Despite being billed as an offensive shootout between Brett Favre and Kurt Warner this game will probably be decided on defense.  Both of these teams are allowing under 300 yards per game this season so turnovers could decide this game.  The Jets would like to run a balanced offense against the Cardinals and for that to happen Thomas Jones will need to have a good game.  If Jones gets going running the football then Brett Favre should have the needed time to throw the football down the field to WRs Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey.

The Cardinals have been running the ball more than throwing it the first three weeks but look for that to change against the Jets who are allowing 211.3 yards passing per game while only allowing 86.7 yards rushing on 3.1 ypc this year.  The Jets have 8 sacks this season and the Cardinals have allowed 7 sacks so look for the Jets to be bringing the heat against Kurt Warner.  Still, Jets’ CBs could be in deep trouble trying to match up with WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin of the Cardinals.

PREDICTION:  ARIZONA CARDINALS 23, NEW YORK JETS 21

The Cardinals are being rewarded for starting the right QB so far this season.  Kurt Warner has completed 54 of 84 passes (64.3%) for 750 yards with 6 TD passes and 1 interception (111.7 QB Rating).  The Cardinals are averaging 23.7 points per game and 347.7 total yards of offense per game this season.  Look for the numbers to even spike more if the Cardinals decide to start throwing the football more.  Regardless of what happens the rest of the year with Kurt Warner he definately deserves to be the starting QB over Matt Leinart who is starting to look like he’s a bust.

The Cardinals just came up a little bit short against the Redskins last Sunday in Washington.  Kurt Warner completed 16 of 30 passes for 192 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception.  Edgerrin James was busy in this game as he carried the ball 18 times for 93 yards (5.2 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 15 yards (7.5 avg).  Tim Hightower also got his work in as he carried the ball 5 times for 23 yards (4.6 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 38 yards (12.7 avg).  Larry Fitzgerald had a big game in leading the Cardinals in receiving with 109 yards on 7 catches (15.6 avg) with a TD.  The Cardinals finished up with 116 yards rushing on 23 carries (5.0 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 31 passes for 197 yards.

The defense let the Cardinals down in the end of this football game and it cost them.  LBs Gerald Hayes (13 tackles) and Karlos Dansby (9 tackles, sack) both had solid games to lead the defense.  The Redskins finished up with 136 yards rushing on 31 carries (4.4 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 31 passes for 187 yards.  The Cardinals are now 2-1 on the season.

The Redskins have won six in a row against the Cardinals including 17-13 at Arizona last year.  But, this Cardinals team is a different animal this season as they are 2-0 having outscored their opponents 54-23 this year.  True, the 49ers and Dolphins aren’t anywhere near as good as the Redskins are…..but no one can deny that the Cardinals still look pretty good this season.  Despite having Kurt Warner and a great corps of WRs the Cardinals erun the ball more than they throw it.  Edgerrin James and rookie Tim Hightower could find some running room against the Redskins’ defense.  But make no mistake, the Cardinals are going to challenge the pass defense of the Redskins with Kurt Warner (128.5 QB Rating), Larry Fitzgerald (9 rec, 184 yards) and Anquan Boldin (14 rec, 222 yards, 3 TDs).

The Cardinals’ defense looks much improved this season but the Redskins play a physical brand of football that could wear them down.  Clinton Portis (180 yards rushing) will be the focal point of the offense for the Redskins in this football game.  If Portis has a decent game that will open up the play action passing game for the Redskins with speedsters Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El.

PREDICTION:  WASHINGTON REDSKINS 27, ARIZONA CARDINALS 24

The Cardinals dominated this football game yesterday.  Kurt Warner turned back the clock as he completed 19 of 24 passes for 361 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 interceptions.  Matt Leinart got in at garbage time and he completed 1 of 2 passes for 15 yards.  Edgerrin James found yards hard to come by against the Dolphins as he carried the ball 18 times for 55 yards (3.1 ypc).  Rookie RB Tim Hightower pitched in with 24 yards rushing on 10 carries (2.4 ypc) and he scored on a 1-yard TD run.  Larry Fitzgerald had a great game catching 6 passes for 153 yards (25.5 avg) yesterday.  But, this was Anquan Boldin’s day as he caught 6 passes for 140 yards (23.3 avg) with three of the receptions (79 yards, 3 yards, 8 yards) going for TDs!  The Cardinals finished up with 81 yards rushing on 31 carries (2.6 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 26 passes for 364 yards.

