Here I will post news from the Cardinals game as it happens. Watch it live on FOX. Newest info is at the top!
GAME WRAP UP – The game is over, the Cardinals give up a 17-3 lead, and give up 24 points in the second half. The east-coast curse stays with the Cardinals. Penalties, turnovers, and special teams mishaps all played a part today. The defense played well, the offense was hot. But in the end it just wasn’t their day. The loss doesn’t trouble me though, the Cardinals played tough. If they can fix some problems with tackling and turnovers, they can still make a run at the playoffs. Thanks for joining us today!
Fourth Quarter – Arizona 23, Carolina 27.
1:00 – The Panthers succeeded at moving the ball, got their first downs and will now run down the clock for the victory.
2:51 – The Panthers are trying to run the clock down by running the ball but the Cardinals defense is stuffing them at the line.
5:57 – Cards cannot convert the long third down, and are forced to punt. It’s a touchback, and Carolina starts at the 20.
7:29 – Another penalty brings back a good gain by Jeremy Urban. Add on a sack and it’s 3rd and long for the Cards.
8:10 – When Warner has good protection he’s very good at finding the open receiver. That time he finds Fitzgerald for the first down.
9:00 – Another near interception, Warner can’t get too antsy back there. When the pressure is on he needs to be stable, not desperate.
9:09 – Lloyd’s kickoff nearly goes through the uprights, and the Cardinals will start from their 20.
10:00 – A big third and three coming up for both teams…. Delhomme pass is caught but Rolle tackles him short of the first down. The Panthers to attempt a 50 yarder… and it’s good.
11:07 – Penalties are not the way the Cardinals defense wants to operate right now. Don’t give up any yards you don’t have to.
11:38 – Warner is P.O.’d as his pass over the middle is tipped and intercepted by the Panthers. They return out around the 30 yard line and take over with a chance to extend their lead. Time for a big defensive stop for the Cardinals. Get that hot offense back onto the field.
12:25 – Cards have run 6 straight passes from the shotgun spread set. This is what Warner loves. A little help from a pass interference call and it’s first and 10 from the 22.
12:59 – Arizona is quickly moving the ball again, with receptions by Breaston, Urban and Boldin. It’s first and ten from the Carolina 27.
15:00 – Cardinals begin their drive from the 22 yard line.
Third Quarter – Arizona 23, Carolina 24.
THIRD QUARTER WRAP UP – Well what was a defensive struggle is now a shootout. 5 of the 6 third quarter drives have resulted in touchdowns. The lone wolf was the Arizona drive which ended in a James fumble. Some one’s defense needs to come up big in the fourth quarter, but they look tired out there. It’s still anyone’s game entering the final quarter of play. If Arizona avoids bad penalties, turnovers and missed tackles, they should be able to put up the points to fend off the Panthers. Though that missed extra point could come into play.
0:02 – Ruling on the field stands, that’s pretty incredible. I guess it comes down to indisputable evidence needed to overturn the call. There just wasn’t enough hard proof his heel hit out of bounds, but that’s a tough call to make. Touchdown Carolina, they take their first lead of the game.
0:02 – Steve Smith breaks poor Cardinals tackling and takes it to the house. BUT he may have stepped out of bounds, and it looks like he did. Challenge flag is out. It looked like his toes were in bounds and that’s where he made a divot, but his heel may have come down out of bounds. This could go either way.
0:50 – Panthers being their drive from the 27 yard line.
0:58 – The Panthers pay too much attention to Fitzgerald, and Boldin gets his second TD of the day. Cards go 78 yards in 11 plays. The PAT is no good after a muffed snap. This could come back to hurt the Cardinals later.
2:22 – The Cards have not been able to get the running game going at all. Most of the third down conversions have come on quick passes. Against Dallas they hammered the ball inside with Hightower. Not gaining any ground in the trenches this week.
4:00 – Another toss to Fitzgerald brings the Cardinals closer to the red zone. First down from the 22.
4:52 – Cards were getting good consistent yards on short passes for 7-10 yards. Two attempts deep down field set up a 3rd and 10 which Fitzgerald converts! First down at the Arizona 48.
6:05 – JJ Arrington hasn’t been able to bust out a return like he did against Dallas two weeks ago. Cardinals begin from their 22 on this drive. Shake off that fumble and lets get some more offense going!
