Cardinals feel at home in Chicago
You can bet that the Arizona Cardinals don’t subscribe to the “there’s no place like home” theory after beating the Bears 41-21 Sunday at Soldier Field to improve to 4-0 on the road this season.
It was the Bears first loss at home this season after three victories.
“When we are away, our focus is much better,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “At some point last season, the Carolina game in the playoffs, it had a big effect. No one thought we had a chance and it was an us-against-the world mentality.
“We started out today 6-for-6 in third downs and the biggest play was the first one, a third-and-10 [with a 23-yard pass from Kurt Warner to Steve Breaston] that got us rolling. Our confidence was up and the offensive line did a great job of protection and in the run game. It was good to get a win here and I know it’s a tough place to play. I also want to compliment the Bears. They played hard and and came back. But our guys didn’t let them off the hook.”
The Cardinals offensive line of tackles Mike Gandy and Levi Brown, guards Reggie Wells and Deuce Lutul and center Lyle Sendlein paved the way for the Cardinals to run for 182 yards and quarterback Curt Warner passed for 261 yards and five touchdowns.
“This showed the capabilities of our offense,” Warner said. “There have been times we haven’t been stopped, and times we haven’t sustained it. We seem to play well early on the road. I have to credit the offensive line. They did a great job today and they made it possible to run the football.
“So much of this game is momentum. We started well and fed off of it and then finished well.” Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who finished with nine catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns said, “We showed a sense of importance in a hostile environment. When they got close [34-21with 9:04 to play], I’d be lying if I said that [worrying] didn’t cross my mind.”
Arizona bounced back after losing 34-21 at home to Carolina last week.
“Chicago was very physical, but we were a better team today” Cardinals defensive end Darrnell Dockett said. “We had a bad taste in out mouths after Carolina gave us that early Christmas present. We wanted to give the Christmas present to someone else.
“When we lose, we don’t make excuses. I think that is the sign of a good team.” The Cardinals, who played without receiver Anquan Boldin, host Seattle next week and are looking to avoid a stumble like it had a week ago with a home loss, coming off a 24-17 win in New York against the Giants.
“The field was thick and loose, and the footing wasn’t great,” Whisenhunt said about his morning decision not to play Boldin. “I know he fought through the last two games and I was afraid he could easily turn an ankle. We have a stretch coming up with a couple division games.”