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Cardinals Pulse
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Arizona Cardinals' 2007 PTF Draft Review |
| 2007 PTF DRAFT REVIEW | | ARIZONA CARDINALS Arizona Reshapes Its Defense and Builds Depth for the Future |
The Arizona Cardinals entered the 2007 PTF Draft with an opportunity to do more than simply add young talent. Arizona used the weekend to reshape several areas of the roster, coming away with ten rookies while also completing two trades that produced immediate starters.
The Cardinals' first three selections are all expected to step directly into the starting lineup on defense. First-round selection Paul Posluszny will move outside to LOLB, Brandon Meriweather will transition from strong safety to free safety, and John Wendling will take over at strong safety. Those moves allowed Arizona to make additional changes around the roster. Scott Fujita was dealt to Green Bay for kicker Shayne Graham, while Jason Allen was traded to Cleveland for offensive tackle Marcus McNeill. Graham and McNeill are both projected starters.
After addressing the starting lineup early, Arizona spent the remainder of the draft accumulating developmental players and depth. The result is a class featuring immediate contributors at the top, several intriguing offensive linemen in the middle rounds, and perhaps one of the draft's most interesting late-round values at running back.
| 1.19 — MLB PAUL POSLUSZNY, PENN STATE | | Projected Role: Starting LOLB Overall: 78 | Speed: 89 | Acceleration: 92 | Tackle: 83 | Awareness: 70 |
Arizona's first selection provides one of the clearest examples of the Cardinals drafting a player for their scheme rather than simply accepting the position listed next to his name. Paul Posluszny enters the league as a middle linebacker, but the Cardinals intend to move the Penn State product immediately to left outside linebacker, where his athletic profile should translate extremely well.
The most impressive numbers are his 89 speed and 92 acceleration. At 6'2" and 232 pounds, Posluszny possesses the closing burst needed to attack the edge, chase plays from the backside and remain on the field against faster offensive personnel. His 83 tackle rating gives Arizona a dependable run defender from day one, while a 70 awareness rating is already respectable for a 23-year-old rookie. He is not merely a developmental athlete. Posluszny arrives capable of starting.
His selection also created a domino effect elsewhere on the roster. Veteran Scott Fujita was traded to Green Bay during the draft in exchange for kicker Shayne Graham, who will become Arizona's starter. In essence, the Cardinals were able to replace Fujita with a younger and considerably faster linebacker while using the outgoing veteran to address another starting position.
There are still areas for Posluszny to develop. His 57 catching rating means Arizona should not expect a natural interception machine, and his ability to diagnose increasingly complicated offenses will determine how quickly he develops into a complete three-down linebacker. Physically, however, there is very little missing. His combination of size, speed, acceleration and tackling gives the coaching staff tremendous flexibility in how it deploys him.
At No. 19, Arizona wasn't looking for a project. It was looking for a new cornerstone at linebacker. Posluszny has every opportunity to become exactly that, and his ability to immediately replace Fujita makes this one of the most consequential selections of the Cardinals' draft.
| 2.31 — SS BRANDON MERIWEATHER, MIAMI | | Projected Role: Starting FS Overall: 78 | Speed: 84 | Acceleration: 90 | Agility: 89 | Catch: 71 |
At the end of the second round, Arizona found another player it believes can immediately improve the starting defense. Brandon Meriweather was drafted as a strong safety, but the Cardinals will move the Miami product to free safety and give him the starting job heading into the season.
The transition makes sense when looking at his skill set. Meriweather brings an intriguing combination of 89 agility, 90 acceleration, 80 jumping and 71 catching. His straight-line 84 speed isn't elite for a defensive back, but his short-area explosiveness and change-of-direction ability should make him considerably more comfortable playing the football in space. The Cardinals want a safety capable of reacting quickly when the ball is in the air, and Meriweather has some of the strongest coverage-oriented attributes among the players Arizona selected.
His arrival also allowed the organization to make one of its most important draft-day trades. Former starting safety Jason Allen was sent to Cleveland for Marcus McNeill, giving Arizona a new starting right tackle. That means the Meriweather selection effectively helped the Cardinals address two positions at once: Meriweather takes over the vacated spot in the secondary while McNeill strengthens the offensive line.
There will be a learning curve. Meriweather's 62 awareness and 67 tackling indicate that he isn't yet a completely polished safety, particularly when asked to diagnose plays or consistently contribute against the run. That reinforces the decision to use him at free safety rather than keeping him at strong safety, where Arizona would demand more consistent physical involvement near the line of scrimmage.
Arizona is betting on athleticism, range and ball skills. If the mental side develops alongside those physical tools, Meriweather could become a long-term fixture in the Cardinals' secondary. For a selection made at 2.31, finding an immediate starter with a 78 overall rating is exactly the type of value Arizona was hoping to uncover.
| 2.32 — SS JOHN WENDLING, WYOMING | | Projected Role: Starting SS Overall: 74 | Speed: 87 | Acceleration: 91 | Tackle: 78 | Jump: 83 |
Arizona didn't wait long before completing its overhaul at safety. One selection after taking Brandon Meriweather, the Cardinals used No. 32 in the second round on Wyoming safety John Wendling. Unlike Meriweather, Wendling will remain at strong safety and is projected to immediately replace Lance Schulters, who is no longer with the organization.
Wendling's 74 overall rating doesn't immediately jump off the page, but his individual attributes tell a more interesting story. At 6'1" and 221 pounds, he combines legitimate safety size with 87 speed and 91 acceleration. Add an 83 jumping rating and Arizona has a defender with the physical tools to cover a large amount of ground despite being projected primarily as its strong safety.
He should also provide more physicality in run support than Meriweather. Wendling arrives with a 78 tackle rating, giving the Cardinals a safety who can be brought toward the line of scrimmage without becoming an obvious liability against the run. His 94 toughness, 96 injury rating and extraordinary 98 stamina further suggest a player built to handle a major workload. Arizona should be able to leave him on the field for virtually every defensive situation.
