Arizona Cardinals’ tale of success and failure (Part I)
Arizona Cardinals’ coach, Ken Whisenhunt, has witnessed both good and bad times during his five-year stay at the franchise.
He took over the responsibilities as head coach in 2007 and led a comeback for Cardinals, ending the season with eight victories and eight defeats.
In the previous season, Cardinals lost 11 out of 16 games.
Under Whisenhunt, Cardinals continued to display marvels and won nine games in the National Football League (NFL) regular season to qualify for the playoffs after around ten years in the coach’s second year.
Cardinals won the National Football Conference (NFC) championship that year, but lost against Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
The regular season performance in the next year was even more impressive as Cardinals won 10 games to reach the postseason where they were eliminated in the divisional round.
After three successful years, Whisenhunt witnessed a noticeable slump in the overall performance of the team, which finished after winning only five games in the 2010-2011season.
The present season was also looking like a sorry tale for the coach at the beginning, but the team did well towards the end. However, Cardinals could not qualify for the playoffs and ended the season at 8-8.
In this space, we will review Cardinals’ performance and see what prevented them from reaching the playoffs for the second straight year.
Against Carolina Panthers
The Cards’ start to the season forced many to assume that the team would not repeat last year’s debacle.
The first game against Carolina Panthers was a nerve-wracking encounter in which Cardinals emerge victorious, thanks to an impressive final quarter.
Cardinals were seven points behind Panthers at the end of third quarter.
Quarterback, Kevin Kolb, combined with wide receiver, Early Doucet, for a 70-yard touchdown, which was followed by a marvellous 89-yard punt return from cornerback, Patrick Peterson, who gave his team a seven-point decisive advantage.
The final score settled at 28-21.
Kolb finished the game after completing 18 of 27 attempted passes for 309 yards while throwing two touchdown passes. He received a quarterback rating of 130.0.
At Washington
Arizona Cardinals played its first road game of the season against Washington Redskins.
Kolb brought his team in front after sending a touchdown pass in the first quarter. Redskins took the lead in the second, but were later deprived of it in the third.
In the final quarter, Kolb managed another touchdown pass that gave Cardinals an eight-point lead.
However, Redskins first scored a touchdown to reduce the deficit to two points and then scored a field goal to get one point ahead with less than two minutes left on the clock.
Cardinals eventually lost the game, 22-21.
At Seattle
Cardinals continued their road trip and went to Seattle the following week.
Against all odds, Kolb was miserable and struggled badly with his form throughout the game.
He attempted 39 passes out of which 25 found receivers. The quarterback managed 252 yards and sent one touchdown, but at the same time, threw two interceptions.
The defence played well and restricted Seahawks from scoring any touchdown in the first half of the game, but it could not get the support of its offence.
Seahawks finally got a touchdown in the third quarter and got three points ahead. No other scoring move was registered for the rest of the game.
Cardinals lost second road game, 13-10.
To be continued...
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Green Bay Packers 2011 regular season Review: A great season ends on a sad note – NFL Special Part I
The Green Bay Packers were the most feared side this season as they outscored every opponent to power their way to the playoffs.
Sadly for Green Bay the season did not end on the note they wanted. The Packers were knocked out in the first game of the playoffs as they failed to perform when required and lost 37-20 to the New York Giants.
However, this season will live long in the memory of Packers fans as their team delivered some of the best performances ever witnessed as the team went 15-1 in the regular season narrowly missing out on the holy grail of an unbeaten season.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a phenomenal season and is in line to receive the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and his performances were the reason that Green Bay remained unbeaten for so long.
Let us take a look at how the mighty Packers season panned out.
Against New Orleans
The New Orleans Saints arrived at Lambeau Field to face the newly crowned Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers and were blown apart by an Aaron Rodgers inspired offence.
The game descended completely into a shootout with both sides ramping up touchdown after touchdown.
Rodgers started off with three touchdown passes in the first period as New Orleans struggled to keep pace with the free scoring Packers.
Randall Cobb’s 108-yard record punt return was one for the highlight reels as Green Bay ran out 42-34 victors.
At Carolina
Green Bay next visited Carolina to take on the Panthers and their number one draft pick quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton would go on to have one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history but against the Packers the quarterbacks efforts fell short.
Green Bay’s defence was always suspect as Carolina took on a 13-7 lead in the first period but Rodgers was in the form of his life and it was impossible for the young quarterback to keep pace with the brilliant skill of Rodgers.
The Packers quarterback sent two touchdown passes in the game while kicker Mason Crosby scored three field goals in the third period to lead Green Bay to a close 30-23 victory.
At Chicago
The Packers next faced their fierce rivals Chicago Bears in a National Football Conference (NFC) north division rivalry match.
The Bears who in recent seasons have failed to maintain pace with their NFC North rivals once again fell short of the Packers at home.
Aaron Rodgers passed for three touchdowns as the Packers maintained their lead on the score sheet throughout the encounter winning 27-17.
The Bears quarterback Jay Cutler passed for two touchdowns but there was no keeping pace with the inform Rodgers who made it three wins in three games for the Packers.
Against Denver Broncos
After playing two games on the road the Packers returned to Lambeau Field to face the Denver Broncos in their fourth game of the season.
The Broncos who had decided to stick with Kyle Orton at quarterback did not even stand a chance as the Packers ended the first period with a 28-17 lead.
Aaron Rodgers passed for a record 408 yards as he sent four passing touchdowns and rushed for two more as Green Bay’s offence completely decimated the woeful Broncos.
Green Bay won 49-23 to make it 4-0 for the season.
To be continued..
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