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Week 8 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 23, Carolina Panthers 27
What you need to know
| Arizona Cardinals |
The Cardinals were their own worst enemy as the blew a 14 point lead in the third quarter en route to their third loss of the season, all on the road. The miscues that led to their demise were a botched extra point, a failed fake field goal attempt, two key second half turnovers and several mistackles by the defense.
Statistically QB Kurt Warner's had an outstanding game going 35 for 49 for 381 yards and two touchdowns. Warner completed passes to eight different receivers. He spread the ball around mainly using a five-receiver set. His lone interception was on a tipped ball.
WRs Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston, all had outstanding games, with Boldin getting both touchdown receptions. Fitzgerald was the team's leading receiver with 115 yards on seven catches; Breaston had nine receptions for 91 yards, and Boldin finished with nine receptions for 63 yards. All figured prominently in the game.
| Carolina Panthers |
Carolina fought back from a 14 point deficit by scoring 21 third quarter points and scoring on four of their five second half possessions. The team held the ball for the last 5 minutes and 57 seconds of the game to notch their sixth victory on the year.
QB Jake Delhomme had two touchdown passes and completed 20 for 28 for 248 yards. Both touchdown passes were thrown to WR Steve Smith (18 and 65 yards). Delhomme did not throw an interception and completed passes to seven different receivers.
RB DeAngelo Williams scored on a 15 yard run in the third quarter and finished the game with 107 yards on 17 carries. He ran hard and punished the Cardinal defenders mainly up the middle.
What you ought to know
| QB Kurt Warner, Pass: 35 - 49 - 381 - 2 TD / 1 INT |
Warner played an outstanding game going 35 for 49 for 381 and two touchdowns. He spread the ball around completing passes to eight different receivers, mainly when the Cardinals went into their no huddle offense using five receivers. Warner was pressured often and took several hits, but stayed in the pocket and delivered the ball with precision. Both touchdown passes were in the red zone with Warner hitting Anquan Boldin on short out patterns. His lone turnover was a result of a tipped ball off the hands of RB J.J. Arrington.
| RB Tim Hightower, Rush: 6 - 3 - 1, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (3 targets) |
Hightower had the Cardinals' only rushing touchdown a two yard run in the third quarter. Hightower was initially stopped at the line of scrimmage, but reversed his field and scored with second effort. It was Hightower's sixth rushing touchdown of the season, and he leads the team in that department. He caught two balls for 18 yards.
| RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 7 - 17 - 0 (1 targets) |
James was an insignificant factor in this game having only seven carries for 17 yards. His miniscule stats were more of a result of the Cardinals' operating in a five receiver set for a majority of this game.
| WR Anquan Boldin, Rush: 1 - 30 - 0, Rec: 9 - 63 - 2 (13 targets) |
Boldin caught both Cardinals' touchdown passes, two and five yards, and finished the game with nine catches for 63 yards. He also ran a reverse early in the first quarter for 30 yards. Boldin seemed to have not missed a beat from his recovery from a face injury. The scores were his sixth and seventh touchdowns of the year.
| WR Steve Breaston, Rec: 9 - 91 - 0 (13 targets) |
Breaston had a nice game finishing with nine catches for 91 yards, but was also held without a touchdown. Breaston has found a place in this offense and his catches were mainly short out routes or underneath the linebackers.
| WR Larry Fitzgerald, Rec: 7 - 115 - 0 (12 targets) |
Fitzgerald finished the game with nine catches for 115 yards, with his longest reception being a 30 yard catch over the middle. Although held to no touchdowns, he figured prominently in the offense and was targeted 12 times many of them deep in the secondary.
| WR Jerheme Urban, Rec: 4 - 51 - 0 (5 targets) |
Urban had his best statistical game of 2008 with four catches for 51 yards. He was used when the Cardinals' went into a five receiver set and caught balls mainly underneath the linebacker coverage. His longest catch was 23 yards.
