Antrel Rolle Comes Up Huge In Win Over Lowly Bengals

Arizona got a huge win in Cincinnati, 35-27, led by Antrel Rolle's three interceptions. Not just interceptions, but pick-sixes. All three were returned for TDs (one was called back after a Cardinal took a cheap shot on Carson Palmer).

It wasn't all about Rolle; it was about a turnaround. During the past 15 years or so, no NFL franchises embodied losing more than the Cardinals and Bengals. The Jake Plummer-led Cards had a brief moment in the sun several years ago while these Bengals made good back in 2005.

These Bengals are supposed to be one of the NFL's elite. Right now, they are in shambles with a 3-7 record. Still, this was a game that Arizona tended to lose: a road game. Arizona went into "the jungle" and beat the Bengals in ways not known to Cardinal fans.

The defense really stepped up. Arizona picked off Carson Palmer four times and recovered a Chad Johnson fumble. The offense, while not blazing, did what it had to do to win. Kurt Warner was throwing the ball with his right hand, left hand, underhand and backhand. They outmuscled the Bengals on both sides of the ball. Arizona took advantage of Cincy's mistakes and didn't make many of their own. Who would've thought going into the season that it would be the Cardinals as the poised, gritty team in this one?

Those are all great signs for a Cardinals team that now finds itself in the thick of the NFC playoff race. The Cards trail the NFC West leading Seahawks by just a game in the two-team race ... and are just a game behind the Lions in the wildcard race.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, have found themselves in the thick of nothing more than a dark cloud of doubt and chaos. In the AFC, only the winless Dolphins and 2006's dog Raiders have a worse record than the Bengals.