Game Thoughts: Cardinals 24 Giants 17

[Mitch]

We Cardinal fans are being treated to some rare football experiences ever since Ken Whisenhunt decided to not wait for Steelers to make up their mind and instead decided to take the Arizona job. Of all jobs. The stigma. The years of futility...etc., etc.

Did we ever think we would see our beloved Cardinals play in a Super Bowl? Did we ever possibly imagine watching our Cardinals seize the lead in the Super Bowl with 2:37 left in the game on a scintillating catch and run by Larry Fitzgerald?

Well, last night, we saw something we probably never thought we would see...we saw a Cardinal defense play knockout, send the ranch and dog the WRs football from bell to bell. This time, there was no taking the pedal off the medal, ESPECIALLY protecting the lead, even with a trio of the best secondary players on the bench nursing injuries and/or cramps.

Until last night watching a Cardinal defense play this style of football could only have been a dream. Today the dream has become reality.

Every player on the defensive roster made huge contributions....they truly did what Whiz has been preaching: they did this together....from DRC's outstanding interception...to Alan Branch's outstanding sacks...to Calais Campbell's tipped pass...to Adrian Wilson's interception....to Matt Ware's popping the ball out of Brandon Jacob's hands...to yes Antrel Rolle's (a FS making a game winning interception!) remarkable snatching of Eli Manning's last woeful pass of the evening...they did this together.

And what they realy did together...as they have been doing much better this season is play PHYSICAL football and TACKLE people left and right, often in swarms and gangs. The NBC crew proclaimed Whiz has changed the culture in Arizona...well, he's done more than that. He's turned the Cardinals from white cream cheese into white fire.

The Cardinals' offense got things done last night versus a stellar defense...it may have looked ugly at times, but they got it done. Warner shook off some early mistakes and played error free football...judicious football. Fitz and Q made clutch receptions and Beanie Wells ran like a runaway freight train at times. There were nifty play calls and some ill-timed mistakes...but in the end the game wining TD was scored on a slick inside screen to Jason Wright wherein Lyle Sendelin made what might have bene the best block of the night, save a couple of Dan Kreider's smashmouth efforts.

The special teams were excellent...from LeRod to Ben. They too did this together.

The Cardinals are quickly becoming America's darlings...and it's the WAY they are coming after people that is so endearing...that and the WAY the defense huddled on the sideline in the waning seconds to affirm to themselves that this was their breakthrough game...yup, they sealed the deal. Yes they did!

 

[Catfish]

Mitch my friend, ---- what an astute post. You are accurate with your observations, and with your assessments. This was a win to remember, and was done TOGETHER, offense, defense, special teams, coaches, trainers, water boys, (all together). I loved it, and I loved seeing guys like Wells, Branch, Toler, Ware, Adams, Wright, Stevens-Howling, and Campbell in there producing with the veterans. They all made contributions. I love that these youngsters have obviously been paying attention, and are now willing and able to help out, AND that they are doing it.

Yours was a great post Mitch -------- I look with anticipation of many more like it this year.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, thanks. I'm not sure but I believe Matt Ware knocked the ball away from Ahmad Bradshaw, and not Brandon Jacobs. Either one it was a great play.

 

[az jam]

Nice post, Mitch. Whisenhunt has turned this franchise around for sure. We all are Monday morning qbs. We will always criticize play calling and game moves but the real bottom line is we have a damn good coach in Whisenhunt. Time to give him a new contract.

 

[Buckybird]

good words Mitch.

A big part of winning is the belief you & your teammates can get it done. The Cards believe in themselves, now more than ever.

 

[red desert]

"... pedal to the medal."

I always thought it was pedal to the metal. Could i be wrong?



Anyway, great post, Mitch.

 

[red desert]

good words Mitch.

A big part of winning is the belief you & your teammates can get it done. The Cards believe in themselves, now more than ever.

"Belief precedes reality."