| TE Jerame Tuman, Rec: 3 - 41 - 0 (3 targets) |
Tuman caught three balls for 41 yards, mainly up the middle. Tuman got the start because the Cardinals' other TEs Ben Patrick and Leonard Pope were inactive due to injuries.
| PK Neil Rackers 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points |
Rackers made his only attempt connecting on a 21 yard effort in the first half. The Cardinals faked a field goal attempt in the second quarter. Rackers hit both his extra point attempt and had a third try aborted when the holder Dirk Johnson mishandled the snap.
| ARI Rush Defense |
The Cardinals rush defense gave up a rushing touchdown to DeAngelo Williams and couldn't stop the Panthers rushing attack in the second half, when they needed it most. They had several mistackles and allowed the Panthers to hold the ball for the last 5:57 of the game.
| ARI Pass Defense |
The Cardinals' pass defense gave up 248 yards to Delhomme, but also two touchdown passes, including a 65 yarder, that put Carolina up for good. They had only one sack, but forced one fumble. They had several mistackles and allowed Jake Delhomme to complete 20 of his 28 attempts.
| QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 20 - 28 - 248 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - -2 - 0 |
Delhomme had an efficient day throwing including two touchdown passes and amassing 248 yards on 20 for 28 attempts with no interceptions. Delhomme completed passes to seven different receivers, yet both touchdowns were to WR Steve Smith, an 18 yarder and a 65 yard toss. He was sacked once and had one fumble. His passes were on target and he showed good rhythm with all his receivers.
| RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 17 - 108 - 1, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (2 targets) |
Williams punished the defense with hard runs up the middle. He finished the game with 17 carries for 108 yards, with a long run of 15 yards. He was instrumental in the fourth quarter when the Panthers held the ball for the last 5:57 of the game getting a first down on a third and 13 with his second 15 yard carry of the day. He scored on a 15 yard run in the third quarter to put the Panthers within seven. He caught two passes for 15 yards out of the backfield.
| RB Jonathan Stewart, Rush: 8 - 10 - 0, Rec: 1 - 0 - 0 (1 targets) |
Stewart found the running much tougher and had only eight yards on ten attempts. His longest rush was four yards. He caught one ball for no yards. He did have two carries in the red zone, though.
| WR Steve Smith, Rush: 1 - -6 - 0, Rec: 5 - 117 - 2 (10 targets) |
Smith had a great game scoring both Carolina passing touchdowns, an 18 yarder and a spectacular 65 yard effort both in the third quarter. On that play Smith caught the ball close to the sideline and nearly stepped out of bounds avoiding a tackle before scampering down the sideline.
| WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 5 - 38 - 0 (8 targets) |
Muhammad had only five catches for 38 yards. His longest reception was 11 yards. Muhammad dropped a sure touchdown pass at the Arizona five yard line in the first quarter.
| WR Dwayne Jarrett, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jarrett had only two receptions for 25 yards, Late in the fourth quarter, he made a 17 yard catch over the middle on a third and ten to help the Panthers hold the ball for the last 5:57 of the game.
| TE Jeff King, Rec: 3 - 41 - 0 (3 targets) |
King had three receptions mainly up the middle of the Cardinals' secondary for 41 yards. King's longest reception was for 31 yards on a first and ten that led to the Panthers first touchdown.
| PK John Kasay 2 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points |
Kasay was perfect on the day converting on both of his field goal attempts a 23 and a 50 yard effort. He was a perfect three for three on his extra point attempts.
| CAR Rush Defense |
The Carolina rush defense held the Cardinals to a total of 50 total rushing yards on the day, but gave up a two yard touchdown run. The low stats are more of a total of the Cardinals throwing on 49 of the 67 total plays on the day. They forced one fumble.
| CAR Pass Defense |
The Carolina pass defense gave up 381 yards and two short touchdown passes. Although, the team had one interception, and recorded two sacks, they pressured Warner often. The longest completion given up on the day was 31 yards.