The Arizona Cardinals got beat in all three phases of this football game and they almost came back and won the game after Coach Whisenhurt replaced QB Matt Leinart with Kurt Warner.  Warner was outstanding as he was 15 for 20 passing for 258 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 interceptions.  Matt Leinart had a rough time as he only completed 9 of 20 passes for 53 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs.  RB Edgerrin James ran well carrying the ball 10 times for 57 yards (5.7 ypc) but the Cards had to abandon the running game after they fell behind.  Anquan Boldin was outstanding as he caught 14 passes for 181 yards (12.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Larry Fitzgerald also had a good game with 5 catches for 85 yards (17.0 avg).  The Cardinals finished up with 61 yards rushing on 14 carries (4.4 ypc) and they completed 24 of 40 passes for 303 yards.

Adrian Wilson (12 tackles), Gerald Hayes (11 tackles) and Karlos Dansby (7 tackles, 2 sacks) all had good games for the Cards defense.  But, they allowed way too many yards.  The Ravens rushed for 129 yards on 30 carries (4.3 ypc) and they completed 28 of 37 passes for 252 yards.  The Cards also had trouble on special teams as rookie Yamon Figurs returned a punt 75-yards for a TD!

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270923033

JAY’S PLAYS
All information is for news matter only
All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars
Lines are subject to change

PRO FOOTBALL — September 23

ARIZONA (+7.5) at BALTIMORE (Total 35.5) — The Arizona Cardinals intend to run the ball behind Pro Bowl rusher Edgerrin James. It’s coach Ken Whisenhunt’s philosophy. But that’s going to be a grind against a Baltimore defense that is yielding just 2.5 yards a carry. Matt Leinart, in one of his toughest road trips to date, has to find some room downfield against a decidedly unfriendly Raven secondary (hello, Ed Reed!) with two rookies starting on his offensive line. Despite the presence of a couple of wideouts with over 100 yards receiving, that’s a tall order. Steve McNair back in lineup for Baltimore (though Kyle Boller ably filled in) and Willis McGahee so far giving the team some of what they have been looking for in the backfield. Arizona, which lost its opener at San Francisco, is not a road warrior, having won just five of its last 39 as the visitor. More growing pains for Leinart.

JAY’S PLAY: BALTIMORE ***

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This is a big football game for each the Cardinals and the Ravens as they are both 1-1 on the season.  The Cardinals have a very balanced offense that will challenge the hard hitting defense of the Ravens.  The Cards would like to run the football to set up the pass but that will be easier said than done against a stout Ravens run defense that only allows 62.0 yards rushing per game and 2.5 ypc.  Still, the Cardinals will try to plow ahead in the running game with Edgerrin James (220 yards rushing, 4.4 ypc, 2 TDs).  If James can get it going on the ground the Cardinals will be hard to stop as they have a nice set of receivers and they have only allowed 1 sack this season.  Matt Leinart played well last week against the Seahawks but the Ravens defense is light years better than them.  WRs Larry FItzgerald (10 rec, 107 yards) and Anquan Boldin (8 rec, 105 yards, TD) will challenge CBs Samari Rolle and Chris McAllister.  The Cardinals also could look to TE Leonard Pope (4 rec, 52 yards, TD) when they get near the end zone as he is a huge target at 6’8″.

The Baltimore Ravens would like to run the football to keep the ball away from the Cardinals offense.  The Cardinals only allow 92.0 yards rushing per game but the opposition has averaged 4.0 ypc.  Willis McGahee (174 yards rushing, 3.9 ypc) could find some running room which would help open up the play action passing game of the Ravens.  The Ravens really need WR Mark Clayton back healthy as he was there best receiver last season and he only has 1 catch for -1 yard this season.  Derrick Mason (15 rec, 130 yards) and TE Todd Heap (11 rec, 105 yards, TD) are reliable but they haven’t been able to get down the football field.  Which leaves Demetrius Williams who has caught 4 passes for 68 yards to stretch the field. 

PREDICTION:  Look for the Ravens to win a hard fought game.  They have the better defense which is the reason I side with them to win this game by a field goal.

The Arizona Cardinals need Matt Leinart to be more consistent than he has been so far this season.  He was pretty bad against the 49ers in the season opener but he was outstanding last week against the Seahawks.  The O-Line is blocking well in front of him as he has only been sacked 1 time so far this season, so he has time to throw the football.  Leinart has completed 37 of 65 (56.9%) passes for 401 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (66.3 QB Rating).  He also has carried the football 7 times for 31 yards (4.4 ypc).  Look for Leinart to improve that QB Rating quite a bit before this season is over because the talent around him is looking pretty good this season.

