Red Birds Take The Week Off
Six games have been played and the Arizona Cardinals (4-2) stand two games ahead of the rest of their division. The first half of the season is just two short, weeks away. The Cardinals haven't looked this good in 20 years. The Red Birds take this week off, licking their wounds, enjoying the wonderful, Arizona sunshine, and celebrating as a winning team. A team who appears to have what it takes to make it, at least, one game into the play-offs. The Az. Cardinals are 4-2...Wow!!
Of course, let's not get carried away. The Cardinals still have a lot of work to do. They must prepare for next week when they are on the road and battling the very tough Carolina Panthers.
While the Cards have the day off, the Panthers are playing today, at home, against the New Orleans Saints. Carolina currently has a 4-2 record, in a tight NFC South Division race, and stands in second place.
For the record, the Saints are in last place in the NFC South and has a 3-3 record. That's tight!
Including last year, the Cardinals have a 9-2 record at home. Home field advantage is essential to the Cards success. The Cardinals do not fair very well on the road. They really need to step up the offense if they plan to beat Carolina.
Giving credit where credit is due, veteran Kurt Warner, though shaky at times (very shaky at times), is getting the job done as the Cardinal's starting quarterback.
KTAR Sports commentator, Ron Wolfley, could not have said it better, last week against the Dallas Cowboys, when he announced, "Right now, Kurt Warner could throw a Twinkie into a toaster!"
Warner has a 102.8 quarterback rating, which isn't bad, and truly owes his success to his receivers. Had it not been for the athletic performances of wide-receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, a lot of Warner's passes would have been incomplete, at best.
Larry Fitzgerald has shown his ability in numerous situations that he is unstoppable. Fitzgerald has already accumulated 546 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is well on his way to a 1000 yard season.
Anquan Boldin has put up awesome numbers, as well. Boldin has 366 accumulated yards and 5 touchdowns. Folks, these are Pro-bowl style numbers. Boldin has been out for two games after getting injured in the remaining seconds of the 56-35 loss to the New York Jets.
Anquan sustained a major blow by Jets safety Eric Smith and received a sinus-fracture. Smith was given a one game suspension and a $50,000 fine by the NFL organization.
With Boldin out the last two games, headcoach Ken Whissenhunt has been able to exercise his depth, giving his other great players like wide-receiver Steve Breaston and rookie wide-receiver Early Doucet, solid playing time. Anquan Boldin may be available to play next week against Carolina.
Preparing for next week is crucial. After defeating the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys, winning the last two games in a row, the Cardinals must come off the bye-week with continued momentum.
In my opinion, for the Cards to remain successful during the rest of the season, it is up to Kurt Warner to stay focused, come out with the same intensity that he performs in the second half of games, and quit dropping the ball. I feel that the Cardinals would have killed the Dallas Cowboys and the game would have never made it to over-time, had it not been for a few dangerous, offensive mistakes.
Thankfully...a win is a win! Go Cardinals!
-Stanley Howard
Of course, let's not get carried away. The Cardinals still have a lot of work to do. They must prepare for next week when they are on the road and battling the very tough Carolina Panthers.
While the Cards have the day off, the Panthers are playing today, at home, against the New Orleans Saints. Carolina currently has a 4-2 record, in a tight NFC South Division race, and stands in second place.
For the record, the Saints are in last place in the NFC South and has a 3-3 record. That's tight!
Including last year, the Cardinals have a 9-2 record at home. Home field advantage is essential to the Cards success. The Cardinals do not fair very well on the road. They really need to step up the offense if they plan to beat Carolina.
Giving credit where credit is due, veteran Kurt Warner, though shaky at times (very shaky at times), is getting the job done as the Cardinal's starting quarterback.
KTAR Sports commentator, Ron Wolfley, could not have said it better, last week against the Dallas Cowboys, when he announced, "Right now, Kurt Warner could throw a Twinkie into a toaster!"
Warner has a 102.8 quarterback rating, which isn't bad, and truly owes his success to his receivers. Had it not been for the athletic performances of wide-receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, a lot of Warner's passes would have been incomplete, at best.
Larry Fitzgerald has shown his ability in numerous situations that he is unstoppable. Fitzgerald has already accumulated 546 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is well on his way to a 1000 yard season.
Anquan Boldin has put up awesome numbers, as well. Boldin has 366 accumulated yards and 5 touchdowns. Folks, these are Pro-bowl style numbers. Boldin has been out for two games after getting injured in the remaining seconds of the 56-35 loss to the New York Jets.
Anquan sustained a major blow by Jets safety Eric Smith and received a sinus-fracture. Smith was given a one game suspension and a $50,000 fine by the NFL organization.
With Boldin out the last two games, headcoach Ken Whissenhunt has been able to exercise his depth, giving his other great players like wide-receiver Steve Breaston and rookie wide-receiver Early Doucet, solid playing time. Anquan Boldin may be available to play next week against Carolina.
Preparing for next week is crucial. After defeating the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys, winning the last two games in a row, the Cardinals must come off the bye-week with continued momentum.
In my opinion, for the Cards to remain successful during the rest of the season, it is up to Kurt Warner to stay focused, come out with the same intensity that he performs in the second half of games, and quit dropping the ball. I feel that the Cardinals would have killed the Dallas Cowboys and the game would have never made it to over-time, had it not been for a few dangerous, offensive mistakes.
Thankfully...a win is a win! Go Cardinals!
-Stanley Howard
Keywords: Arizona Cardinals
