Arizona Cardinals Regular Season - Cardinals Lose to Redskins by 1

This becomes a "definition week" for the Cards, to see how their defense stacked up against a veteran QB (Grossman) and how well they handled a road game 3 time zones away (The Cards in effect were facing a KO time of 10 am AZT).

The Bottom Line:
Cardinals 21 - City Hall 22. I realize I'm probably a minority one one in feeling that the game-officials tilted the playing field more than a little bit. We lost a squeaker but, frankly, even when we were ahead, it didn't feel as if we would win it. We seem to be playing well enough, but seemed to be facing an ever-present "head-wind" consisting in part of Hostile Crowd, Time Zone and The Refs. (I know, I know - If we are to be a contending team, we're going to have to deal with time zones, road-food and noisy enemy crowds, but it just seemed to me that the lopsided penalties represented that final camels' back straw.

The Cardinals were penalized 10 times for 97 yards (The Skins were flagged 3 times for 15 yards - one of which was a delay of game flag on Gano on the final play). The yardage differential favored the Redskins by 82 yards; frequently killed our momentum and sustained theirs. (The roughing call on Kerry Rhodes after Hightower late hit continues to stick in my craw).

Not to say that we were particularly scintillating vs. the run (Washington gained 172 net ground yards) or that we didn't blow a few coverages along the way. But the kicker was final play of our final possession (involving a reversal of a call and turned the ball over to the Redskins with 1:45 left on the cllock and the Cardinals driving for a potential game-winning FG). I don't know how any of you felt at the time, but there was no doubt in my mind that the officials would decide against us (& they did).

The fan fall-out in the wake of what has to be considered a bitter loss is understandable. And wrong.

Lots of sweeping, global generalizations trashing the coaches, ownership and specific players and making unrealistic suggestions that - after two games (& being one point away from being undefeated) we "fire the coach", "junk the 3 - 4", 'run the ball more", "run the ball less", "cut Levi" (& replace him with Batiste) and on and on.

Like I said earlier, this was, to a large extent, a "definition" game, and the Redskins exposed a lot; specifically, (1) we're not running the ball consistently well enough, (2) we have trouble stopping the run, (3) too many miscues, (4) continued miscommunication and a steep learning curve in the secondary, (5) We can't depend on A-Dub being Superman again his season and (6) Kolb was nothing short of heroic behind a bunch of "look-out" pass blockers (from the TV screen, the two biggest culprits appeared to be both tackles (Levi Brown and Brandon Keith; but it also seemed as though either LG (Hadnot or Lutui) and Keith aren't communicating particularly well either).

Many of the above problems are fixable. Prescription for success, obviously should be: "Clean them up - teach 'em, drill 'em, (if necessary, scream at 'em). But some of the problems may be "chronic", and if they are, need to be worked-around (through changes in assignments, adjustments in the playbook etc.)

My updated take: "We're probably not going to die (Our friends in SF, Seattle and probably StL will fortunately see to it that we won't). But we may die unless we clean up our act. That's the lesson we take away on our way back from the Nation's Capital. Time to roll up the old sleeves and chop away."

Game Recap

1st Quarter

Redskins won the toss and returned the opening KO to their own 24. They managed to drive to the Cardinal 6 in ten plays (including a bogus roughing call on Rhodes who was hit after the whistle). On the next play from scrimmage, Adrian Wilson picked off a Grossman pass and returned it to the Cardinal 19. But we went nowhere and punted 5 plays later. Redskins got the ball back on their own 19, but 7 plays later, Grossman threw his second interception; this one to Marshall who returned it to the Cardinal 39. Kolb then hit Roberts for +16 and then (that receiving-maniac) Jeff King for a 21-yard score. Cardinals 7 - Redskins 0.
KO was returned to the Skin 15. A minus-8 yard sack by Rhodes was nullfied by an illegal contact call on Wilson. They managed to move to their own 47 as the quarter ended. 1st Quarter Score: Cardinals 7 - Redskins 0.

2nd Quarter

A 5-yard encroachment call on Lenon moved the ball into Cardinal territory. Heavy doses of Hightower and Helu (for +4, +17, +10, +7, +0) moved them to the Cardinal 3, but (aided by a false start penalty) the defense stiffened and we held Washington to a 26-yard Gano FG. Cardinals 7 - Redskins 3.
Cards started out from their own 20 and managed to move in 7 plays to the Washington 43, where Kolb was sacked for minus-8 and fumbled (Cards recovered). Zastudil punted into the end zone. A 20-yard Hightower run and a middle-screen run and catch for +33 by Helu put the ball on the Cardinal 20. A pass interference call on Jefferson gave them the ball on our one, where Grossman hit Davis for the score (An offside penalty on Campbell wasn't needed). Redskins 10 - Cardinals 7.
3:04 left til halftime. Jefferson returned the KO to our own 29. A false start flag on Levi Brown set us back 5 yards and helped us go 3 & out. 15 extra yards were tacked onto an excellent runback by Banks when King made a desperation face mask grab (possibly saving a TD, but a pretty dangerous and scary move). Skins ball on the Cardinal 20. Once again the defense stiffened and Washington had to kick a FG from the 12. But Campbell blocked it. Cards managed to move from their own 23 to their own 25 before punting away. Skins took a knee for the final 0:03. Halftime Score: Redskins 10 - Cardinals 7.