The obvious concern is awareness. At only 54, Wendling is going to make rookie mistakes. There may be moments when his tremendous athleticism puts him in position to make a play only for his recognition to arrive a fraction too late. His 67 catching is adequate rather than exceptional as well, so the Cardinals shouldn't expect him to consistently create turnovers simply because he gets near the football.
Still, Arizona clearly prioritized athletic upside in rebuilding its secondary. Meriweather provides the agility and ball skills at free safety; Wendling provides size, acceleration and tackling at strong safety. Two consecutive selections have produced two projected starters, making the end of the second round one of the defining stretches of Arizona's entire draft.
| 3.20 — LG ANDY ALLEMAN, AKRON | | Projected Role: Reserve C Overall: 72 | Strength: 81 | Pass Block: 85 | Run Block: 79 | Awareness: 66 |
After using three consecutive selections on projected defensive starters, Arizona shifted its attention toward building depth in the trenches. Andy Alleman was drafted as a left guard, but the Cardinals plan to move the Akron product inside to center and develop him as an interior reserve.
It isn't a glamorous selection, but Alleman possesses exactly the sort of ratings that can make a middle-round offensive lineman valuable over the course of a season. His 85 pass blocking is already his strongest attribute, and it is complemented by 79 run blocking and 81 strength. For a player who isn't being asked to start immediately, that gives Arizona a relatively high floor. He should be capable of surviving meaningful snaps if injuries force him onto the field.
The transition to center will put greater emphasis on Alleman's 66 awareness. He will have to adjust to working in the middle of the offensive line and handling responsibilities that are different from those he faced at guard. Athletically, he isn't going to overwhelm anyone. His 54 speed, 38 agility and 64 acceleration make him much better suited to operating within a confined area than being asked to consistently block defenders in space.
That's perfectly acceptable for his intended role. Arizona isn't drafting Alleman because it needs a pulling guard or an athletic tackle. The Cardinals need a reliable interior blocker who can develop behind the starters and provide insurance at a position where a single injury can disrupt the entire offensive line.
Perhaps the most encouraging number is his 99 injury rating. Offensive-line depth matters precisely because injuries inevitably force reserve players onto the field, and Arizona appears to have selected someone who should himself be extremely durable.
Alleman does not need to become a star for this pick to work. If he successfully transitions to center and becomes a dependable interior reserve capable of stepping into the lineup when necessary, Arizona will have gotten exactly what it needed from selection No. 3.20.
| 4.07 — WR RYNE ROBINSON, MIAMI UNIVERSITY | | Projected Role: WR Depth Overall: 73 | Speed: 89 | Agility: 86 | Acceleration: 86 | Catch: 83 |
The Cardinals opened the fourth round by adding a player who may have an opportunity to contribute earlier than his depth-chart designation suggests. Ryne Robinson isn't being drafted to immediately take over a starting receiver position, but his attributes give Arizona an interesting weapon to develop behind its established options.
Robinson's best trait is the combination of athleticism and reliable hands. He enters the league with 89 speed, 86 agility, 86 acceleration and an 83 catching rating. For a fourth-round selection, that is a useful foundation. He should be able to threaten defensive backs vertically while also possessing enough quickness to create separation underneath. Arizona can find specific packages for him even before he is prepared for a larger role.
At 5'9" and 179 pounds, Robinson obviously isn't built to overpower defensive backs. His 45 strength reinforces that limitation. Arizona will need to utilize him in situations where his movement skills are emphasized rather than expecting him to consistently win physical matchups against larger corners. His 84 jumping rating provides some compensation and could allow him to play slightly larger than his frame, but his size still defines the type of receiver he is likely to become.
The primary developmental concern is awareness. Robinson enters with only a 50 rating in that category, which could limit his immediate ability to handle a large portion of the offense. His athletic skills may be ready before his understanding of the passing game is. That makes patience important, particularly when the Cardinals already have more established receivers available.
Fortunately, Arizona doesn't need him to start. That makes Robinson a particularly comfortable developmental selection. The Cardinals can use him selectively, take advantage of his speed when matchups dictate it and allow his awareness to improve without putting the offense on his shoulders.
At 4.07, a 73-overall receiver with 89 speed and 83 catching provides plenty to work with. Robinson may begin his career as depth, but his physical tools give him a legitimate opportunity to earn a more substantial role over time.
| 4.17 — RT JERMON BUSHROD, TOWSON STATE | | Projected Role: Reserve RT Overall: 75 | Strength: 81 | Pass Block: 88 | Run Block: 88 | Toughness: 97 |
Ten selections after taking Ryne Robinson, Arizona returned to the offensive line and may have found one of its strongest reserve players in the entire class. Jermon Bushrod arrives from Towson State with the size and blocking ability to immediately give the Cardinals legitimate security at right tackle.
Bushrod enters the league with a 75 overall rating, but the numbers that matter most for an offensive tackle are even more impressive. The 6'5", 318-pound rookie has identical 88 ratings in pass blocking and run blocking, supported by 81 strength. There isn't anything developmental about his ability to block. From a technical ratings standpoint, Bushrod looks capable of stepping onto the field immediately if Arizona needs him.
The reason he enters as a reserve is the Cardinals' draft-day acquisition of Marcus McNeill from Cleveland. McNeill is expected to start at right tackle after arriving in the Jason Allen trade, allowing Arizona to keep Bushrod in a depth role rather than forcing the rookie into the lineup. That's a significant luxury for a team that could have easily entered the season thin at tackle.
