After a long week following their tough road loss in
Seattle, the Cardinals were poised to rebound in the NFC West against the St. Louis Rams. The St. Louis squad experienced a rough week as well. They were sent
reeling following their loss to the 49ers, a team most predict to be the
divisional cellar-dweller. Rams players offered no explanation for their dismal
performance, most merely regurgitating the tired line of “on any given Sunday”.
It was obvious that they were stewing and were licking their chops at the chance
of redemption versus Arizona. Both teams’ Week 2 disappointment, coupled with
the fact that this was a critical early season divisional match-up, made for an
electric atmosphere.
The fireworks began immediately as KR Bryant Johnson
fielded the opening kickoff at his own 3 and took it back to the Rams' 38-yard
line. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were limited to only 3 plays after RB
Edgerrin James was stuffed 2 yards behind the line on a 3rd-and-inches by LB
Dexter Coakley. Arizona settled for a 48-yard Neil Rackers field goal to take
the early 3-0 lead.
The Rams' first series began at their own 26, but quickly
crossed in Cardinals' territory on a pass from QB Marc Bulger to WR Torry Holt
down to the 42. After the big first play, the Cards' defense stiffened, with DT
Kendrick Clancy making a tackle on RB Steven Jackson behind the line. That was
followed by an incomplete screen attempt by Bulger, setting up a 3rd and long
attempt. With LB James Darling applying heavy pressure on the blitz, Bulger
forced a ill-advised pass in the direction of WR Isaac Bruce that was
intercepted by CB Antrel Rolle and returned to the Rams' 45. Again, the
Cardinals offense was unable to take advantage of the short field provided to
them.
QB Kurt Warner's woes continued as he didn't complete a
pass until the 11:15 mark in the 2nd quarter. On his first pass attempt,
Warner's lack of mobility was evident, as he was hurried into a poor throw even
with good protection up front. Dexter Coakley was the recipient of this gift,
erasing Bulger's mistake and setting the St. Louis offense up at the Arizona 25.
Coakley enjoyed a career day, issuing 13 tackles (2 sacks) as well as
collecting a Marcel Shipp fumble to go along with the interception. Fortunately
for the Cards, he was the only Rams player to shine in this contest.
St. Louis' front five was unable to hold the Arizona
defensive line in check, as DL Leonard Little single-handedly pushed the offense
out of field goal range with back-to-back sacks of Bulger. These were followed
by LB Karlos Dansby's acrobatic defense of a pass intended for Holt near the
goalline. Dansby saved the lead for Arizona after CB David Macklin blew the
coverage and looking very confused in the process. After the stop, both teams
traded punts and neither team came close to scoring again until the 2-minute
warning. RB Edgerrin James took a handoff on 2nd and short from his own 35 and
carried the ball to the Rams 12 before SS Corey Chavous was able to take him
down. After the stoppage, TE Leonard Pope was on the receiving end of Warner's
throw for the first TD of his NFL career.
When the teams took the field following the intermission,
it was obvious that St. Louis was going to be fighting an uphill battle. The
Cardinals defense stepped their game up, shutting down the Rams' offensive
attack and only allowing one drive to march past the 50. On that drive, the
visiting team was only able to get as far as the Arizona 32, where they were
forced to settle for a 50 yard FG by K Jeff Wilkins. They wouldn't score again
in the game. Again, Dennis Green employed the ball-control philosophy with the
second-half lead, riding James (26 carries - 95 yards) and Shipp (11 carries -
67 yards, 1 TD) to the victory. Warner finished on 11-24 passing for 143 yards.
Cardinals win 17-3
On Tap:
The Cardinals venture outside of the NFC West for the first
time when they travel to Atlanta to face the 3-0 Falcons. The Cardinals will
have their hands full in this one with the key task being to slow the
Vick-attack. The offense will certainly have to step it up if they hope to keep
pace with this high-octane assault on turf. Coach Green knows that his team
hasn't played a game yet this year in which their effort would have been enough
to beat this foe. He can only hope that his receiving corps will have time to
stretch the field against an aggressive Falcon squad.