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.