If it’s the Cardinals, there’s a way…

Last week, my brother asked me to join him at the Cardinals game against the KC Chiefs (“That’s great, but who are the Chefs?”). And I walked into that awesome new stadium fully expecting to win. 2 offensive touchdowns in the first quarter – right in front of where we were sitting (I saw myself on TV in a replay this past weekend) – was absolutely awesome. And then the rest of the game happened. The Cardinals couldn’t get into the end zone for the rest of the game, settling for 2 field goals. And by 1:30 left in the game, the Chiefs had mounted a 23-20 lead. Matt Leinart engineered a drive to set up Mr. Automatic, Neil Rackers, for a game-tying field goal with 6 seconds left in the game.

Of course, Mr. Automatic was his name last year. He is a far cry from that same kicker this year. He missed wide right and the Cardinals lose. I didn’t think it could get any worse for Cardinal fans. Certainly not against the Bears on Monday Night Football – where the Cardinals had little chance of ever even having a lead.

But once again, for the second time in 2 weeks, the Cardinals score 2 offensive touchdowns in the first quarter. And this time they even have a 20-0 lead going into the half. The Bears offense looks horrible (giving up 6 turnovers in the game), and their defense is looking average. I knew that we had to score more points, specifically a touchdown, because of last week’s unfortunate loss. But then again, the Bears couldn’t get anything offensive going, so how could we lose?

Try 2 Cardinals fumbles returned for touchdowns, followed by a punt return for a touchdown. Just like that, the Cardinals are down 24-23. And just like last week, Matt Leinart comes to try and save the day by engineering another great drive to get into field goal position. A chip shot for Neil Rackers, 41 yards… missed wide left. And the Cardinals once again, for 2 weeks in a row, find a way to lose a game after being up by more than 14 points after halftime (no other team in the history of the NFL has done that. Ever).

What can I say? It’s painful to be a Cardinals fan. Now Cards fans cannot even enjoy a 20 point lead without fearing that the Cardinals will find a way to lose the game. Which is the one thing they have proved over the past 2 weeks. An ESPN Column may have said it best: They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. If there is a way to blow a game, the Cardinals will find it.

And now for your enjoyment, Denny Green loses his cool in the after-game press conference.

[tags]Arizona Cardinals[/tags]