GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: ARIZONA (6-7) at NEW ORLEANS (6-7)

NFL: ARIZONA (6-7) at NEW ORLEANS (6-7)

<h3>Cardinals, Saints look to reach .500</h3>





<div class="pre">Arizona (6-7) at New Orleans (6-7) 1:00 pm EST</div>

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - The New Orleans Saints' season hasresembled the stock market - down in the first quarter, up inthe second and down again in the third.


Still, the Saints remain alive for a playoff spot and host theArizona Cardinals on Sunday in what likely amounts to anelimination game.


The winner of Sunday's game climbs to 7-7, while the loser dropsto 6-8 and will need plenty of help to make the playoffs.

New Orleans started the season 0-4, rebounded to win its nextfour games, then dropped three of four to fall to 5-7.

However, the Saints opened the final quarter of the season witha 34-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.

Drew Brees passed for 328 yards and three touchdowns, the thirdtime he has eclipsed 300 yards this season.


The Saints also featured an effective ground attack, rushing fora season-high 136 yards, highlighted by Aaron Stecker, who ranfor 100 yards on 20 carries.


Although New Orleans is one game behind the Minnesota Vikings inthe battle for the NFC's second wild card spot, the Saints arein good shape with the tiebreaker scenarios.


<div class="pre">New Orleans has only four conference losses; Minnesota has five</div>and Arizona six. If the Saints run the table, they would makethe playoffs if they are tied with the Vikings.


The Cardinals need more help. They badly hurt their cause withlast week's 42-21 loss at Seattle that enabled the Seahawks toclinch their fourth straight NFC West crown.


An Arizona loss, coupled with a Vikings' win over Chicago, wouldeliminate the Cardinals. They would be two games behindMinnesota and with seven conference losses, would not be ableto win a tiebreaker with Minnesota.


Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner needs to rebound afterthrowing five interceptions last week.


Warner passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns but most ofthat total came after the Cardinals fell behind, 24-0, in thesecond quarter.


Arizona has made the playoffs only once in the last 25 years.

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 0
NEW ORLEANS 0 14:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 21 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 0
NEW ORLEANS 0 14:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR

ARI BALL ON NOR 8 YD LINE
1ST AND GOAL</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD ARI
TROY BIENEMANN 1 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)

ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 0 12:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 0 11:52 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 19 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NOR
MARQUES COLSTON 19 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)

ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 7 6:18 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 7 6:14 LEFT, 1ST QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 22 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 7 4:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

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

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: ARI - TD, TROY BIENEMANN 1 YD PASS FROM KURT
WARNER (NEIL RACKERS KICK), 3:00.
Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards in 2:11.
Key plays: Blackstock 8-yard return
of Stecker fumble to New Orleans
34. ARIZONA 7-0
NOR - TD, MARQUES COLSTON 19 YD PASS FROM
DREW BREES (MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK),
8:42. Drive: 11 plays, 81 yards in
5:42. Key plays: Stecker 15-yard
run to New Orleans 42; Brees
21-yard pass to Cooper to Arizona
32; Stecker 3-yard run on 4th-and-1
to Arizona 20. ARIZONA 7-7</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 7 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NOR
AARON STECKER 1 YD RUN
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)

ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 14 13:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 7
NEW ORLEANS 14 13:41 LEFT, 2ND QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 34 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD ARI
LARRY FITZGERALD 18 YD PASS FROM KURT WARNER
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)

ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 10:01 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 9:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 8:36 LEFT, 2ND QTR

ARI BALL ON ARI 38 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 5:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 13 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 3:34 LEFT, 2ND QTR

ARI BALL ON NOR 45 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 3:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL AT MIDFIELD
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NFL
ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 14 3:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 45 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: ARIZONA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NOR
DAVID PATTEN 32 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)

ARIZONA 14
NEW ORLEANS 21 1:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>