Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 11, 2004 12:00 AM
With the sun reflecting off thousands of empty metal bleachers, Sun Devil Stadium may not look like much on most Sunday afternoons in the fall.
But the Cardinals feel comfortable there. They've won two straight at home, even though the team distributed only 63,804 tickets for those games against New Orleans and Seattle.
The Cardinals have distributed 35,312 tickets for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
"The fans that are there, we really draw from them," said
quarterback Josh McCown. "They're true fans. They've been sticking with us. They make a lot more noise than it looks like they can make."
The run around
Last week, the Cardinals faced a fourth-and-8 situation in the final two minutes. McCown scrambled for 9 yards to keep the winning touchdown drive alive.
McCown has tried to be more judicious about running in recent weeks. That 9-yard gain Sunday is the kind of play coach Dennis Green would like to see because McCown decided to run due to coverage, not pressure from the pass rush.
"I don't think he's running enough, to be honest with you," Green said.
"The time to take off and run is when the coverage has taken away the play. You don't want to have to run because you're being pursued by defenders."
Using the 'P' word
Even though the Cardinals are 3-5 at the break, Green thinks they can make the playoffs.
He thinks a 9-7 record will be good enough to earn a wildcard berth.
"There are just too many upsets, too many teams being beaten," he said.
Injury update
The Cardinals injury report continues to be shorter than Calista Flockhart's grocery list.
The only players on the report, running back Josh Scobey and outside
linebacker Raynoch Thompson, are probable.
Scobey is expected to play after missing four games with a sprained knee ligament. He should help the team's kick return performance.
Before his injury, Scobey was averaging 23.6 yards a return and had one of 71 yards. His replacement, running back Larry Croom, is averaging 19.6 yards, and his longest return was 35.
The Giants have no one on the injury list. But earlier this week they placed defensive ends Michael Strahan and Keith Washington on injured reserve.
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