Quoting Mitch from a much earlier post.

 

[Pariah]

Could i be wrong?

no

 

[Doug]

Keep em' coming Mitch.We love your well written posts.

Its great to be a part of something you know everyone is invested in fully and we don't have any prima donna's that are'nt with everyone else.Its leadership and Character ALL OVER this team.

Players are finally reaching their potential and players like CALAIS' CAMPBELL could have gone off on that New York Italian referee anytime last night for all the holds he had on him all night and NONE were called.

One of the worst reffed games I've ever seen against the CARDINALS in my long lifetime.I was embarrassed and if you did'nt see WARNER blowing his stack about 3 times for no pass interference or late hit to HIS OWN head that all eli had to do was ask and he got his flag for much less of an infraction.

We not only beat the giants for the last time in that stadium that will be BLOWN UP before next years season begins but we made a real statement in really giving the giants a td on a tipped ball by DRC and playing the refs along with the giants all night.Especially at the strangest times.We could'nt buy a break.Yet our team showed so much heart in every area.

So much went un observed as we kept Hixon out of the game and the giants trying to keep Breaston out of the game kept punting the ball out of bounds.They were giving him more credit then he really deserves as He isn't as terrifying as Hixon is but has had one game where he had 300+ yards in total returns and catch yards so the giants fear him.Both of our kickers did an awesome job keeping the giants backed up and us in great field position.That was BIGTIME!!!

Now I want a gameplan for the panthers just as highly worked out as that one was and a great week of workouts so Beanie can keep growing as a rusher,blocker and reciever.Same with Doucet.

Breaston and Boldin will probably have their injuries for the rest of this season in some form of pain.Stevie's Knee after every game swells up and he misses practices and Boldin's ankle is gonna be a week to week thing for at least until the playoffs,"IF" we can give him time to get off of it.Maybe a rams game or both of them.Still a high ankle sprain takes forever to heal.Pain to Boldin is not like a normal person,still he is lacking his normal speed that was'nt top level to begin with.

Boldin made some terrific grabs last night and took major hits and stood up and screamed like MORE .....MORE.....! I loved it.

 

[Mitch]

This is such a giddy feeling...I cannot express how totally impressed I am with Bill Davis and the WAY our defense played last night...it feels like a dream come true to see our Cardinals pressing and charging on defense relentlessly snap after snap...and EVERY player doing his part...Clark Haggans played great...Michael Adams did a spectacular job filling in for DRC...Ralph Brown played out of his mind....and, IMO, Antrel Rolle played like a Pro Bowler last night all throughout the game. Dansby had 10 tackles...he was stout...but I love that Bill Davis is sending these guys and they are one tough beast versus the run. And if you think about it, the first TD the defense gave up was off of poor field position following a turnover...the second was a fluke...and all the Giants managed in the second half was three points! This is tremendous my friends!

I love too what the offense managed to do...which is being a tad underscored because of how well the defense played. That Giants' defense is one tough nut to crack and the Cardinals managed to crack them for 24 points and three excellent TDs...on their turf no less. I thought Warner played very well under the circumstances...AND...he DIDN'T fumble on the last sack, which was huge that he didn't...but what still mystifies me is that on that play, Q is in the slot, within arm's reach of Kiwanuka, and by that time Q could hardly run. All he had to be instructed to do is step down and stiff arm Kiwanuka in the shoulder pads, and Gandy would have locked him up from there. If Whiz finally gets smart about these little details, this team could run away from other teams.

The Wildcat call, I thought, was brilliant, but mis-timed in every which way. At the time Warner had just completed an 8 yard pass to Becht on 1st and 10....the Cardinals had all the momentum in their favor...keep doing what you do...and that play requires near perfect execution and can easliy get foiled if the contain man pressures Rolle, which he was able to do while getting held by Ben Patrick.

