Cardinals hoping to Rolle into the playoffs

Football Betting Lines

11/20/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Arizona Cardinals are going to make the playoffs for the first time since 1998, they made some major strides on Sunday.

The Cardinals got a big effort out of nickel corner Antrel Rolle en route to a 35-27 road win at Cincinnati this past Sunday that pushed Arizona's record to 5-5. That is good for second place in the NFC West behind the 6-4 Seattle Seahawks.

Arizona's five wins has already matched its season total from both 2005 and 2006. The club went 6-10 in 2004 and hasn't finished above .500 since the aforementioned 1998 season, when the Cardinals finished 9-7 and lost to Minnesota in an NFC Divisional Playoff game.

The Cardinals schedule the rest of the way is far from difficult, meaning a postseason berth and possibly a divisional title is not out of the question.

Arizona hosts the horrid San Francisco 49ers and the high-flying but defensively-challenged Cleveland Browns over the next two weeks. The Cards then travel to Seattle for a potentially huge clash with the Seahawks, then head to New Orleans to battle the Saints. The club then wraps up with another two winnable home games against Atlanta and St. Louis.

A 4-2 run to finish the season seems likely, though if one of those two loses comes to Seattle, Arizona likely won't win the division.

Still, the big road win over the Bengals was an excellent building block for this up-and-coming Cardinals club, as they look to make a splash in a weak NFC.

"Somebody steps up and makes a play when it needs to be made," said quarterback Kurt Warner. "Guys are just making plays right now. That has been happening the last couple weeks. We have let some teams hang around in the fourth quarter, but the important thing is that we are ahead in the end.

"That has been exciting for us this season. Guys on this team truly believe we are going to find a way to win."

ROLLE'ING ALONG

One reason the Cardinals were able to cruise on Sunday was due to the play of Rolle, sparking many creative and fancy headlines like the ones included in this piece.

Rolle recorded three interceptions in the win, and took all three of them to the house. No player in NFL history has ever returned three touchdowns for scores in a game, and the third-year Miami-Florida product almost did just that.

Having visited the end zone twice already, Rolle grabbed pick number three with under one minute to play and actually raced 71 yards to the end zone. A personal foul call on defensive end Antonio Smith on the return nullified the score, but not the interception.

"It's funny (what happens) when you pay attention to detail and technique," said Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt on Rolle. "It didn't go quite the way he wanted it to in the beginning of the season, but he didn't lose his focus. He worked as hard as anybody. We talked about that just a couple of days ago. It's good to see that show up. I am so proud of him, and I am so excited for him."

Things haven't gone as planned for Rolle, the eighth overall pick in 2005, this year. After starting all 16 games last season for the Cardinals, Rolle has been credited with just three starts in nine games this season.

"I have personal thoughts on why I haven't started in the past," Rolle said. "A game like this shows that character can be your greatest asset. I am not a person that complains. I never rant and raved about why I wasn't playing. I have just tried to work on my game and make myself better."

The big thing about Rolle's three-interception day was when the picks came.

His first pick came with Arizona down 7-0 in the first quarter and kicker Neil Rackers having just missed a 54-yard field goal. Two plays after the miss, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer's pass attempt towards T.J. Houshmandzadeh fell into Rolle's hands, and he took it 55 yards for the score.

Rolle said he was told by his coaches to "bait" Houshmandzadeh, and said he had a feeling the ball was coming his way on that play.

The second pick was probably the biggest of the three, as it came after the Bengals ripped off two quick touchdowns. Palmer hit Chris Henry for a 37-yard TD pass and Bengals running back DeDe Dorsey blocked a punt on Arizona's resulting drive. He then picked the ball up and took it 19 yards for a score to get Cincinnati within 28-27.

The Cardinals then punted again before Rolle stepped up and picked off Palmer being racing 54 yards to the end zone to extend the lead to 35-27 and give momentum back to the Cardinals.

"The second pick was a route that we had seen earlier in the day," said Rolle. "I came close to grabbing it the first time, but my reaction was to slow. I reached back and got my glove in on the ball. Fortunately I was able to take that one back for a score also."

A bit of irony comes with the fact that Rolle almost started this game. Arizona was unsure if the banged-up Eric Green was going to be able to start, but he did and led the team with 11 tackles. Yet Rolle still stole the show and the Cardinals...yup, they Rolled.

OTHER DEFENSIVE STARS

Rolle's three picks weren't the only turnovers Arizona forced. Linebacker Karlos Dansby had two interceptions in last week's win over Detroit and also intercepted a pass versus the Bengals.

Dansby was playing in his second game since a two-game absence due to a knee injury. He also had eight tackles in the game.

Fellow linebacker Darryl Blackstock had Arizona's lone sack of the game.

The defense did allow 396 net yards, though, meaning it probably missed safety and unit leader Adrian Wilson, who was inactive due to a heel injury.

"I know that (Cincinnati has) one of the best offenses (in the NFL), and I know that from going against them a number of times," said Whisenhunt, who faced the Bengals a lot when he was with Pittsburgh. "You are not going to contain them. But for us to be able to compete with them and then be able to make some plays -- some big plays...our guys are believing in what we are doing system-wise, defensively. They are feeling more comfortable, and they are able to make plays."

WARNER LOOKS STRONG

Warner isn't letting his injured left elbow hold him down. The veteran leader threw for 211 yards and two scores while completing an efficient 16-of-28 pass attempts. He got both of his big-game receivers involved, as Larry Fitzgerald made eight catches for 93 yards while Anquan Boldin made four receptions for 71 yards. Both scored as well.

"Whatever the situation, I try to make plays for us," said Warner. "Different players helped me out today, and when things go well, we build confidence. The team feels good about the no-huddle offense that we run. We are playing spread out and attacking different things. We have guys stepping up and making big plays for us."

NEXT UP: STREAK EXTENDERS

The Cardinals host the 2-8 49ers this weekend, a club that has lost eight in a row. San Francisco failed to halt its skid after falling to the St. Louis Rams this past Sunday.

However, one of the 49ers' victories this season came against Arizona, a 20-17 season-opening win. Boldin finished with four catches for 22 yards and a touchdown in that game, while Edgerrin James ran for 92 yards and a touchdown as the Cardinals' lost Whisenhunt's debut.

The Cardinals are now 14-18 all-time versus the 49ers, with the loss in Week 1 halting a four-game winning streak over San Francisco.