Bushrod does have some limitations. His 62 awareness means there is still room for growth when it comes to recognition, and his 44 agility will limit his effectiveness when blocking assignments take him far into space. But his 77 acceleration is surprisingly strong for a player of his size, and his 96 injury and 97 toughness ratings make him look exceptionally durable.
There is also something valuable about having a rookie reserve who doesn't require major technical development before he can play. If McNeill misses time, Arizona isn't turning to a raw prospect with mediocre blocking ratings. Bushrod should be capable of holding his own immediately.
For the middle of the fourth round, that represents excellent roster value. Arizona may have drafted Bushrod as depth, but his 75 overall and outstanding blocking ratings give him the profile of a player who could eventually demand a larger opportunity.
| 5.09 — RT TONY UGOH, ARKANSAS | | Projected Role: Reserve LT Overall: 69 | Strength: 80 | Pass Block: 86 | Run Block: 87 | Toughness: 99 |
Arizona continued to stockpile offensive linemen in the fifth round, selecting Arkansas tackle Tony Ugoh and immediately identifying a different role for him. Although listed as a right tackle, Ugoh will move to the left side and serve as developmental depth at left tackle.
The 69 overall rating makes him considerably more of a project than fourth-round selection Jermon Bushrod, but Ugoh's actual blocking ratings suggest there is something worth developing. He already possesses 86 pass blocking and 87 run blocking along with 80 strength. For a fifth-round tackle, Arizona could do considerably worse. If he can improve the attributes surrounding those core blocking skills, his overall rating could eventually become much more representative of his ability at the line of scrimmage.
What drags down the total package are the secondary attributes. Ugoh enters with only 52 awareness, and his athleticism is fairly limited: 53 speed, 48 agility and 65 acceleration. He will need to win through positioning and strength rather than recovery speed, making improvement in his awareness particularly important. His stamina rating of just 47 is another concern and helps explain why Arizona is much more comfortable developing him as a reserve rather than asking him to handle starter-level snaps immediately.
His durability, however, is unquestioned. Ugoh carries a perfect 99 toughness rating along with a 77 injury rating, giving Arizona another physically resilient offensive lineman to develop.
There is also logic behind selecting both Bushrod and Ugoh. Bushrod gives the Cardinals immediate security at right tackle, while Ugoh provides a developmental option on the left. Combined with third-round selection Andy Alleman's transition to center, Arizona used three selections to build depth at three different offensive-line positions.
Ugoh may require patience, but fifth-round selections are supposed to be developmental players. The Cardinals have identified a clear role for him, and his blocking ability gives them a legitimate foundation to build upon.
| 5.19 — LOLB BRIAN SMITH, MISSOURI | | Projected Role: LOLB Depth Overall: 71 | Speed: 79 | Acceleration: 90 | Tackle: 84 | Toughness: 99 |
Arizona had already found its new starting left outside linebacker in the first round, but the Cardinals returned to the position at No. 5.19 with Missouri linebacker Brian Smith. With Scott Fujita leaving in the draft-day trade with Green Bay, Arizona needed more than just a replacement starter at the position. It needed to replenish the depth behind him as well.
Smith won't challenge Paul Posluszny for the starting job immediately, but he is well suited to becoming Posluszny's primary backup. His 71 overall rating is solid for this stage of the draft, and several individual attributes suggest that he can already contribute if called upon.
The most important is his 84 tackling rating, actually one point higher than Posluszny's 83. Smith also brings 90 acceleration, allowing him to close quickly once he identifies the play. His 79 speed is much more ordinary than Posluszny's 89, but Arizona isn't asking Smith to replicate everything its first-round pick can do. It needs him to provide reliable depth, finish tackles and prevent a significant drop-off if he is forced onto the field.
There are some interesting physical traits as well. Smith stands 6'3" and weighs 236 pounds, giving him good size on the outside, while his perfect 99 toughness rating suggests a player comfortable with physical football. His 67 strength is adequate for the position, and 73 stamina should be sufficient for the rotational role Arizona initially envisions.
The limitation is that Smith isn't particularly dynamic outside of tackling. He has 66 agility, a 63 awareness rating and only 25 catching. He's much more likely to make his impact by attacking the football carrier than by producing turnovers in coverage.
That's perfectly acceptable for a fifth-round reserve. Arizona now has both a starter and backup at LOLB under rookie contracts. The Fujita trade could have created a depth problem behind Posluszny. Instead, the Cardinals immediately replenished the position with a player whose tackling ability should give him a chance to become a dependable member of the defense.
| 6.16 — QB JOHN BECK, BYU | | Projected Role: QB Depth Overall: 68 | Throw Power: 92 | Throw Accuracy: 79 | Awareness: 55 | Stamina: 99 |
By the sixth round, Arizona was no longer searching for players expected to see the field immediately. Instead, the Cardinals took a developmental swing at the most important position on the roster by selecting BYU quarterback John Beck.
The 68 overall rating accurately reflects where Beck currently stands: he isn't ready to command an offense without some development. His 55 awareness is the biggest obstacle and will likely be the attribute Arizona needs to improve before it can become comfortable giving him meaningful snaps. Against more complicated defensive looks, recognition and decision-making could become a significant problem early in his career.
The arm itself is considerably more interesting. Beck enters with 92 throw power and 79 throw accuracy. That combination gives the Cardinals legitimate developmental material rather than simply a low-ceiling emergency quarterback. The football can get where it needs to go; the challenge will be developing Beck's ability to consistently recognize where it needs to go. If his awareness improves, the physical passing attributes are already in place.
He also has decent physical traits for a pocket passer. At 6'2" and 217 pounds, Beck carries 75 strength, and while his 61 speed isn't going to transform Arizona's offense, he isn't completely immobile either. His exceptional 99 stamina rating should allow him to handle extended action when necessary.
There is risk. Beck's 70 injury rating is relatively low, while his awareness means Arizona would likely have to simplify matters considerably if he were forced into extensive action early in his career. But that's precisely why he's available at 6.16 rather than being selected in the opening rounds.
