For 30+ years, the Cardinals were a member of the NFC East. So why can't they win a game on the East Coast anymore?
Arizona thought they were set to break the winless streak that western teams have had out east. Teams from the Mountain and Pacific zones are a combined 0-10 when they venture east, yet Arizona had seemingly bucked the trend.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 17-3 lead early in the second half and seemed to have the Panthers' offense in a bottle. But that bottle must have had a leak, because Carolina woke up with a 24-6 run to end the game. Jake Delhomme found Steve Smith for two touchdowns (including a controversial 65-yard catch-and-run to give Carolina the lead for the first time).
Arizona nearly stole the lead back early in the fourth quarter, but a tipped pass was picked off by the Panthers' Jon Beason near the end zone. The Panthers would tack on a field goal and walk away with the victory.
One interesting note: the NFL was showcasing a regular season game in Europe today. The two starting quarterbacks in Panther/Cardinal game, Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme, played in NFL Europe and were teammates on the Amsterdam Admirals. Both were looked at as reasons the league should stay alive (it didn't).
It was good to see Arizona's Anquan Boldin back on the field after missing the last several weeks with facial fractures after a hit late in Arizona's loss to the Jets. Boldin made a huge splash, catching nine passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Cards in rushing after taking a reverse for a 30-yard gain.
Due to Tampa's loss in Dallas, the Panthers now take sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Carolina goes into their bye week at 6-2 and is staring at two relatively easy games on the other side (at Oakland, vs Detroit).
Arizona falls to 4-3 but maintains their lead in the NFC West. The Cardinals have a huge month ahead as they will play three straight games within the conference, including road games at St. Louis and Seattle. After that, they'll get to face the Giants and Eagles.
They'll have to learn to close out games, which they failed to do today, if they want to come out of that stretch alive.
