Monday 11 December 2006 at 12:24 pm

The Cardinals just simply played better than the Seahawks and that’s why they won the game.  Matt Leinart had a good game completing 21 of 34 passes for 232 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT.  Edgerrin James had one of his best games of the season with 26 carries for 115 yards (4.4 ypc) and a TD.  Bryant Johnson was the secret weapon as he caught 3 passes for 81 yards and a TD.  Larry Fitzgerald had a good game with 7 catches for 79 yards and a TD.  Anquan Boldin pitched in with 4 catches for 47 yards.

The defense didn’t play great, but just good enough to win.  The Seahawks carried the ball 29 times for 120 yards (4.1 ypc).  The Seahawks also completed 20 of 28 passes for 228 net yards passing.

The Cardinals improved to 4-9 on the season as they try to save Dennis Green’s job.