The Arizona Cardinals (1-2) got beat up today at home against the Indianapolis Colts (3-0).  The Cardinals got off to a good start in the first quarter as they went up 3-0 on a Neil Rackers field goal.  They looked like they might take a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, but Tim Hightower fumbled the ball at the 5-yard line and all of the momentum shifted to the Colts.  The Colts went down the field 95-yards and scored a touchdown when Manning slung a pass to Reggie Wayne who made an amazing one handed catch into the endzone.  It put the Colts up 7-3, and they did not give up the lead the rest of the game.

The Cardinals defense failed to get much pressure on Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning.  The one time they did get to Manning, they hit his arm as he released a pass and they intercepted it.  Other than that, Manning was able to just sit back in the pocket and pick the Cardinals’ secondary apart, as he went for four touchdowns and 379 yards passing.

Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner did not get the protection Manning got, and he was banged around all game.  Warner tried to make some plays, but ended up throwing two interceptions.  After setting a single game record for completion percentage (96%) last week, Warner was forced to throw the ball a ton and went 30/52 (58%).  He did have one touchdown and 332 yards, but the Cardinals offense was pressured all game by the Colts big men up front and they could not keep up with Peyton Manning’s offense.

Warner did not finish the game, as he was clearly banged up and Matt Leinert came in for some garbage time.  The Cardinals looked very overmatched after the Colts got a lead on them.  They were playing catch-up most of the game, so they could not get much of a run-game going.  Still, they needed more production out of Tim Hightower who had a costly fumble and only got nine yards on 22 attempts (0.4 avg).  The 38-year-old Warner looked physically beat up and exhausted after this game and I am wondering if he has enough to go the full NFL season.  The Cardinals do have a bye this week, so it gives the veteran quarterback time to rest and heal.

The Arizona Cardinals are hosting the Indianapolis Colts this weekend and are looking to get their second straight win.  After a disappointing week one loss, the Cardinals bounced back and looked like the team that won the NFC Championship last year.  Kurt Warner was outstanding and nearly perfect, as he broke an NFL completion percentage record going 24-26.  He also had two touchdowns and the Cardinals offense looked great.

The Cardinals defense will have the tough task of containing Peyton Manning and his passing attack.  Colts’ running back Joseph Addai has not been that effective so far in the Colts running attack, but he is capable of having a very big game on the ground.  The Colts have not looked great so far, even though they are unbeaten, but Peyton Manning is a winner and finds ways to win.  He has had two comeback victories and will have little problem with the Cardinals secondary.

After last weeks performance by Warner and the Cardinals, it proved their potent offense from 2008 is still just as dangerous this year.  There are two great quarterbacks going against each other in this game and it will probably be a high scoring, gun-slinging type game.  I think Peyton Manning will find a way to win this one though, and the Cardinals will fall on a late field goal.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Cardinals 34, Colts 37

The Arizona Cardinals’ defense has been much improved so far this season and it’s because of the front seven.  The Cardinals already have 8 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss this season.  They are getting great pressure on the QB while taking away the opposing running game at the same time.  The Cardinals are only allowing a paltry 56.5 yards rushing per game this season.  If the defense continues to play like this the Cardinals will have another deep run into the playoffs.

Tim Hightower is holding off 1st round pick Beanie Wells so far this season.  Part of the reason for that is that he’s a far better receiver than Wells.  Hightower has carried the ball 23 times for 87 yards (3.8 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He has also caught 15 passes for 133 yards (8.9 avg) so far this season.  With the Cardinals being such a pass happy offense it helps Kurt Warner to have Hightower in the flats when all else fails down the field.  Beanie Wells has 14 carries for 73 yards (5.2 ypc) so far this season and he has yet to catch a pass.  The Colts have allowed 176.5 yards rushing per game this season so the Cardinals may run the ball a little more than usual Sunday Night.

Larry Fitzgerald is upset about how he has been used this season in the offense.  He has 10 catches for 105 yards (10.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs this season.  Fitzgerald’s brother sent a tweet that pretty much told the old man (Kurt Warner) to throw his brother the damn ball.  So now Larry Fitzgerald had to apologize for his brother’s blunder and he will need to remain focused on the task at hand.  I look for him to have a huge game against the Colts this Sunday Night and when the season is over everyone will still consider him the best WR in all of football.