MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: BEARLY WINNING

It was a scene quite uncommon to the Arizona faithful. A Monday night game in their own stadium was a memory far in the past, but they were ready and so were the Cardinals. It was a sneak attack, a blitzkrieg, total shock. Before you could blink, Arizona had a 20-3 lead against the undefeated Bears. They put so much pressure on the Bears offense that Rex Grossman looked like Kyle Orton, and the Cardinals looked like the Bears. Matt Leinart was a hero. Dennis Green was off the hot seat. The Arizona Cardinals were different than they had ever been before.

It was a sight all to familiar for Cardinals fans. As the ball their beloved kicker Neil Rackers kicked fell just right of the goal post hearts sank and normality crept in. These were the Arizona Cardinals we all knew. How could a team create six turnovers and still lose? How could a team not allow an offensive touchdown and still lose? How could a team get up by fourteen points for the second week in a row and still lose? The Cardinals had all the answers. No one felt safe in that stadium even with such a large lead. They knew the game was over well before that kick by Rackers. As Devin Hester tiptoed into the endzone following his dazzling punt return, the bright future turned into familiar disappointment. New stadium, new quarterback, same Cardinals.

Rex Grossman- This was one of the worst quarterback performances I had ever seen in my life. Grossman appeared like he was trying to throw incomplete passes on every throw. He finished with four interception and two fumbles, but the Cardinals also dropped two would be interceptions in the first quarter. When he wasn't turning it over, he was throwing it fifty feet over his receivers' heads. This obviously will not happen every week, but it is a wake up call saying that Grossman isn't the next star QB in the league.

Bernard Berrian- The surprising WR ran some very impressive routes on Monday. He seems to be one of the fastest players in football, always being a step ahead of the defense. If Grossman was even semi-accurate, Berrian would have finished with a touchdown or two.

Matt Leinart- The most impressive offensive player on the field was the Cardinals rookie QB. He did to a Bears defense what no one else has done since Jake Delhomme in the NFC Divisional Playoffs last year. The Bears seemed like they were confused the entire first half, but part of this had to do with Arizona's great field position. Leinart also showed the poise to lead his team to the potential game winning field goal. Leinart is going to be a star in this league, and he is already a good fantasy QB that is worth starting.

Edgerrin James- The only player that was as pathetic as Grossman was Edge. The Cardinals run blocking is horrific, and it has really killed Edge's success. Yesterday he had 36 carries for 55 yards. That is the most carries ever for some one who averaged less than two yards a carry in a game. Edge is a talented RB but his success in Indianapolis was clearly a result of a great offensive line and playing with Peyton Manning. Edge can not be counted on in fantasy football until a dramatic improvement is shown.