Inside The Nfc East

Sporting News, The, Oct 30, 2000

GAME OF THE WEEK

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants. The Giants beat the Eagles, 33-18, in Week 2 with a nice offensive mix of passing and running. The Eagles defense is good enough to contain New York's offense in the rematch, but Philly QB Donovan McNabb must have some success throwing the ball for the Eagles to gain a season split.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Jacksonville WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell vs. Dallas CBs Ryan McNeil and Phillippi Sparks. McNeil plays better against bigger receivers (Smith and McCardell are both 6-1) than he does against small, quick ones. Since stepping into the starting lineup, Sparks has provided some stability to a shaky unit.

ON THE SPOT

He caught his first touchdown pass of the season last Sunday, but the Cowboys need more, much more, from WR Rocket Ismail. True, some of his poor production can be blamed on QB Troy Aikman, but 20 catches in seven games doesn't cut it in Pop Warner ball.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Washington OTs Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen must win their battle vs. Tennessee DEs Kenny Holmes and Jevon Kearse on Monday night. If Samuels and Jansen can protect Brad Johnson. the Redskin QB should be able to connect downfield a time or two.

ROOKIE REPORT

Although LB Raynoch Thompson has been slowed by a groin pull, he has impressed the Cardinals. Thompson, who has started six of seven games, is slight for his position (6-3, 220), but Arizona likes his ballhawking skills.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Saints RB Ricky Williams will continue to run roughshod over the league when New Orleans visits Arizona. Although the Cardinals have allowed only two 100-yard rushing performances this year, they are yielding 156.4 rushing yards per game.

FANTASY SOURCE

The Eagles and Giants play a divisional game that's surprisingly important this late in the year, and it could turn into a defensive battle. New York's run defense is shutting everybody down and will give the Eagles' running back by committee trouble. Philadelphia's tough secondary will stop Giants QB Kerry Collins.

For more fantasy football go to fatasy.sportingews.com

Arizona

2-5: 5th

The future doesn't look bright for the defensive line

It's possible things will only get worse for the defensive line. T Tony McCoy didn't play last week because of a knee injury, and T Mark Smith already is a bust. Teams are motoring over the Cardinals for 5 and 6 yards before a defender can even get a hand on the ballcarrier, and RB Ricky Williams of the Saints visits this week. Coach Vince Tobin says DE Simeon Rice has been working hard, but Rice basically has been a non-factor. The other starting end, Brad Ottis, is a career backup. DE Andre Wadsworth returned to practice last week on a limited basis. It's unclear when he might return, but he's not expected to be effective when he does.... Here's how bad it's getting: The team failed to get an interception against Dallas QB Troy Aikman, who was coming off a five-interception game, and still has only one for the season. The team's record for fewest interceptions in a season is six. The run defense is so bad that teams don't have to throw against the Cardinals. And when they do, they are throwing against defensive backs trying to cheat toward the line of scrimmage to play the run.... RB Michael Pittman showed his frustration, implying there wasn't much more he and fellow RB Thomas Jones could do without holes to run through. Lost in all the rhetoric concerning Tobin's job status is the questionable play-calling, which at one point had Pittman running into the line twice in a row on third- and fourth-and-short, with predictably bad results.... Tobin likely won't be fired, given owner Bill Bidwill's track record. On top of that, it doesn't seem as though Tobin has lost his players. For that fact alone it's worth it to have Tobin stick around.

SCOUTING REPORT: With the defensive line so depleted before the season, the Cardinals were happy to see the Bears cut loose DT Russell Davis, who has moved into the starting lineup. His size (6-4, 295) works well inside. He also has shown good quickness. Davis, a second-round pick in 1999 who started eight games in Chicago last year, still has much to prove. But he figures to be an improvement over Smith.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: With the team going nowhere, Arizona should get its young players some experience. That already is happening on defense, where the line has featured rookies Mao Tosi and Jabari Issa and Davis a number of times. Many of the struggles have been induced by injury, but at this point, the team needs to get something out of the season. Victories, apparently, are not an option. --Darren Urban

GRADING OUT vs. Dallas

OFFENSE F

How are you not able to run against the NFL's worst run defense?

DEFENSE F

Injuries hurt on the line, but the Cardinals were run over all afternoon and can't tackle.

SPECIAL TEAMS F

Dumb penalties and a killer punt return ended the Cards' hopes early.

COACHING F

Following the team's worst loss in 19 years, Tobin might want to bail on this mess.

CARDINALS

PASSING   Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Plummer    248    146    58.9   1553   70t

PASSING   TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Plummer    9     12   69.2       7

RUSHING     Att.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Pittman       60    278    4.6    2
Jones         75    240    3.2    2
Plummer       20    114    5.7    2

RECEIVING    No.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Boston        37    576   15.6    4
Pittman       31    259    8.4    1
Sanders       25    307   12.3    4

SCORING   XPM   XPA   FGM   FGA   Pts.

Seder      18    18    10    11     43

PUNTING        No.   Yds.   Avg.   Blk.

Player          28   1264   45.1     0

KO RETURNS     No.   Yds.   Avg.    TD

Jenkins         36    919   25.5     0

PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds.   Avg.    TD

Cody            16    104    6.5     0