When Kurt Warner left the game with a “headache” last week the offense went into a shell against the Rams.  The Cards were lucky that Warner helped them build a big lead before he left the football game.  Warner is not acting his age this season as he has completed 251 of 372 passes (67.5%) for 2,718 yards with 20 TD passes and 11 INTs (94.4 QB Rating).  His drive and will to win is what really makes the offense of the Cardinals roll.  With Matt Leinart in the game the Cardinals are not a playoff team.  He has completed 17 of 25 passes (68%) for 119 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT (61.9 QB Rating).  So in summation the Cardinals can’t afford to lose Warner if they want to win the Super Bowl this season, period!

Kicker Neil Rackers is kicking the ball exceptionally well this season for the Cardinals.  He has made 10 of 11 field goals for the Cardinals this season and he has converted all 24 of his extra point attempts.  No team can really afford to leave points on the field because of the kicking game but the Cardinals don’t have much to worry about in that area with Rackers doing the kicking.

23-year old CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is having a good year for the Cardinals so far.  He has played in 8 games this season for the Cards and he has 27 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 10 passes defensed and 3 interceptions (one returned for a TD).  Rodgers-Cromartie has been a real impact player for the Cardinals this season and they hope he can keep up the good work in the second half of the year.

Punter Ben Graham has been outstanding for the Cardinals this season as he has been helping them win the field position battle almost every Sunday.  He has punted the ball 36 times for 1,719 yards (47.8 avg) this season.  Graham has only 3 touchbacks this season (8.3%) and he has pinned the opposition inside their own 20-yard line 16 times (44.4%).  His outstanding work has really helped the Cardinals’ D and they hope he can keep up the outstanding work.

The Cardinals are holding opposing teams to only 59.6 yards rushing per game this season.  The reason is not because teams have had so much success passing (265.2 yards per game) that have decided to abandon the run because the Cardinals are only allowing 2.8 yards per carry.  The credit needs to go to the front seven of the Cardinals’ D which includes linebackers Gerald Hayes, Karlos Dansby, Clark Haggans, Chike Okeafor and defensive linemen Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell and Bertrand Berry.  The Cardinals have a few playmakers in the secondary so with the defense making teams one dimensional the team will likely start getting big plays from the back four of the defense.

LaRod Stephens-Howling knew he was going to have a hard time making the team as a 7th round pick out of Pittsburgh.  He played hard in the pre-season and training camp earning a spot on  the Cardinals’ opening day roster.  He not only earned a roster spot but he won the job as the kickoff returner.  He has returned 12 kickoffs for 251 yards (20.9 avg) so far this season and he has 5 tackles on special teams.  If Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower continue to struggle then Stephens-Howling could get a expanded role in the offense.  To this point in the season he only has 1 carry for 2 yards and he has caught 3 passes for 22 yards (7.3 avg).  Expect Stephens-Howling to bide his time on special teams until he gets his big chance on offense.

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.

With Anquan Boldin gimpy and Steve Breaston out the Cardinals needed someone to step up and Jerheme Urban answered the call last week.  He caught 5 passes for 74 yards (14.8 avg) against the 49ers last week.  Urban was the #4 WR for the Cardinals last season playing in all 16 games in which he caught 34 passes for 448 yards (13.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  The Cardinals need Boldin and Breaston back as soon as possible as Urban seems a little stretched out as a starter.