GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: ARIZONA (4-5) at CINCINNATI (3-6)

NFL: ARIZONA (4-5) at CINCINNATI (3-6)

<h3>Playoff-minded Cardinals visit disappointing Bengals</h3>

Arizona (4-5) at Cincinnati (3-6) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Arizona Cardinals and CincinnatiBengals can ill-afford to fall any further out of playoffcontention.


In what will be their first regular-season visit to Cincinnatisince 2000 and just their sixth game here since the teams' firstmeeting in 1973, the Cardinals are in position to all but endthe Bengals postseason hopes Sunday.


Despite being a game under .500, the Cardinals remain a playerin the NFC playoff race, especially in the NFC West where theyare just one game back of front-running Seattle (5-4).

Additionally, with wild card co-leaders New York (6-3) andDetroit (6-3) playing each other Sunday, Arizona stands to gaina game in that race as well with a victory.


The Cardinals come into this game on a high note following adecisive 31-21 home victory over the Detroit Lions.

Despite a torn ligament in his left elbow, Arizona quarterbackKurt Warner channeled his 1999 form in the victory, going26-of-36 for 259 yards with three touchdowns - two to widereceiver Larry Fitzgerald.


With starter Matt Leinart done for the season with a brokencollarbone, the Cardinals hope the 36-year-old Warner willcontinue to play like the quarterback who helped the St. LouisRams win Super Bowl XXXIV.


Still, because of Warner's injury and subsequent inability tohand off with his injured left hand, coach Ken Whisenhunt hasbeen going to backup Tim Rattay in goal-line situations.

Rattay made the most of the opportunity in Sunday's win, tossinga 2-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Pope in the second quarter.

Even if Whisenhunt himself decided to take over quarterbackduties this weekend, the Cardinals likely would be able to movethe ball against the Bengals' putrid defense.


Cincinnati is ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per gameand has given up 251 points this season - only Cleveland (264)and the winless Miami Dolphins (257) have allowed more throughnine games.


Nonetheless, the Bengals are coming off their best defensiveeffort of the season in a 21-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravensat M&T Bank Stadium.


Perhaps more a product of the Ravens' inept offense, the Bengalsforced six turnovers and allowed just 272 yards in the decisivewin.


While the Cincinnati defense awoke from its slumber, the team'susually reliable offense never got in the end zone. All 21points in the victory came off the foot of placekicker ShayneGraham, who booted a career-high seven field goals.

The Cardinals secondary will have its hands full withquarterback Carson Palmer the Bengals' formidable receivingcorps.


In addition to the always dangerous T.J. Houshmandzadeh and ChadJohnson, the Bengals saw Chris Henry make an impressive seasondebut Sunday after serving an eight-game suspension to start theseason.


The big-play target, who scored nine touchdowns on just 36receptions a year ago, hauled in four passes for 99 yards.

Houshmandzadeh has 10 touchdown receptions and had scored inevery game this season prior to Sunday's win. Johnson has threetouchdowns and his 852 receiving yards ranks fourth in theleague.

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 0 12:37 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON ARI 36 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD CIN
T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH 19 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER
(SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK)

ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 7 10:14 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 7 10:07 LEFT, 1ST QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 7 4:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG ARI
NEIL RACKERS 54 YD ATTEMPT WIDE LEFT

ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 7 3:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 0
CINCINNATI 7 3:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 44 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD ARI
ANTREL ROLLE 55 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)

ARIZONA 7
CINCINNATI 7 3:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 7
CINCINNATI 7 3:06 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ARIZONA 7 7
CINCINNATI 7 7 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CIN - TD, T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH 19 YD PASS FROM
CARSON PALMER (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK),
4:46. Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards in
2:23. Key plays: Barr 36-yard punt
plus 15-yard interference with
opportunity to catch penalty on
Cardinals' R Brown to Arizona 36;
Palmer 9-yard pass to Henry to
Arizona 19. CINCINNATI 7-0
ARI - TD, ANTREL ROLLE 55 YD INTERCEPTION
RETURN (NEIL RACKERS KICK), 11:48.
ARIZONA 7-7</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL ARIZONA 7
CINCINNATI 7 14:13 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 41 YD

ARIZONA 7
CINCINNATI 10 12:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 7
CINCINNATI 10 12:39 LEFT, 2ND QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 32 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD ARI
ANQUAN BOLDIN 44 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)

ARIZONA 14
CINCINNATI 10 10:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
CINCINNATI 10 10:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 38 YD

ARIZONA 14
CINCINNATI 13 4:28 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
CINCINNATI 13 4:21 LEFT, 2ND QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 15 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF

ARIZONA 14
CINCINNATI 13

ARI BALL ON CIN 24 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD ARI
LARRY FITZGERALD 5 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)

ARIZONA 21
CINCINNATI 13 0:13 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>