Arizona Cardinals Beat Houston Texans Despite Cardsiac Arrest

I didn't envision it like this. I thought the Cardinals would dominate the Texans, and for the first half I was right.

The Arizona defense was shutting out Houston's high powered aerial attack and were containing Steve Slaton. On the Texans only serious scoring threat, Calais Campbell blocked a field goal attempt.

On offense they were sharp, Kurt Warner was crisp and the offensive machine was rolling. Larry Fitzgerald accounted for two TDs but all of their play makers were contributing, to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.

Then the second half happened.

It was a Cardsiac Arrest. I call it the head in hands factor. How many times have I put my head in my hands, shaking no repeatedly, saying to myself, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. How many times have I seen the Cardiac Cards build a commanding lead only to let the opposing team back in it?

Their second half is what keeps Arizona from being recognized as a good team. The Cardinals' prevent defense did not prevent anything, points or yardage, as Matt Schaub sliced and diced the marshmallow soft resistance to tie it at 21-21. The offense grew stagnant, and suddenly the Texans were one bad mistake away from stealing this win from the Cardinals.

Coming off of two straight TD scoring drives, Schaub began leading Houston on what would have been the game winning drive, before making his only big mistake of the game. He threw late and soft on a sideline route that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie jumped and took to the house for a pick six with 2:20 left. Game over right? Nope.

Following a 63-yard kickoff return by Andre Davis, Schaub took the Texans 29 yards in four plays to the Cardinals 1-yard line. To their credit, the Cardinals stiffened when they needed to, denying the Texans on three straight to finally close out the victory.

Things that need work:

How can you expect to improve a running attack by attempting 14 rushes? I don't get it. On their first drive which resulted in a TD, Tim Hightower had an 11-yard run and Beanie Wells had a nine-yard run.

How does a team with that kind of start to the game end up with 16 total rushes including Warner's "two attempts," for 44 yards?

Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell made some key plays in this game, but Arizona still needs more constant quarterback pressure. Schaub had too much time to throw frequently. Still, to be fair Alan Branch and Clark Haggans had some good moments today.

The Cardinals need to learn how to close out an opponent with the wind at their backs.

The silver linings:

Every win in the NFL is tough, a win is a win.

They were dominant on both sides of the ball for one half.

They warmed up the jets on their juggernaut offense.

Rodgers-Cromartie did not get burned and made some key plays, including the game winning INT return for TD.

The Cardinals always make it interesting, but they shut down Houston when they needed to. That goal line stand was huge.

This article also appears on NFLTouchdown.com