I also had issues with the running of the clock down at the end of the first half while trying to tie the score...I thought it took the air out of the tires and pretty much led to a mere field goal attempt instead of some legitimate shots at the end zone. And too bad KW missed Q wide open on the post...but KW was being pressured well on that play, so we really can't expect much more than what we got.

And on STs man how about the play where Ali Highsmith stoned Hixon? That said it all. That was another example of how prepared the Cardinals were to take on those Giants. Man, the last two weeks, the game preparation has been extraordinary.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

One play I haven't heard anyone mention was Adub sniffing out and destroying the screen on third and long. When they showed the replay, it was like he already knew exactly what play was on, and simply crushed the ball carrier. I think it was his best game all year so far.

 

[bg7brd]

One play I haven't heard anyone mention was Adub sniffing out and destroying the screen on third and long. When they showed the replay, it was like he already knew exactly what play was on, and simply crushed the ball carrier. I think it was his best game all year so far.

I loved that play. A-dub was on fire yesterday.

 

[Mitch]

One play I haven't heard anyone mention was Adub sniffing out and destroying the screen on third and long. When they showed the replay, it was like he already knew exactly what play was on, and simply crushed the ball carrier. I think it was his best game all year so far.

Great call, DutchmanAZ! That was a huge play.

And I think we should give props to Bryant McFadden...he played his best game as a Cardinal, following a real good effort the week before...and if he ever gets ball skills, man, he could have three interceptions last night.

And how about the play where AW jumped the skinny post route from out of nowhere, and could have had a pick?

The other thing is and I don't know if others have mentioned this but Chris Collinsworth pointed it out, and he knew Bertrand Berry and the Cardinals had figured it out was that Eli's constant "Omaha" calls were for snap counts and the Cardinals were able to time the Giants' snaps...which is real good for the Cardinals, as we know, because they have a real poor propensity for jumping off-sides. But, hey, the game is all about adjusting, and these Cardinals were adjusting sooo well out there, while bringing constant and totally determined effort.

 

[82CardsGrad]

One play I haven't heard anyone mention was Adub sniffing out and destroying the screen on third and long. When they showed the replay, it was like he already knew exactly what play was on, and simply crushed the ball carrier. I think it was his best game all year so far.

Apparently, the team practiced against this play all week. It was instant read and react for A-Dub!!

 

[Pariah]

One play I haven't heard anyone mention was Adub sniffing out and destroying the screen on third and long. When they showed the replay, it was like he already knew exactly what play was on, and simply crushed the ball carrier. I think it was his best game all year so far.

It was like he knew the call. What a read on his part.

 

[Mitch]

And how about the play where the trio of I think it was Rolle, Adams and Brown stood up Jacobs a yard short of the first down in the red zone? Unreal.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

Great Post, Mitch. As Always...

Just wanted to add one thing. The IMPORTANCE of STEVE KEIM & the Scouting Dept. In the past 3-4 years we have drafted" character guys. Players that have some ability but MORE IMPORTANTLY have TREMENDOUS STRENGTH OF WILL. THE LSH's of this world that were TOLD they CAN'T make it. BUT, lo and behold, here they are contributing. The BIGGEST thing that stands out to me last nite is the Cardinals willingness to fight and over-come adversity! The early fumble by Tim, the Kurt "pick", the deflected TD... ALL of these things in the Past would've surely started the "old" Cardinals to start unravelling before our very eyes. NOT THIS GROUP! Bad calls. Our own mistakes. DON'T MATTER! They will fight to over-come. ...And I think this directly goes back to the guys we're bringing in.

If I can make an IOWA reference here. They DO NOT get the BEST players every year. The "elite" choose Ohio State or Michigan. BUT the guys that "choose" IOWA learn to play HARD! TO NOT GIVE UP! I think THESE Cardinals are cut from the same-cloth. I couldn't be HAPPIER or PROUDER to be a Cardinal fan than I am TODAY! GO CARDS!

 

[ASUCHRIS]

It was like he knew the call.