The Arizona Cardinals offense was just good enough to overcome a defense that allowed a lot of yards to the Seahawks.  Neil Rackers nailed 3 field goals yesterday including a game winning 43-yarder with 1 second left in the game!  Matt Leinart looked sharp throwing the football as he completed 23 of 37 pases for 299 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception.  RB Edgerrin James looked like he turned back the clock as he carried the football 24 times for 128 yards (5.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Larry Fitzgerald (7 rec, 87 yards) and Anquan Boldin (4 rec, 83 yards) both did the heavy lifting in the passing game.  TE Leonard Pope only caught 1 pass but it was a big one that went for a 30-yard TD.  The Cardinals finished up with 132 yards rushing on 26 carries (5.1 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards.

The defense was led by linebacker Gerald Hayes who led the Cardinals in tackles with 7.  The Cards held the Seahawks running game to 92 yards on 24 carries (3.8 ypc).  The Seahawks also completed 22 of 36 passes for 278 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270916022

 

JAY’S PLAYS
All information is for news matter only
All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars

PRO FOOTBALL — September 16

SEATTLE (-4) at ARIZONA (Total 42.5) — Matt Leinart still may have a ways to go, but based in Edgerrin James’ performance in the opening game (92 yards on 26 carries), coach Ken Whisenhunt is going to do everything he possibly can to move the football on the ground. And despite the loss of Chike Okeafor, Arizona got through to sack Alex Smith three times in the opener, and outgained the Niners by 136 yards. Seattle got a strong outing from Shaun Alexander (105 yards against Tampa Bay), and the former NFL MVP has averaged almost 100 yards a game against Arizona, with 15 TD’s in ten games. He’s bothered by a wrist injury, though, and with special protective devices, may be prone to fumbling. Seattle’s WR corps is thinning out with injuries, and now Mike Holmgren may be regretful that he traded Darrell Jackson. Meanwhile, Leinart, who completed only one pass for more than 10 yards against San Francisco, has the capacity to go deeper, with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. On the technical side, Seattle was 0-4 ATS (against the spread) as a road favorite last year and is 4-8-1 ATS on grass the last two seasons.

JAY’S PLAY: ARIZONA *

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The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals will be meeting in a important AFC West game this Sunday in Arizona.  These two teams split last season as each team won on there home field in 2006.  The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 27-21 in Arizona last season.  Look for the Seahawks to try to play keep away from the Cardinals on offense.  They will likely run Shaun Alexander early and often.  Alexander looked sharp in running for 105 yards and a TD vs. the Bucs last week.  Look for Deion Branch to be much more involved in the offense as he didn’t even catch a pass last week.  Matt Hasselbeck will also be looking for TE Marcus Pollard and WRs Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram on short passes to keep the clock running and the chains moving.

Look for the Cardinals to change their game plan a little bit on offense this weekend.  Look for much more passing as the Cardinals big receivers Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson give them fits.  But the Cards will still likely run the ball often as they rushed for 161 yards on 38 carries (4.2 ypc) last week against the 49ers.  The Seahawks played well against the run last week allowing only 90 yards rushing on 23 carries (3.9 ypc).

PREDICTION:  I think the Cardinals are going to get rough with the finesse Seahawks and beat them again in Arizona.

 

Starting center Al Johnson went down in last night’s game with a sprained knee.  He will miss at least the next couple of games.  With that in mind the Cardinals have signed C Chukki Okobi to a 1-year contract.  Okobi is very familiar with the system that Coach Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm are running on offense because he played for them in Pittsburgh.  He likely will be the starting center before too long for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had this game won and they gave it back to the 49ers as WR Arnaz Battle had a 1-yard run with 22 seconds left to beat the Cards.  The offense looked outstanding on the ground.  Edgerrin James led the way with 92 yards rushing on 26 carries (3.5 ypc) and he had a TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 20 yards.  QB Matt Leinart was shaky throwing the football as he was 14 of 28 passing for 102 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions.  He did look good running the football as he rushed for 35 yards on 6 carries (5.8 ypc).  Anquan Boldin caught 4 passes for 22 yards and a TD and he also ran the ball once for 14 yards.  TE Leonard Pope also looked decent for the Cards as he caught 3 passes for 22 yards.  The Cardinals finished up with 161 yards rushing on 38 carries (4.2 ypc) and they completed 14 of 28 passes fro 100 yards.

The Cardinals defense was outstanding as they were flying to the football all night long.  LB Karlos Dansby was outstanding as he led the way on the Cardinals defense with 11 tackles and 1/2 a sack.  SS Adrian Wilson also had a great game as he finished with 10 tackles.  The 49ers finished up with 92 yards rushing on 22 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 31 passes for 102 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270910025