Quarterback depth is difficult to find, and Arizona isn't investing enough draft capital to require Beck to become anything more than a capable backup. If his awareness develops while his 92 arm strength and 79 accuracy remain intact, though, there may eventually be considerably more value here than the Cardinals paid for. As sixth-round developmental quarterbacks go, Beck is an intriguing lottery ticket.
| 6.26 — HB ADRIAN PETERSON, OKLAHOMA | | Projected Role: HB Depth Overall: 77 | Agility: 85 | Acceleration: 84 | Break Tackle: 84 | Carry: 78 |
The final selection of Arizona's 2007 draft may also be its most fascinating.
With the 26th pick of the sixth round, the Cardinals selected Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, a player carrying a remarkable 77 overall rating despite lasting until nearly the end of the draft. Peterson enters Arizona as running back depth, but his ratings make it difficult to view him as an ordinary sixth-round reserve.
Peterson isn't built around elite straight-line speed. His 80 speed rating is relatively modest, particularly at a position where breakaway ability can command significant attention. Nearly everything else, however, looks much stronger.
At 6'1" and 220 pounds, Peterson combines 85 agility, 84 acceleration and an 84 break tackle rating. His 78 carrying gives him a solid baseline with the football, while 68 catching makes him viable as a receiving option out of the backfield. He also brings 94 stamina, 96 injury and 93 toughness, an outstanding combination for a position that absorbs significant punishment.
That creates a runner who appears better suited to consistently generate productive carries than simply rely upon long touchdowns. Peterson should be capable of breaking initial contact, changing direction and handling a significant workload if circumstances ever require it. The absence of elite speed may limit the number of long runs he creates, but it doesn't prevent him from becoming a consistently effective runner.
The most interesting question is whether Arizona can actually keep him buried on the depth chart. A 77 overall player selected at 6.26 is difficult to ignore. Peterson may enter camp classified as depth, but unlike many players selected this late, there is very little separating his current ability from players expected to contribute meaningful offensive snaps.
Arizona didn't need to draft a starting running back. It may have accidentally found one capable of becoming much more than a backup anyway. That gives the coaching staff flexibility and creates competition without forcing Peterson into a role before it becomes necessary.
From a pure value standpoint, Peterson has a strong argument as the Cardinals' best selection of the entire draft. Finding a 77-overall player with this combination of running ability and durability at the end of the sixth round is precisely the kind of pick that can make a good draft class significantly better.
| 2007 ARIZONA CARDINALS DRAFT CLASS | | 1.19 — Paul Posluszny, MLB, Penn State — Moving to LOLB; projected starter 2.31 — Brandon Meriweather, SS, Miami — Moving to FS; projected starter 2.32 — John Wendling, SS, Wyoming — Projected starting SS 3.20 — Andy Alleman, LG, Akron — Moving to C; depth 4.07 — Ryne Robinson, WR, Miami University — WR depth 4.17 — Jermon Bushrod, RT, Towson State — RT depth 5.09 — Tony Ugoh, RT, Arkansas — Moving to LT; depth 5.19 — Brian Smith, LOLB, Missouri — LOLB depth 6.16 — John Beck, QB, BYU — QB depth 6.26 — Adrian Peterson, HB, Oklahoma — HB depth |
Arizona's 2007 draft will ultimately be judged by the development of its first three selections, because the Cardinals weren't shy about putting significant responsibility on their rookies.
Paul Posluszny, Brandon Meriweather and John Wendling are all projected to start immediately. More importantly, their arrivals allowed Arizona to reshape other parts of the roster. Scott Fujita became Shayne Graham. Jason Allen became Marcus McNeill. By the end of draft weekend, the Cardinals had potentially installed five new starters through a combination of selections and trades.
The later rounds were handled differently. Arizona accumulated offensive-line depth with Andy Alleman, Jermon Bushrod and Tony Ugoh; added an athletic developmental receiver in Ryne Robinson; secured linebacker depth behind Posluszny with Brian Smith; and took a low-risk developmental quarterback in John Beck.
Then came Adrian Peterson.
Landing a 77-overall running back at 6.26 gives the class a potential late-round prize and provides an appropriate ending to a draft built largely around value. Peterson doesn't need to immediately force his way onto the field for the selection to be successful, but his ratings make him one of the most intriguing players Arizona added all weekend.
There are developmental concerns throughout the class, particularly awareness ratings among several of the rookies. But Arizona leaves the 2007 PTF Draft younger, deeper and significantly different than it entered it.
The Cardinals didn't merely draft ten players. They rebuilt portions of the starting lineup in a single weekend. |
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(by W_Cook on 08/09/2026)
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Arizona Cardinals Week 10: Offense Falls Off in Second Half |
AZ
THE DESERT DISPATCH
Cardinals Football. Dry Heat. Late-Game Chaos.
CARDINALS STALL LATE, FALL TO LIONS 20-14 IN WEEK 10
By Dusty Arroyo, Arizona Gridiron Dispatch
GLENDALE — The Cardinals have made a habit this season of living in close games. In Week 10, that habit finally felt less like grit and more like a warning light on the dashboard. Arizona lost to Detroit 20-14, wasting a two-touchdown day from Amani Toomer and a halftime lead in a game that slowly slipped away after the offense went quiet in the second half.
The loss continued a rough stretch for a team that started the season with three straight wins and looked like one of the early stories of the league. Since opening with victories over San Francisco, Seattle and Baltimore, the Cardinals have dropped games to Pittsburgh, the Rams, Washington, Tampa Bay and now Detroit, with only a Week 6 win over Carolina breaking up the slide. The result leaves Arizona searching for traction after a 3-0 start has turned into a much more complicated season.