The Defense was outstanding in this game for the Cardinals.  Linebacker Karlos Dansby (8 tackles) and CB Roderick Hood (6 tackles) led the way for the Cardinals yesterday.  The Dolphins finished up with 72 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 32 passes for 164 yards.  The Cardinals are now 2-0 on the season.

The Cardinals took advantage of the sloppy play of the 49ers in this game.  Kurt Warner was efficient in this game as he completed 19 of 30 passes for 197 yards with 1 TD pass.  Edgerrin James helped the Cardinals control the clock as he rushed for 100 yards on 26 carries (3.8 ypc).  Rookie RB Tim Hightower was also busy in his NFL debut as he carried the ball 8 times for 13 yards (1.6 ypc) with his first TD (2-yard run).  He also caught 3 passes for 21 yards (7.0 avg) against the Niners.  Anquan Boldin was the leading receiver in this game for the Cardinals with 82 yards on 8 catches (10.3 avg).  The Cardinals had possession of the ball for a stunning 37:05 of this game and that was a huge reason for the victory.  The Cardinals finished up this game with 109 yards rushing on 39 carries (2.8 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 30 passes for 176 yards. 

The Defense was led by linebacker Karlos Dansby who had 7 tackles and a fumble recovery.  DE Travis LaBoy was all over the place in this game as he finished with 4 tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery.  The Niners finished up with 108 yards rushing on 20 carries (5.4 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 20 passes for 183 yards.  This was a solid all-around victory for the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers should put on quite a show on Sunday afternoon.  The Cardinals will likely come out throwing against the 49ers as Kurt Warner will be gunslinging.  The Niners will need new DE Justin Smith and outside linebackers Manny Lawson and Tully Banta-Cain to bring the pressure against Warner or he will likely have a field day.  Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin will offer a huge challenge to CBs Nate Clements and Walt Harris.  The Cardinals would love to run the football to protect a lead if they can get one throwing the football.  Edgerrin James and rookie Tim Hightower will likely have to fight for every yard they get against middle linebacker Patrick Willis.

The 49ers will also be throwing the ball the minute they get off of the team bus.  New QB J.T. O’Sullivan doesn’t have a lot of game experience so the Cardinals will likely try to blitz him often and fluster him.  DEs Darnell Dockett, Antonio Smith and OLBs Chike Okeafor & Travis LaBoy will likely try to apply pressure to O’Sullivan.  Veteran WR Isaac Bruce will likely be the #1 WR for the Niners this season and he should have a decent game against the Cardinals as CBs Roderick Hood and Eric Green aren’t the best pair in the NFL.  O’Sullivan will likely also attack the Cardinals’ safeties (Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle) with TE Vernon Davis who is a athletic freak.  Despite all of the passing the Niners intend to do, they will not forget who the best player on the offense is (Frank Gore) and they will keep him busy.

PREDICTION:  ARIZONA CARDINALS 40, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 37

I think this number is a tad low for the Cardinals because of the fact that head coach Ken Whisenhunt picked the right QB to start.  If Leinart was the starting QB I would have suggested the under but Kurt Warner is a winner and he’s healthy now.  This could be the year that the Cardinals finally make the playoffs so bet the over win confidence.

Poor Anthony Morelli looked like a deer in headlights this preseason for the Cardinals.  He completed 9 of 20 passes (45%) for 98 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 interceptions (20.4 QB Rating) this preseason.  Morelli also held onto the football too long in the preseason resulting in him getting sacked 5 times.  He never really had much of a chance to make the Cardinals and Morelli will have to go get a real job now.

The Cardinals have released veteran linebackers Brandon Moore and Matt Stewart.  Moore played in 4 preseason games for the Cardinals and Niners and he made 7 tackles.  Stewart played in all 4 preseason games for the Cardinals and he made 6 tackles.  It’s a good sign that the Cardinals are cutting loose fringe type players possibly proving that the linebackers are set up well for 2008.