3rd Quarter

2H opening KO was out of bounds; Cards started from their own 40. Lots of Beanie (for +9, +10, +9, +3). We got to the Redskin 17, but - after being sacked for minus-8, Kolb threw into triple coverage and was picked off at the Redskin 11. Grossman then hit Davis deep for 40 yards. But the drive stalled, and 4 plays later, the Redskins punted. Cards got the ball back on their own 10-yard line. A 24-yard completion to Fitz and a 25-yard run by Beanie were part of a 90-yard drive capped by a pretty TD run by Beanie from 2-yards out. Finding everthing clogged up inside, Beanie changed direction, took it outside and scored unmolested. Cardinals 14 - Redskins 10.
Banks returned the KO to the Washington 23. An interference call on Rhodes put the ball on their 46, but they didn't go anywhere and punted to our 13. A holding call on Jefferson backed us up to the 7. Four plays after Beanie ran for +11, we were forced to punt. Zastudil punted directly to Banks who returned it 26-yards to the Arizona 44 as the quarter ended. Third Quarter Score: Cardinals 14 - Redskins 10.

4th Quarter

After an 8-yard completion to Armstrong, it was Helu for +7, +18 and minus-3. Drive stalled on the 5. FG was good..Cardinals 14 - Redskins 13.
Jefferson returned the KO to our own 32. After a false start flag on Beanie, Kolb hit Fitzgerald (who got open deep) with a perfect pass that resulted in a 73-yard touchdown. Cardinals 21 - Redskins 13.
10:58 (too much time) left on the clock. Banks returned the KO to the Washington 27, After 2 incompletions, Grossman hit Gaffney for +20. A 7-yard quick-opener by their FB (Young) converted a 3rd & 1. They eventually made it to the Cardinal 18, where Grossman hit Moss deep right for the winning TD. 2-point conversion failed. Cardinals 21 - Redskins 19.
5:14 left. Cards took over on their own 20 and went 3 & out. (One run for +3 followed by two desparation heaves out of bounds by Kolb).
Skins got the ball back on their own 36 with 4:20 left. Three straight completions for +15, +4 & +12; followed by Helu runs of +11 and +0. Eventually, Washington wound up 4th & 4 on the Cardinal 16. Gano made sure he didn't shank this one. He connected from 34 to give the Redskins their final lead. - Redskins 22 - Cardinals 21.
1:45 left on the clock. KO was downed in the end zone. On the first play from scrimmage, Kolb hit Stuckey for +12, he coughed up the ball but was ruled down by contact. But the review of the play resulted in a reversal which gave Washington the ball back. Three knees later, the game was history.Final Score: Redskins 22 - Cardinals 21.

Game Stats

Cards were penalized 10 times for 97 yards (Skins were flagged just 3 times including a delay of game call on Gano on the final play of the game).
Kolb went 17 for 30 and 251 yards, 2 TD's and 1 interception.
Kolb was sacked 3 times (We got to Grossman once).
Beanie carried 14 times for 93 yards.
Fitz caught 7 for 133 yards and a TD.
Roberts caught 3 for 30.
Other two Cardinal TD's were by King and Beanie.
Skins ran 79 offensive plays. (We ran 48).
Skins racked up 28 first downs to our 16.
Time of Possession: Skins 38:30 - Cards 22:20.
We dialed up 15 runs to 33 passes
We gave up 172 rushing yards (while gaining 93).
Cards lost one fumble (Skins zippo)
Cards picked off the Skins twice - Wilson and Marshall. (Skins had one pick).
Rhodes and Peterson led the team in tackles with 8, followed by Bradley (7) and Walker (7).

Bright Spots

More Game Changing Plays (Deep passes for TD's, Picks, Fumble Recoveries, Blocked Kicks, Punt Returns).
The Kolb-to-Fitz connection.
Beanie's total yardage and improved YPC numbers.
Calais getting hands up to block passes (& FG's)

The Dark Side

Poor pass blocking (especially at crunch time).
Inconsistent run blocking.
We acquired Stuckey so that we could rely on his veteran experience to deliver big plays at crunch time /not to put the ball on the ground.
Poor run defense (Redskin blockers consistently blew past our Front 3 line of defense and then ate up our LB's).
Pass rush was energetic, but often a split-second late.
Jefferson and Peterson's athletic "potential" can only take them (& us) so far - they're going to have to amp-up their progress along the learning curve.
It's pretty obvious we can't depend on A-Dub to "leap high buildings" this year. We may be "just OK" at safety, but we just can't expect as many miracles this season.
I am not crazy about Zastudil's directional punting (compared to Graham a year ago).
Just this memo to Commissioner Goodell. Consider a performance review of this officiating crew. No game should be officated in so lopsided a manner.

Last Word:
We lost. Life may still be good, but right now it sucks..

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