6:10 – Delhomme to Steve Smith for the immediate touchdown, and just like that, the game is tied.
6:37 – Cardinals begin their drive at the 16 yard line. James fumbles the ball on a second down run, and the Panthers take over deep in Arizona territory.
6:54 – DeAngelo Williams takes it in from 15 yards out. Cardinals are doing a poor job of tackling. Williams had several second chance yards on that drive. Cards need to tackle better to contain this guy.
8:42 – Carolina getting some big runs from Williams, and then hitting King for a big reception deep down the middle. First down at the Arizona 22.
10:13 – Carolina begins their first drive of the half from the 20.
10:13 – Hightower runs into his linemen, but reverses his path and finds an opening to find the endzone. Cardinals quickly extend their lead to 14 points.
10:52 – First and goal at the 3 yard line for the Cardinals. Moving with ease against the Panthers.
11:56 – Warner find Fitzgerald for the big pass down to the 17 yard line! In the red zone, let’s see if they can put up 6.
13:22 – Cards are moving the ball well so far with quick passes to Fitzgerald and Boldin. First down at the Carolina 47.
15:00 – Cardinals receive the kick to begin the second half. They will begin at the 36 yard line. Lets see if Arizona can continue their third quarter dominance which they have displayed this season.
FIRST HALF STATS – Arizona 10, Carolina 3
Passing
- Warner – 13/21, 141 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 sack.
- Delhomme – 13/20, 92 yards, 1 fumble, 1 sack.
Receiving
- Breaston – 4 for 43 yards.
- Boldin – 2 for 13 yards, 1 touchdown.
- Muhammed – 5 for 38 yards.
- Smith – 2 for 24 yards.
Rushing
- Boldin – 1 for 30 yards.
- Williams – 7 for 40 yards.
Second Quarter – Arizona 10, Carolina 3
SECOND QUARTER WRAP UP – Still a defensive struggle, though the Cardinals are doing okay with moving the ball. They did a great job taking advantage of a Carolina turnover deep in their own zone, scoring on a quick pass to Boldin. The defense is doing a great job holding down the Panthers receivers, but DeAngelo Williams did get some good runs in there. Still anybodies game as we head to the third quarter.
0:00 – Carolina ends the half with an incompletion. It’s halftime. Catch ya back in the third quarter.
0:09 – Carolina is trying to make a drive to score at the end of the game, they call a time out after a first down pass for 2 yards. Ball on the 44 yard line. The next pass is incomplete. 5 seconds remain. Flag for holding on the Cardinals. It’s first down Carolina, with 5 seconds remaining at the 49 yard line.
1:14 – The FOX announcer literally just said Rackers was “clock blocked” by getting iced. That better be on AwfulAnnouncing.com. The 39 yard kick is…. a fake! The pass is caught down field but short of the first down. Interesting call. Panthers take over at their own 11 yard line. I kinda like that call, if he gets a little further downfield and gets a better pass from the placeholder, he might have been in. Would have been nice to extend the lead, but I’m not too upset about that call.
1:14 – Ball popped out of Warner’s hands but is caught in the air by Levi Brown, Cards will kick a field goal. At least they didn’t give the ball over to the Panthers. Neil Rackers (9 of 11 this year) to kick a 39 yarder. Carolina takes a time out.
1:56 – Timeout Cardinals on 3rd and 5 from the 11 yard line. Fitzgerals wasn’t able to pull down a 2nd down fade into the endzone. It looked like he was making sure that ball wasn’t intercepted.
2:00 – Two minute warning, Cardinals were lined up for a play but the refs blew it dead. You would think they would give them a little breathing room there and run the play since they have no sense of time. But no. Blown dead, no play.
2:46 – Jeremy Urban makes a nice catch and run across the middle, Cardinals first and ten from the 16 yard line. Still no idea about game clock time. Ref’s are keeping track of it. It must be difficult for the coaches and players. Cardinals slow getting up the line of scrimmage. Delay of game. Ref announces 2:46 left in the quarter.
?:?? – Breaston makes a catch for another first down, and the Cardinals are trying to push the ball down field to get another score before the half.
?:?? – Now Fox has eliminated their clock use too. Cardinals begin their drive at the 22 yard line. Fitzgerald makes a great catch to hang on to the ball on third down. Cardinals are now 3 of 6 on third down today.