The frustrating part is that this one was there. Arizona led 7-0 after the first quarter and 14-7 at halftime. Chad Pennington found Toomer twice in the first half, and the Cardinals appeared to have enough offensive rhythm to control the game. Instead, Detroit tied it in the third quarter, took the lead on a fourth-quarter field goal, and then added another kick late to make Arizona chase a touchdown it never found.
TOOMER GAVE ARIZONA THE START IT NEEDED
The Cardinals opened the scoring in the first quarter with the exact kind of shot they needed. Pennington hit Amani Toomer for a 41-yard touchdown, finishing a six-play, 65-yard drive and giving Arizona a 7-0 lead with 3:35 left in the quarter. It was a sharp start for an offense that needed one, especially after recent weeks had made every possession feel heavier.
Detroit answered in the second quarter when Donovan McNabb found Scotty Anderson for a 15-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. The Lions’ scoring drive went 80 yards in 11 plays and took more than four minutes, which became part of the larger story. Detroit did not dominate the stat sheet, but it put together enough sustained offense to keep Arizona from ever fully settling into control.
Arizona responded before halftime with another Pennington-to-Toomer connection. This one came from 25 yards out, capping a nine-play, 79-yard drive and putting the Cardinals ahead 14-7 with 17 seconds left in the half. At that point, Toomer had already done enough to put Arizona in position to win. He finished with nine catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, earning offensive player of the game honors for the Cardinals.
THE SECOND HALF BELONGED TO DETROIT
The problem for Arizona was everything that happened after halftime. The Cardinals did not score in the third quarter. They did not score in the fourth quarter, either. Detroit tied the game in the third when McNabb found Anderson again, this time for a 17-yard touchdown, finishing a seven-play, 80-yard drive. Suddenly, the two first-half touchdown passes were no longer a cushion. They were just the reason Arizona was still even.
In the fourth quarter, Detroit did not need fireworks. Matt Leach hit a 47-yard field goal to give the Lions a 17-14 lead with 8:57 remaining. Later, after an 11-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:45 off the clock, Leach added a 19-yard field goal with 1:58 left. That made it 20-14 and forced Arizona to find the end zone late. The Cardinals had made late-game offense part of their identity earlier in the year, but this time there was no finishing drive waiting at the end.
The box score was close enough to make the loss sting. Detroit finished with 343 total yards, while Arizona had 334. The Lions had 18 first downs to Arizona’s 15. The Cardinals were better on third down, converting seven of 15 attempts, while Detroit went four of 10. Arizona even converted one of its two fourth-down attempts. None of it changed the biggest number on the page: Detroit scored 13 second-half points, and Arizona scored none.
THE NUMBERS SHOW THE MISSED CHANCES
Pennington finished 21-of-48 for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The production was there in pieces, but the efficiency was not. Arizona averaged only 5.65 yards per pass attempt, and the offense had trouble turning longer drives into points once Detroit tightened things up. Michael Gaines added six catches for 67 yards, while T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught two passes for 41 yards. Toomer was the clear headliner, but Arizona did not get enough scoring help around him.
The run game also struggled to make a real dent. Joseph Addai carried 14 times for 61 yards, while James Hodgins had two carries for two yards. The Cardinals finished with 63 rushing yards on 16 attempts, which was respectable on a per-carry basis but not enough to take pressure off Pennington late. Detroit, meanwhile, got 95 rushing yards as a team and did just enough on the ground to support McNabb.
Defensively, Arizona had moments. James Davis earned defensive player of the game honors for the Cardinals, and the defense intercepted McNabb twice. McNabb finished 17-of-32 for 248 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, so this was not a clean offensive performance from Detroit. But the Lions avoided the one mistake that would have swung the game back late, and they were perfect in the red zone, scoring on all three trips.
FINAL WORD FROM THE DESERT
This was not a blowout, and it was not a game where Arizona looked overmatched. That might make it more aggravating. The Cardinals had the lead, had the better third-down percentage, had Toomer playing like a true No. 1 option, and had chances to put the game away before Detroit took control. Instead, they were shut out after halftime and left another winnable game on the table.
The Cardinals are no longer the unbeaten team that stormed through the first three weeks. They are a team trying to stop a slide, and the schedule has already shown how quickly momentum can disappear. Arizona still has enough talent to turn this back around, but Week 10 made the message plain: fast starts do not matter if the offense disappears after the break.
Dusty Arroyo: “The Cardinals had this one in their hands at halftime and let it dry out in the desert sun. Toomer gave them two touchdowns, the defense gave them takeaways, and the second-half offense gave them nothing.”
FINAL: LIONS 20, CARDINALS 14 — ARIZONA SHUT OUT IN THE SECOND HALF AS DETROIT STEALS WEEK 10
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(by W_Cook on 06/22/2026)
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Arizona Cardinals Week 3: The Clock, a Kicker, and Defense |
AZ
THE DESERT DISPATCH
Cardinals Football. Dry Heat. Late-Game Chaos.
CARDINALS HANDLE RAVENS, 39-10, IN MOST COMPLETE WIN OF THE SEASON
By Dusty Arroyo, Arizona Gridiron Dispatch
BALTIMORE — The Cardinals did not need a last-second miracle this time. They did not need a 21-point fourth-quarter rally, and they did not need to spend the final minute asking the offense to rescue everyone from the edge of disaster. Arizona went to Baltimore in Week 3 and delivered its cleanest win of the young season, beating the Ravens 39-10 in a game that looked controlled almost from the opening drive.
After two straight one-score finishes to open the year, this was the kind of performance that travels well and reads even better on Monday morning. Arizona controlled possession, won third down, moved the ball repeatedly into scoring range, and kept Baltimore from building any real rhythm. The Cardinals finished with 427 total yards, 20 first downs, and a dominant 30:03 time of possession. Baltimore managed only 212 total yards, seven first downs, and one offensive touchdown, which did not arrive until the fourth quarter.
