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| ARI at WAS | CAR at MIN | CIN at NYG | CLE at BAL | DAL at GB | DET at SF | HOU at TEN | JAX at IND |
| KC at ATL | MIA at NE | NO at DEN | NYJ at SD | OAK at BUF | PIT at PHI | STL at SEA | TB at CHI |
Week 3 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 17, Washington Redskins 24
What you need to know
| Arizona Cardinals |
QB Kurt Warner and the Cardinals seemed content to play a conservative style of offense for much of the game. The Cardinals had no plays longer then 20 yards until almost the fourth quarter. Although the offense put up 17 points and moved the ball decently, the group seemed to lack urgency and rhythm.
RB Edgerrin James had a solid game. He appeared to be focused on avoiding negative plays. What James lacks in speed he more then makes up for with his great vision and cut back ability. He did this frequently on his route to 93 yards on the ground.
WR Anquan Boldin was held to a reasonably quiet day. The star WR was coming off of a three TD game from the previous week but was held to just three total catches on the day.
| Washington Redskins |
QB Jason Campbell continued his maturation process under head coach Jim Zorn's new west coast offense. Campbell had a solid and very efficient game going 22 for 30. The strength of this offense has been the high percentage nature of the throws. There were very few longer throws which contributed to the modest 193 yards gained.
RB Clinton Portis continued his steady play in back to back games. Portis finished the day with a score and 87 total yards. The Redskins continue to follow the left side of their offense for the majority of their better runs. Only three run plays went to the right side of the line.
TE Chris Cooley is what makes the Redskins offense go. While he is not the big play threat, his catches and energy gave this team a rhythm and identity. On two of the three TD drives Cooley was a key cog in getting the offense down the field. He and Campbell have improved week over week and Cooley is definitely the safety value for Campbell.
What you ought to know
| QB Kurt Warner, Pass: 16 - 30 - 192 - 2 TD / 1 INT |
Warner had an uneven performance after a very slow start in part due to long drives by the Redskins. Warner had only one passing attempt in the first quarter as Washington had the ball for over ten minutes during the first quarter. In the second quarter, Warner and the Cardinals started to move the ball using WR Larry Fitzgerald and on the ground with Edgerrin James. At times it appeared that Warner was locking onto Fitzgerald as his primary look. On the day Warner was able to throw two touchdowns and had another called back on a penalty. Warner did throw one interception where the ball was knocked into the air and a diving Carlos Rogers made the pick. The highlight of the game for Warner was throwing a perfect deep ball to Larry Fitzgerald for a 62 yard strike for a touchdown.
| RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 18 - 93 - 0, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (1 targets) |
James ran the ball well against a solid Redskin defense. During the game he showed excellent vision and ability to cut his plays to the backside. He was able to gain positive yards on almost all of his carries except for one. James was not part of any packages once the Cardinals entered the red zone. On his 18 carries James was able to come up with 93 yards. James lost a fumble which was the Cardinals' first turnover of the young season which led to a Washington field goal.
| RB Tim Hightower, Rush: 5 - 23 - 0, Rec: 3 - 38 - 0 (5 targets) |
The rookie running back, Hightower, continued to see short yardage and red zone time. Hightower was the target on a red zone trick play. Kurt Warner tossed the ball back to WR Jerheme Urban who then threw the ball back the entire width of the field to Hightower. The throw put Hightower off balance which led him to fall on the play or he would likely have scored on the play. Hightower struggled on his only short yardage situation getting stuffed for no gain on a third and short. His best runs came downhill when he had a head of steam and could set up behind his blockers.
| RB Tim Castille, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
The FB saw very little work other then catching a short dump off pass that went for four yards.
| WR Larry Fitzgerald, Rec: 7 - 109 - 1 (13 targets) |
The lanky receiver was Warner's primary target all day and at times perhaps to the Cardinals detriment. Warner was often locked into watching Fitzgerald and ended up taking two sacks on the day. Fitzgerald displayed great route running all day and was successful in getting separation throughout the game. This was no more apparent then on his 62 yard touchdown catch. He completely faked out the safety and continued to simply out run the corner on his way to an easy score. Fitzgerald finished with over a hundred yards for the 15th time in his young career.
| WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 3 - 25 - 1 (5 targets) |
The Redskins' secondary did an excellent job of limiting Anquan Boldin in the Cardinals' passing game. Boldin was primarily used in underneath and shorter routes and seemed to draw some double coverage. The Redskins limited Boldin to a mere three catches for a total of 25 yards. Despite the quiet day he was able to score a touchdown. Fred Smoot had drawn the coverage assignment and gave Boldin a huge cushion which led to an easy pitch and catch with Warner.
| WR Jerheme Urban, Pass: 1 - 1 - 18 - 0 TD / 0 INT (1 targets) |
His big play of the game came on a lateral where Urban in turn threw the ball to running back Tim Hightower. The play set up the eventual touchdown catch by Boldin. Urban only saw the field in four wide sets and was not able to catch his only other target during the game.
| WR Steve Breaston (2 targets) |
The third wide receiver was held without a catch on the game. Breaston was in the line up in all sets that featured three or four receivers. Breaston was targeted twice; both were deep throws in the post. One of the targets ended up being intercepted and returned deep into Cardinals' territory. This turnover led to a Washington touchdown two plays later.
