The Cardinals feel a bit like the NFC’s version of the Bengals.
They are 2-1, but the fan base isn’t happy. The offense is struggling. The difference is that Arizona plays in the NFC West. Winning a few games early and improving in the second half of the season could be enough for a playoff berth.
Larry Fitzgerald is symbolic of these new Cardinals. Usually considered the best receiver in his conference, he’s not even leading his team in receiving yards. Fitz has had to re-set expectations.
“I just want to double my catch performance from Sunday and I’ll be a happy man,” Fitzgerald said via the team’s website, referring to his two grabs against the Raiders last week. “We are 2-1 and that’s what it is all about. If we were 0-3, I might pull my hair out but I’m good right now.”
Fitzgerald will line up on Sunday against San Diego across from undrafted rookies Stephen Williams and Max Komar. He’s catching passes from Derek Anderson, whose erratic accuracy makes him the anti-Kurt Warner.
Fitzgerald has seen 34 targets this year and only caught 12 passes. Yikes. Fitzgerald is just now getting close to fully recovered from a sprained MCL, although he’s looking forward to the Cardinals bye in a few weeks.
The Cardinals face the Chargers and Saints the next two weeks. Arizona will be lucky to enter their bye at 3-2. Even at 2-3, they should be right in the division race.