Chad Pennington was efficient and steady, finishing 20-of-33 for 286 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. It was not the 623-yard spectacle from Week 1, and it did not need to be. Pennington kept the offense organized, spread the ball around, and helped Arizona build a lead that turned the game into a long uphill climb for Baltimore. The Cardinals also ran the ball 37 times for 148 yards, giving the offense a balanced shape that has grown more important each week.
ARIZONA SET THE TONE EARLY AND NEVER LET GO
The Cardinals opened the scoring with a long, deliberate touchdown drive that drained more than six minutes off the clock. Pennington capped the 14-play, 72-yard march by finding Joseph Addai for a 9-yard touchdown, giving Arizona a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. It was not flashy, but it was exactly the kind of possession that tells the other sideline what kind of afternoon it is going to be.
In the second quarter, Stephen Gostkowski extended the lead with field goals from 41 yards and 36 yards. Baltimore finally answered with a Seth Marler 40-yard field goal, but Arizona responded before halftime with one of the game’s most important drives. Pennington hit Amani Toomer for a 16-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left in the half, sending the Cardinals into the locker room with a 20-3 lead.
That late-half touchdown was a difference maker because it turned a solid advantage into full control. Baltimore had not shown enough offensively to suggest it could chase points comfortably, and Arizona had already shown it could finish drives in different ways. The Cardinals had touchdowns, field goals, long possessions, and enough defensive resistance to make every Raven drive feel like it had a narrow margin for error.
GOSTKOWSKI KEPT STACKING POINTS
The third quarter belonged to Arizona’s kicking game and defense. Gostkowski hit another 41-yard field goal after a five-play, 81-yard drive, then added a 36-yarder late in the quarter after the Cardinals marched 67 yards in nine plays. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, Arizona led 26-3, and Baltimore’s offense still had not reached the end zone.
Gostkowski finished a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals, connecting from 41, 36, 41, 36, 30 and 21 yards. He also went 3-for-3 on extra points, giving Arizona 21 points from his right foot alone. It is not usually a headline-grabbing formula, but in this game it was suffocating. Every time Baltimore managed to hold the Cardinals out of the end zone, Arizona still left with points.
In the fourth quarter, Gostkowski added field goals from 30 yards and 21 yards, pushing the lead to 32-3 before Baltimore finally broke through. Cody Pickett found Paris Warren for a 77-yard touchdown with 4:19 remaining, giving the Ravens their only touchdown of the game. Arizona answered with one final scoring drive, as DeAndra’ Cobb ran in from five yards out with 14 seconds left to make it 39-10.
THE NUMBERS MATCHED THE SCOREBOARD
Arizona’s offensive balance was one of the biggest differences. Addai carried 27 times for 102 yards and also caught the opening touchdown. Cobb added 40 yards on nine carries and scored the final touchdown of the game. James Hodgins had one carry for six yards. The Cardinals averaged exactly 4.0 yards per rush, which was enough to keep Baltimore honest and keep the clock moving.
Through the air, Toomer led the Cardinals with seven catches for 149 yards and one touchdown, earning offensive player of the game honors. T.J. Houshmandzadeh added five catches for 83 yards, while Ike Hilliard caught two passes for 27 yards. Michael Gaines, Joseph Addai and Donald Lee also contributed in the passing game, giving Pennington a wider distribution than Baltimore could comfortably handle.
Baltimore’s offense never found that kind of rhythm. Pickett completed 7 of 19 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jamal Lewis carried 16 times for 50 yards, while the Ravens finished with only 51 rushing yards as a team. Paris Warren’s 77-yard touchdown gave the passing totals a late boost, but most of the afternoon belonged to Arizona’s defense and field-position control.
FINAL WORD FROM THE DESERT
Week 3 was not dramatic. Arizona had already proven it could win chaos games. Against Baltimore, the Cardinals proved they could win with structure. They won time of possession, won third down, reached the red zone seven times, and held Baltimore to seven first downs. The only real blemishes were three Arizona turnovers and the late touchdown pass to Warren, but neither came close to changing the shape of the game.
The Cardinals are now 3-0, and this was the first win that did not require a late escape. After beating San Francisco in a shootout and Seattle in a grind, Arizona went into Baltimore and handled business with its most complete performance yet.
Dusty Arroyo: “The Cardinals did not need fireworks this week. They brought a clock, a kicker, a defense, and a bus ticket home with another win on it. That is how a 3-0 team starts to look serious.”
FINAL: CARDINALS 39, RAVENS 10 — ARIZONA CONTROLS THE CLOCK, STACKS FIELD GOALS, AND MOVES TO 3-0
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Forum Discussion
(by W_Cook on 05/27/2026)
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Arizona Cardinals Week 2: No Fireworks, Same Result |
AZ
THE DESERT DISPATCH
Cardinals Football. Dry Heat. Late-Game Chaos.
CARDINALS GRIND PAST SEAHAWKS, 23-20, TO STAY PERFECT THROUGH WEEK 2
By Dusty Arroyo, Arizona Gridiron Dispatch
GLENDALE — One week after winning a track meet in San Francisco, the Cardinals had to win a much different kind of game. This one was slower, tighter, and a lot less friendly to the highlight reel. Arizona beat Seattle 23-20 in Week 2, leaning on possession, field position, late execution, and a defense that had to survive Shaun Alexander breaking loose more than once.
The Cardinals did not put up the video-game numbers they posted in Week 1, but they did what good teams have to do after an emotional opener. They adjusted to the game in front of them. Arizona controlled the ball for 30:16, produced 20 first downs, converted seven of 15 third downs, and finished with 399 total yards. Seattle had the bigger rushing plays, but the Cardinals had the steadier offense and the final answer.
