Sometimes It's How They Lose That's The Worst

If Arizona had lost to the Titans because Chris Johnson ran them off the field, I wouldn't have been happy, but it would have been tolerable. Chris Johnson's run over pretty much everyone this year, why would the Cardinals be any different? To lose because Vince Young torched you for almost 400 yards? The same Vince Young who threw for less than 150 yards the week before against the Texans? That hurts.

That the game was lost as Young marched the Titans down the field in the last few minutes, after the Cardinals had seemed to have things in their favor, makes it even worse. It's like the Super Bowl all over again. Or any of the other numerous losses I've seen Arizona absorb from allowing last minute touchdown drives spanning the length of the field*.

Now it's the Vikings coming to town, and they don't know whether Warner will be able to play. Swell. I'm not sure he should play, even if he can. While I think Warner can lead the Cardinals to some touchdowns against the Vikes' defense, I don't have much confidence the Arizona D can even slow the Adrian Peterson/Favre/Sidney Rice/Percy Harvin/Visanthe Shiancoe/Whoever the hell else I've forgotten Show. If Arizona falls behind, the Vikes will be free to unleash their rushers on Warner**, and he may get even more battered. Might be better to save him for that 49ers rematch the following week.

* The Mike Martz Rams seemed good for one of these a season, usually the game in Arizona, since they seemed to blow the doors off the Cards when they played in St. Louis.

** I'm making the assumption that for as long as the game stays close, Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower can rush effectively enough to keep Minnesota honest.