SCOTT JACOBS

Are you kidding me?

What a wild, ridiculous finish to the Cardinals-49ers battle at the UOPS.

With a huge goal line stand, including a defensive stand on the final play of the game the Cardinals hold off the pesky 49ers, and climb above three games above .500 for the first time in a long, long time.

Epic, incredible, ‘wow’ game of the week.

The Cardinals made so many mistakes, and so many critical penalties, as well as a horrible 3rd down play in which Tim Hightower lost four yards on 3rd down.  The 49ers went down the field and got all the way to the 2, including a wild play in which Frank Gore lost his balance, failing to sneak into the endzone.  This was a wild, sloppy win.  But guess what?  For once, Arizona wins a game it’s supposed to win.  For once, the Cardinals don’t blow the game that will break their spirits and crush their dreams.  For once, Arizona held.  And they held on for dear life.

Arizona is 6-3, and basically has the NFC West sewn up, but this game showed two things: 1) The Cardinals are different this year, and 2) The Cardinals have a ways to go before they become a legitimate contender.

Still they’re up four games on an NFC West that may be the worst bottom-heavy division in football history.  The Cardinals are good.

The rest of the division: 2-7.  It’s not even close.  Whether you look at coaching changes, injuries, or whatever it might be, the division stinks.  But you think the Cards care?  No!  They haven’t had a winning record since 1998, when they won three games in a row to close the season, netting them a 9-7 record, and a playoff berth where they beat the Cowboys.

They proved tonight that they’re young, often stupid, and that their running game is far from solved with the rook from Richmond.  But boy are those Arizona receivers special.  And what can you say about Kurt Warner that hasn’t been said?  He went over 300 yards again, and threw three scores and no picks.  This guy is not only a legit MVP candidate, I think he is the MVP right now.

With just 9 games played Arizona has a four game lead.  The Titans are perfect, and they have the same lead.

Perspective in a place where sometimes its hard to find something.

MITCH BLATT

-The NFC West has combined for 6 wins vs. opponents outside of their division.

-The NFC East has combined for 18.

-The NFC West has combined for a -178 point win margin.

-The NFC East has a 173 point win margin.