Chad Pennington finished 20-of-37 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, giving Arizona enough through the air to keep drives alive even when the Seahawks tightened things up. The Cardinals also got a much stronger ground game than they had in San Francisco, rushing 35 times for 141 yards. Joseph Addai led the way with 25 carries for 102 yards, giving Arizona the kind of workhorse performance that let the offense stay on schedule and keep Seattle’s offense parked on the sideline.
SEATTLE LANDED THE EXPLOSIVE RUNS. ARIZONA KEPT ANSWERING.
Arizona opened the scoring with a Stephen Gostkowski 28-yard field goal, capping a 10-play, 91-yard drive late in the first quarter. That drive set the tone for what the Cardinals wanted this game to be: long possessions, methodical movement, and enough points to keep pressure on Seattle. The Seahawks answered almost immediately, but not methodically. Shaun Alexander broke free for a 73-yard rushing touchdown, though the missed extra point left Seattle ahead only 6-3.
In the second quarter, Arizona took the lead back when Pennington found T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a 27-yard touchdown. The drive covered 34 yards in just three plays, and the extra point put the Cardinals up 10-6. That score held into halftime, with Arizona’s defense limiting Seattle’s passing game and forcing the Seahawks to rely almost entirely on Alexander’s big-play ability.
The third quarter nearly flipped the game. Gostkowski hit again, this time from 34 yards, extending Arizona’s lead to 13-6. Then Alexander struck for the second time, ripping off an 80-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 13. Seattle followed with the game’s biggest defensive play, as Walli Rainer returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown. In a span of minutes, Arizona went from leading 13-6 to trailing 20-13.
THE FOURTH QUARTER BELONGED TO THE CARDINALS
Arizona did not panic after the interception return. That mattered. The Cardinals went back to the same approach that had carried them through the afternoon: control the ball, move the chains, and let Gostkowski clean up drives when the end zone was not there. Early in the fourth quarter, he drilled a 36-yard field goal to cut Seattle’s lead to 20-16, finishing an eight-play, 80-yard drive that took 3:37 off the clock.
The winning drive came late, and it looked exactly like the kind of possession Arizona needed. Pennington led the Cardinals 81 yards in seven plays, taking just 1:10 off the clock. With 43 seconds remaining, he found Michael Gaines for a 6-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Arizona a 23-20 lead, and this time Seattle had no response.
The final score was not as outrageous as Week 1, but the late-game nerve was familiar. For the second straight week, Arizona needed points in the fourth quarter and got them. The Cardinals scored 10 unanswered points in the final period, turning a 20-13 deficit into a 23-20 win. That is not as loud as a 49-48 comeback, but it might be the more sustainable sign.
THE NUMBERS SHOW WHY ARIZONA SURVIVED
Seattle’s offense was built almost entirely on Alexander, who earned offensive player of the game honors after rushing 17 times for 211 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks finished with 198 rushing yards, but their passing game never found a rhythm. Matt Hasselbeck completed 10 of 19 passes for 79 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions, and Seattle managed only 267 total yards despite Alexander’s two long touchdown runs.
Arizona’s defense deserves credit for that imbalance. The Cardinals allowed the explosive runs, but they also forced Seattle into a 2-for-9 performance on third down and held the Seahawks to just nine first downs. Ellis Wyms was named defensive player of the game for Arizona, finishing with a strong performance in a game where the defense needed someone to help settle things down after the big plays.
The Cardinals also protected the ball better overall, despite Pennington’s interception. Seattle lost two fumbles and finished with two turnovers, while Arizona had one turnover and no lost fumbles. In a three-point game, that difference matters. So did the red zone. Arizona reached the red zone four times, scoring once with a touchdown and three times with field goals. Seattle reached the red zone only once and came away empty.
FINAL WORD FROM THE DESERT
Week 2 did not have the same fireworks as the opener, but it showed another side of this Cardinals team. Arizona can win when Pennington is throwing for 600 yards, and it can win when Addai has to carry the offense through long drives. It can survive a pick-six, survive two Shaun Alexander breakaways, and still be the team making the winning play inside the final minute.
The Cardinals are now 2-0, and they have earned both wins the hard way. One was a shootout. One was a grind. Both ended with Arizona standing on the right side of a one-score finish.
Dusty Arroyo: “The Cardinals did not win this one with fireworks. They won it with possession, patience, and one last drive when the game demanded it. That travels just fine in the desert.”
FINAL: CARDINALS 23, SEAHAWKS 20 — ARIZONA SCORES 10 STRAIGHT IN THE FOURTH TO MOVE TO 2-0
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Forum Discussion
(by W_Cook on 05/23/2026)
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Arizona Cardinals Week 1: Wins Don't Need to Be Pretty |
AZ
THE DESERT DISPATCH
Cardinals Football. Dry Heat. Late-Game Chaos.
CARDINALS STUN 49ERS, 49-48, AFTER WILD FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACK
By Dusty Arroyo, Arizona Primetime Dispatch
SANTA CLARA — The Cardinals opened the season by surviving the kind of game that makes coaches age, quarterbacks grin, and defensive coordinators avoid eye contact in the film room. Arizona beat San Francisco 49-48 in Week 1, completing a furious fourth-quarter comeback after trailing by 21 points with just over nine minutes left.
This was not a clean win, and it certainly was not a quiet one. The Cardinals gave up 513 yards of offense, allowed Brooks Bollinger to throw six touchdown passes, and spent most of the afternoon chasing a 49ers team that looked ready to turn the opener into a statement. Instead, Arizona’s passing game kept swinging until the scoreboard finally cracked in its favor.
Chad Pennington finished 32-of-57 for 623 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, powering a Cardinals offense that piled up 649 total yards. Arizona did almost all of its damage through the air, because the run game never really got moving. The Cardinals rushed 15 times for 41 yards, but in a game this frantic, that hardly mattered. Pennington had the ball in his hands, and Arizona needed every throw he had.
