This is a matchup between two teams that are playing a lot better than the experts thought they would.  The Cardinals bring a 3-3 record to this matchup and the Redskins are 3-2.  But, both teams have suffered a ton of injuries that could hurt them on Sunday.

The Cardinals would probably prefer to keep the ball on the ground with Tim Rattay getting another start.  Edgerrin James (522 yards rushing, 4.0 ypc) will challenge the Redskins front 7 that is allowing only 79.6 yards rushing and 3.7 yards per carry so far this season.  With running room likely hard to find against the Redskins, Rattay must throw the ball down the field to Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson.  Redskins CB Shawn Springs could miss the game because he’s by his father’s side who’s in a coma in Dallas.  Even if he does play he might not be able to focus on his job.

The Redskins also prefer to run the football but it will be hard to do with all of the injuries they have on the offensive line.  The Cardinals allow 114.3 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry so it’s possible that Clinton Portis (363 yards rushing) could get his yards.  The Cardinals blitz often which could mean that the Redskins will focus on shorter passes.  With that in mind the key player for them will likely be the same guy that had a big week against the Packers…..TE Chris Cooley.

PREDICTION:  With all of the injuries both teams have suffered recently I just can’t see the game being a high scoring affair.  REDSKINS 17, CARDINALS 14.

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The Cardinals have lost linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Aaron Francisco for the next 3-4 weeks as they both have knee problems.  Dansby will be hard to replace as he is the team’s leading tackler with 44.  He also has 2 sacks and a fumble recovery.  Francisco will be missed mostly on special teams as he has made 11 tackles so far this season.  The Cardinals can’t afford any more injury problems on defense because they don’t have much depth there.

The Cardinals have signed veteran free agent Tim Hasselbeck to a 1-year contract.  Hasselbeck will likely back up Tim Rattay until Kurt Warner is ready to return from injury.  Hasselbeck has played in 11 games in his NFL career and he has completed 95 of 177 passes (53.7%) for 1,012 yards with 5 TD passes and 7 interceptions (63.6 QB Rating) and he also has carried the ball 17 times for 38 yards (2.2 ypc).  The Cardinals will likely be without Kurt Warner for a couple of weeks who has a ligament tear in his left elbow.  Warner has played well this season for the Cards as he has completed 45 of 71 passes (63.4%) for 601 yards with 4 TD passes and 1 interception (103.1 QB Rating).

The Cardinals were actually leading this game 10-9 after three quarters before they forgot how to play defense as the Panthers scored 16 unanswered points in the 4th quarter.  Kurt Warner left the game with a strained left elbow in the first quarter and that was a bad omen.  He completed 2 of 2 passes for 21 yards.  Tim Rattay was forced into action before he learned a lot of the playbook and it showed.  He completed 12 of 24 passes for 159 yards with 0 TD passes and 3 interceptions.  Edgerrin James had another solid game as he carried the ball 22 times for 80 yards (3.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Larry Fitzgerald also got his yards as he caught 6 passes for 97 yards (16.2 avg).  The Cardinals finished with 98 yards rushing on 26 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 26 passes for 159 yards.

The defense was led by linebacker Monty Beisel who had 10 tackles.  Make no mistake the defense didn’t play well considering that Vinny Testaverde had only been on the Panthers since Monday.  The Panthers rushed for 181 yards on 30 carries (6.0 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 33 passes for 193 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271014022

The Arizona Cardinals played the most uninspiring game of the season vs the Carolina Panthers & Vinny Testaverde. Not only did I think Kurt Warner gave up on the team but so did the coach! What happened to the era of football players that would have said tape the elbow up and I’ll go back in and try? the answer is they don’t exist. Warner I thought had heart but he does not see and opportunity to create team unity when leinart went down for the season. The defense looked like it was pre season the two corner backs looked like rookies, green & hood. and bad coaching all around. I am beginning to wonder why whisenhunt thinks his team is going to resemble the steelers, He does not have the fire that  his former boss had & never will. same old cardinals, they will be lucky if they finish 6-10 with no leader emerging yet, Warner is obviously not the guy to lead this team, especially after quitting on them today.