| TE Ben Patrick, Rec: 1 - 19 - 0 (1 targets) |
One of the game changing plays was a fourth and one in the first half. Patrick got free and uncovered in the Redskins' secondary after a play fake. Warner hit Patrick and he would have scored had the play not got called back by a contested and argued delay of game penalty. On his other target Patrick made a nice catch fending off a defender and hauling in a play that gained 19 yards.
| PK Neil Rackers 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points |
Rackers was perfect on his lone field goal attempt of 26 yards. He was also successful in converting both of his extra point attempts.
| ARI Rush Defense |
The Cardinals were able to hold Clinton Portis and company to 136 yards and a score. The biggest trouble the defense had was stopping the run during the fourth quarter. The Redskins really started to dominate the time of possession and eat up large chunks of time during their last few drives.
| ARI Pass Defense |
The secondary gave up two scores through the air. Washington QB Jason Campbell was also able to complete 73% of his passes. Although the Cardinals only gave up 187 yards it was not an impressive outing.
| QB Jason Campbell, Pass: 22 - 30 - 193 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 26 - 0 |
Campbell had a highly efficient stat line throwing for an overall completion rate of 73%. His 22 of 30 went for a total of 187 yards and two scores. He also had another would be touchdown to Devin Thomas called back due to an undisciplined penalty from his offensive line. Although the offense struggled some during the second and third quarters, Campbell was very good when he needed to be. His opening drive was impressive as he went four for four on the way to a Clinton Portis score. He displayed good arm strength and continued improved decision making with no interceptions on the day. In the fourth quarter, Campbell got the offense rolling again with frequent hook ups to TE Cooley and his big play guy Santana Moss.
| RB Clinton Portis, Rush: 21 - 68 - 1, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (2 targets) |
Portis continued his success of running to the left from last week. Only three of his 21 carries went right. Most of his larger gains were again to the left on toss and sweep type plays. Portis displayed his normal patient running and hitting the hole hard when needed. Portis scored almost untouched on a short draw play. All in all it was a solid day stat wise for Portis.
| RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 4 - 23 - 0 (1 targets) |
Betts saw limited action getting only four carries on the day. Betts ran hard and got some tough yards after contact. He was able to amass 23 yards for the day.
| RB Mike Sellers, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets) |
Mike Sellers was not a huge factor in moving the ball for Washington. On one of his targets he dropped the ball in the flat while wide open. This won't help him get future looks.
| WR Santana Moss, Rec: 7 - 75 - 1 (10 targets) |
Moss scores again. This is his sixth straight game with a touchdown. Moss was dangerous after the catch all game long. It seemed on every play he needed to be surrounded and gang tackled. Moss scored on a WR screen play, he patiently waited for his blocks before powering his way over a couple of defenders to find the end zone. He finished the day with seven balls for 75 yards and the one score.
| WR Antwaan Randle El, Pass: 1 - 1 - 11 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rec: 3 - 23 - 0 (4 targets) |
Randle El flexed his passing prowess in this game. To follow up the razzle dazzle play by the Cardinals earlier in the game, the Redskins came up with one of their own. On an end around play Randle El dialed up a pass to TE Chris Cooley. The play went for 11 yards. In his career, Randle El is an astounding 18 of 22 in his passing attempts. Aside from the trickery, Randle El was a non factor in the game only catching three balls for 23 yards. With the new west coast offense he is primarily being used on crossing and short routes.
| WR Devin Thomas, Rush: 1 - 16 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (5 targets) |
His line reads one catch for seven yards, but there is much more to the story. Fantasy fans will want to hear that Thomas was used exclusively when the Redskins utilized three wide receivers. Also, of note Thomas would have scored a 68 yard touchdown had it not been called back for a personal foul on the offensive line. Throughout the course of the day Thomas was targeted deep on the majority of his looks. Thomas was called for pass interference on two separate occasions for pushing off and nullifying one gain. Thomas also had one carry on an end around. The rookie looked good in the open field and made a few defenders whiff on tackles.
| TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 7 - 72 - 0 (7 targets) |
Cooley had a big game. Cooley is quickly becoming his young quarterback's favorite target. His line read seven catches for 72 yards, many of the catches being key third down conversions that sustained scoring drives. The Redskins continue to move Cooley around in various formations to create mismatches. He was often lined up in the slot to get him one on one with slower linebackers and safeties.
| TE Todd Yoder, Rec: 2 - 4 - 1 (2 targets) |
The rarely used Yoder caught his first touchdown of the year on a clever play action fake from inside the five yard line. He showed excellent concentration as he had to hold off the defender who was waiving his arms directly in his face.
| PK Shaun Suisham 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Kicker Shaun Suisham went one for two on his field goal attempts. He boomed a 48 yarder early in the game and was no good from 52 yards. This play got the attention of head coach Jim Zorn who absolutely tore a strip off holder Durant Brooks. Brooks the holder, had not been able to get the ball down on one of Suisham's attempts last week. The hold appeared to be fine. However, coach Zorn obviously didn't like something he had seen. All three extra point attempts were converted
| WAS Rush Defense |
The Washington defense played solidly against the duo of Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower. James had gotten off to a quick start. After the half the defense was able to limit yards and often put Arizona in second and long situations. Arizona ran for 116 yards on 23 carries.
| WAS Pass Defense |
The Washington secondary should be commended for not allowing Fitzgerald and Boldin from having a huge day. Warner was sacked twice and never looker truly comfortable in the pocket. Carlos Rogers came up with a key interception that led to the game winning score. A great job was done by this under rated group.