SAN FRANCISCO BUILT THE LEAD. ARIZONA KEPT THROWING.
San Francisco jumped ahead early behind Bollinger, who was excellent despite the loss. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 446 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing with a 141.0 passer rating. The 49ers led 17-3 after the first quarter, 27-17 at halftime and 41-27 late in the third quarter.
When Bollinger hit Tai Streets for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:09 left in the fourth, San Francisco led 48-27 and appeared to have the game locked down. The 49ers had spent most of the day landing explosive shots, and Arizona had spent most of the day trying to keep the game from getting away. At that point, it looked less like a comeback opportunity and more like a matter of damage control.
Arizona did not treat it that way. Pennington found Donald Lee for a 1-yard touchdown with 5:25 remaining, trimming the lead to 48-34. After the Cardinals got the ball back, Pennington struck again, this time hitting Michael Gaines for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:47 left. Suddenly, the deficit was 48-41, and the 49ers were no longer protecting a lead so much as trying to survive the final wave.
THE FINAL DRIVE DELIVERED THE WIN
That wave arrived in the final minute. Arizona drove 64 yards in six plays, moving quickly and decisively into scoring position. Greg Jones finished the drive with a goal-line touchdown, officially recorded as a 0-yard rush, with 13 seconds left. The play did not do much for the rushing average, but it did everything for the scoreboard.
The Cardinals then converted the two-point attempt, turning a 48-47 deficit into a 49-48 lead and completing one of the wilder comebacks this league is likely to see all season. Arizona attempted only one two-point conversion in the game, and it arrived with the result hanging on it. The Cardinals got it, and that was the difference between a furious rally and a brutal near-miss.
The receiving numbers were as outrageous as the final score. T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught eight passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard strike in the third quarter that kept Arizona from slipping too far behind. Amani Toomer added 11 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown, serving as Pennington’s most reliable target throughout the shootout. Gaines added eight receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns, giving Arizona another answer when San Francisco tried to sit on the lead.
THE 49ERS HAD ENOUGH OFFENSE TO WIN. THEY STILL DID NOT.
For the 49ers, the loss will sting because so much of the box score looked good enough to win. Streets caught two touchdowns, Michael Clayton caught two more, Darrell Jackson scored from 60 yards out, and Dallas Clark opened the game with a 16-yard touchdown. San Francisco committed no turnovers, averaged 14.06 yards per completion, and scored touchdowns on two of its three red-zone trips.
That is usually a winning formula. The problem was Arizona’s volume. The Cardinals ran 72 offensive plays, converted seven of 13 third downs, controlled the ball for 24:49, and reached the red zone six times. They scored on every red-zone trip, finishing with four touchdowns and two field goals. Even with the interception and a mostly absent ground game, Arizona kept creating possessions that ended in points.
Defensively, neither team will be especially eager to rewatch this one. The Cardinals allowed too many explosive plays, and the 49ers had no answer once Pennington settled into rhythm. But Arizona made enough late stops to give its offense a chance, and in a game this volatile, that was enough.
FINAL WORD FROM THE DESERT
Week 1 wins do not need to be pretty. They just need to count. Arizona’s 49-48 victory was messy, dramatic and probably not ideal for anyone’s blood pressure. It was also a road win over San Francisco, sealed by a last-minute touchdown and a gutsy two-point conversion.
For the Cardinals, that is a season opener worth keeping.
Dusty Arroyo: “The defense has plenty to fix, but nobody gives back a Week 1 win. Arizona got punched for three quarters, found its footing in the fourth, and left San Francisco with the only number that matters: 1-0.”
FINAL: CARDINALS 49, 49ERS 48 — ARIZONA ERASES A 21-POINT FOURTH-QUARTER DEFICIT
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Forum Discussion
(by W_Cook on 05/21/2026)
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At A Glance
| TEAM CAPTAINS |
Off. Captain
QB Chad Pennington |
Def. Captain
CB Andre Dyson |
ST Captain
LG Kris Dielman |
| NFC West |
| RNK |
TEAM |
W-L-T |
PCT |
DIV |
| #1 |
 z-Seahawks |
14-2-0 |
0.875 |
6-0 |
| #22 |
 Cardinals |
8-8-0 |
0.500 |
4-2 |
| #28 |
 49ers |
4-12-0 |
0.250 |
1-5 |
| #27 |
 Rams |
4-12-0 |
0.250 |
1-5 |
| CARDINALS SCHEDULE |
| Preseason |
| WK |
DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCOUT/RESULT |
| P1 |
Sat |
at  Chargers #16 |
|
| P2 |
Sat |
vs  Packers #29 |
|
| P3 |
Sat |
vs  Broncos #24 |
|
| P4 |
Thu |
at  Raiders #15 |
|
| Regular Season |
| 1 |
Sun |
at  Giants #9 |
|
| 2 |
Sun |
vs Rams #27 |
|
| 3 |
Sun |
at Seahawks #1 |
|
| 4 |
Sun |
vs 49ers #28 |
|
| 5 |
Sun |
vs  Panthers #25 |
|
| 7 |
Sun |
vs  Titans #6 |
|
| 8 |
Sun |
at  Cowboys #4 |
|
| 9 |
Sun |
vs Seahawks #1 |
|
| 10 |
Sun |
at  Lions #2 |
|
| 11 |
Sun |
at Rams #27 |
|
| 12 |
Sun |
vs  Jaguars #19 |
|
| 13 |
Sun |
at 49ers #28 |
|
| 14 |
Sun |
vs  Redskins #32 |
|
| 15 |
Sun |
at  Texans #21 |
|
| 16 |
Sat |
vs  Eagles #11 |
|
| 17 |
Sun |
at  Colts #8 |
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