There's a reason for that...he did. On the radio today Wilson said that when they have trips to one side, they almost always call a screen.

 

[Russ Smith]

Mitch I actually liked the clock management right before the half. We had all our TO's so Whiz knew we had plenty of time to get endzone shots if we got down there. There was no change in playcalling because of the clock we simply made damn sure the Giants didn't get much time after our drive was over.

Remember how deflating that tipped pass for a TD was? Imagine if we don't run the clock, kick a FG, and they then get the ball and go down and score. You also have to remember they got the ball to start the 2nd half so Whiz was trying to be sure there was no way they could get consecutive scores.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch I actually liked the clock management right before the half. We had all our TO's so Whiz knew we had plenty of time to get endzone shots if we got down there. There was no change in playcalling because of the clock we simply made damn sure the Giants didn't get much time after our drive was over.

Remember how deflating that tipped pass for a TD was? Imagine if we don't run the clock, kick a FG, and they then get the ball and go down and score. You also have to remember they got the ball to start the 2nd half so Whiz was trying to be sure there was no way they could get consecutive scores.

The way the defense was playing, I wasn't worried about the Giants going anywhere with less than a minute left. I felt that the standing around waiting for the clock after moving the ball into scoring position took all the momentum out of the drive. I didn't like it one bit. It was like playing scared...which the defense didn't do all night, thank goodness.

And while I am here I also thought of another great play...how about the third down, no RB backfield set, with Hightower in the slot where they threw to Hightower on a perfectly executed and timed out pass for the first down. That set up Wells' TD run. That was a great call.

 

[Duckjake]

And how about the play where the trio of I think it was Rolle, Adams and Brown stood up Jacobs a yard short of the first down in the red zone? Unreal.

Still can't believe that little Ralph Brown was able to stop Jacobs like that.

That was Brown of course with the initial hit. Jacobs started to spin around Brown when Dansby came in and hit Jacobs stopping the forward progress and THEN #93 arrives and the entire pile just goes flying backwards.

It was like watching the cavalry arrive.

Note: Who else thinks Adams was held on that play?

 

[Russ Smith]

Still can't believe that little Ralph Brown was able to stop Jacobs like that.

That was Brown of course with the initial hit. Jacobs started to spin around Brown when Dansby came in and hit Jacobs stopping the forward progress and THEN #93 arrives and the entire pile just goes flying backwards.

It was like watching the cavalry arrive.

Note: Who else thinks Adams was held on that play?

Honestly I know people say there's holding on every play but last night was one of the few times I saw holding on literally every play and it went uncalled.

The one that really got me last night was we had a screen called for Hightower. As he tried to leak out into the flat #91 Tuck grabbed his jersey and held him, when he let go Kurt got the ball out to TH who got hit immediately. I couldn't believe they didn't call defensive holding, it was like a 3rd and 27 or something crazy but with holding it's an automatic first down.

It was so obvious because you could see Tim's jersey expanding as Tuck held on and he was pulling away from him, yet none of the refs saw it?

 

[BigRedArk]

Great stuff Mitch. What a game what a game!!!! The Cards record at the Meadowlands going into last nights game was 3-13 but we left it 4-13!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

 

[Pariah]

Still can't believe that little Ralph Brown was able to stop Jacobs like that.

Give me a big enough lever and I shall move the world.

...or something like that.

 

[binkar]

The Cardinals are quickly becoming America's darlings...

Great post that portrays what most of us are feeling. However, I disagree that they are quickly becoming America's darlings. I still don't think they are being taken seriously. All of the analysis from the game that I have heard is more based off of "What's wrong with the Gaints?" as opposed to "Look at these Cardinals." It's pretty frustrating and annoying. All, or almost all, of the Power Rankings I have seen still rank the Giants over the Cards meaning they think it was kind of a fluke. The Cards are still hovering around #10 in the Power Rankings.

It's the Saints are who are quickly becoming America's darlings.