5:45 – This clock issue is taking a long time to figure out. The FOX clock says 5:45, some of the clocks in the stadium say 6:13 and weren’t moving on the last few plays. The ref announces that the game clock on the field is now broken and they will keep the time on the field. The TV clock is working however. John Kasay to attempt the field goal, a 22 yard “chip-shot”…. It’s good.
5:45 – Rogers-Cromartie nearly intercepts Delhommes 3rd down pass, forcing a fourth and goal for the Panthers who will settle for the field goal. The refs are having a meeting, it seems to be about an issue with the game clock. Regardless of the time, the Cardinals defense comes up big with a run stuff and a near interception in the endzone. Big plays by the Cardinals D.
7:20 – Mohammed drops a wide open pass that would have been 6 for the Panthers. Cardinals got lucky. A 2nd down run is stopped for no gain. Big third down coming up.
7:24 – First and goal Panthers inside the 5 yard line. Let’s see if the Cardinals defense can come up with a stop.
8:28 – DeAngelo Williams is breaking free for some runs for Carolina. First a 7 yarder out of the Wildcat, now he gets about 12 on first down, add on another 15 for a face-mask call on the Cardinals. First down Panthers at the Arizona 26.
10:15 – Panthers try the Dolphin’s Wildcat formation, but the Cards have nothing of it. Panthers do eventually pick up a first down. They are at the 36 yard line now.
11:11 – Panthers begin their drive at around the 23 yard line. Nows the time for their offense to respond.
11:16 – Cards waste no time, touchdown Anquan Boldin! The boy is back. Man to man coverage on the left side with Boldin and Fitzgerald. That’s tough on the defense. Great exclamation mark by the Cardinals. Force the fumble, one play, touchdown. Carolina made the first mistake of the game, and it cost them.
11:21 – Dansby forces the fumble from Delhomme, Cardinals ball inside the 5 yard line! Cards need to capitalize with a touchdown.
12:03 – Panthers begin the drive with a false start. Not a good way to start the drive. Both teams are doing a good job avoiding penalties, this game might be about who screws up first in this defensive struggle.
12:25 – Breaston makes a great catch on a tipped ball but it’s not enough for the first down, Cards punt the ball through the endzone, Panthers ball at the 20.
13:40 – Breaston hasn’t had a lot of room to run today. His two punt returns have been less than 3 yards and he’s been smothered after his receptions from Warner.
15:00 – Panthers continue their drive, but can not convert on 3rd and 9, it will be 4th and about 3, they will punt. Cardinals should have good field position, lets see if they can take advantage. Francisco injured on the play, injury timeout.
First Quarter – Arizona 3, Carolina 0
FIRST QUARTER WRAP UP – The Cardinals got off to a good start defensively, stopping the Panthers on their first two drives, but failed to take advantage offensively. They had to settle for 3 points after having a first and goal from the 6 yard line. If they want to win today, they need to keep the defensive pressure on Jake Delhomme and free up Warner to find his receivers. He’s getting a beating back there. The secondary needs to come up big covering Steve Smith, he has already proven his effectiveness today.
0:00 – First quarter ends as the Panthers begin their third drive deep in their own zone.
0:21 – Cards forced to punt after failing to convert on 3rd down. Punt is taken for a fair-catch at the Panthers 8 yard line. Nice punt!
1:20 – Cards are on the move again at their 30 yard line, Warner is taking a pounding back there, he’s been hit a lot. Panthers D is doing a good job of stuffing Hightower.
2:55 – Panthers got a good drive going with a few receptions by Steve Smith, but the Cards come up big on third down and the Panthers will punt from about the 50 yard line. Cardinals to start from their 14 yard lines.
6:56 – Cardinals have to settle for three after a good stop by the Panthers defense. Cards had first and goal from the 6, but a few miscues and they couldn’t punch it in. If they want to beat this Panthers team, they are going to have to score touchdowns, not field goals.
10:00 – Cardinals offense is looking good, converting on third down, and a big gainer down the field on a reverse to Anquan Boldin. Good thing to get him involved early following the injury.
13:20 – Panthers go three and out, a great start for the Cards defense on the road.
15:00 – The Cardinals win the toss and have deferred to the Panthers, lets hope this pays off…
