Arizona Cardinals 23 Seattle Seachickens 20

September 17, 2007

Wow what a game! The cardinals came out and looked great through most of the first half. Matt Lienart was connecting with his receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and Edgerin James continued his ground attack. He ended the game with 128 yards of rushing, which is awesome. One of my favorite plays was 3rd and one on the Seattle 30 yard line. Because we have a running game we were able to take advantage of it to score. But not by running the ball. We lined up in a run formation and Leonard Pope, the 6 foot 7 tight end, snuck through on a play action pass. Leonard went 30 yards untouched for a touch down.
The defense held Seattle for most of the first half. It was disappointing how Seattle drove down the field just before the half and scored for the first time making the score 17 - 7. That score did not represent how much we dominated that team both on offense and defense. The offensive line was stellar. We had 2 rookies and second year Duece Lutui along with 2 veterans for our starting line. They were impressive and the difference. One of the rookies, center Lyle Sendlein, graduated from Chaparral High School. That's my alma mater.
The second half was a little different. Matt Lienart started off good and then the interception, which led to a touch down. Then Matt looked a little shaky, he was throwing the ball in the dirt, we had a false start and Matt tripped and thus a punt. This is where the game got scary. Seattle is up by 3, then we tie the game at 20. Now late in the 4th quarter and Seattle is driving. Time is running out. It is first and 5 at the 36 with under 2 minutes to go, Hasselbeck muffs hand off to Shawn Alexander, Cards linebacker Hayes forces fumble, Darnel Dockett recovers at the 44. We drive down and Neil Rackers kicks the winning field goal as time expires! What an AWESOME game. Really we showed strong defense, good special teams plays and an offense that could both run the ball and pass the ball. We were firing on all cylinders.
In listening to the players interviews I was shocked and impressed to hear what happened. Because the CROWD, the 12th man, was so loud; Shawn Alexander thought Matt Hasselbeck had audibled out of the play. There was just enough confusion for Gerald Hayes to get in and cause the fumble. So, I ask you all this basic question: How many games in the past would we have won with more crowd support in a REAL NFL stadium?

Jeff Cameron