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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' decision to pass the ball nine straight times to open the second half reflects their identity even though the Texans' tactics contributed to the approach. Somers: "Two weeks ago, the Cardinals blamed their poor rushing statistics on trailing the Colts, 21-3, at halftime. So if they aren't going to run when they're ahead 21 points, when it's going to happen?"

Also from Somers: The Cardinals took their fans for another ride.

More from Somers: "It's clear the Cardinals not only don't miss Antonio Smith, they are better with Calais Campbell starting at right end. He seems to make a big play every game."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals thought teams would regret it, eventually, if they kept picking on cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The winning 49-yard interception return for a touchdown provided validation. Larry Fitzgerald: "To do it with a broken finger also is just legendary. I told him that on the sideline."

Also from McManaman and Somers: The receivers held up their end Sunday, minus that fumble by Anquan Boldin.

Bob Young of the Arizona Republic revisits Rodgers-Cromartie's game-turning play against Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. Young: "Schaub had a string of 11 consecutive completions going when the Texans set up in a third-down-and-seven situation at their own 42, and he was looking to the right sideline for receiver Kevin Walter just beyond the first-down marker."

Also from Young: An inconsistent Cardinals defense did just enough.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals anticipate a big week of preparation getting ready for Seattle. Defensive end Darnell Dockett: "It's gonna be a helluva week this week at practice because this is personal between us and Seattle. We know for a fact we’ll get their best shot and I’ll probably send Matt Hasselbeck a Twitter message later this week, so stay tuned."

Also from Urban: Rodgers-Cromartie's interception return might have saved the season for Arizona.

More from Urban: Arizona's offense was up and down.

Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune says the Cardinals' special teams shined against Houston.

Also from Bordow: Arizona won ugly, but the Cardinals will take it.

More from Bordow: Rodgers-Cromartie's slump might be over.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

PHOENIX -- I felt privileged to see Andre Johnson play football Sunday.

Now you know why.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

PHOENIX -- NFC West teams are now 3-8 outside the division after going 2-2 in Week 5. Some of the worst losses resulted from injuries. Four to watch:

• Michael Lewis, 49ers. The veteran strong safety was playing at a high level this season. The concussion he suffered against the Falcons was his third in the last two months. The 49ers have a bye in Week 6, but it's unclear how quickly Lewis will recover. This could be serious. The 49ers would miss Lewis' physical presence.
• Brandon Frye, Seahawks. Seattle was down to its fourth-string left tackle after Frye suffered a stinger early in the game Sunday. Frye's replacement, Kyle Williams, suffered a sprained knee and had to keep playing because the Seahawks had nobody else. Starter Walter Jones remains out. Seattle needs to somehow get through Week 6 and into its bye before reassessing the position.
• Gary Gibson, Rams. The starting defensive tackle suffered a broken foot and ankle against the Vikings. He's done for the season. The Rams have bigger worries, but Gibson was exceeding expectations, I thought.
• Stephen Spach, Cardinals. The veteran tight end suffered an ankle injury and did not return. Arizona used snapper Mike Leach as an extra tight end while running out the clock. Fortunately for the Cardinals, projected starting tight end Ben Patrick returns from a four-game suspension in Week 6.

	AP Photo/Matt York
	Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner led the Cardinals to another predictably unpredictable win Sunday.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Not much beyond perceptions changed Sunday in the NFC West.

The Arizona Cardinals affirmed their serial inconsistency by building a 21-point lead against the Houston Texans at University of Phoenix Stadium, only to need a defensive touchdown and goal-line stand to prevail, 28-21. Same new Cardinals, in other words. Trust them at your peril, resist judgment after any single performance and do not count them out.

Week 5 Coverage • Mosley: McNabb strong in return • Walker: Bengals win one for 'Coach Zim' • Williamson: Orton proves doubters wrong • Graham: Bills continue downward spiral • Kuharsky: Anatomy of a blowout • Seifert: Leaps and bounds for Favre • Yasinskas: White back to old form • Sando: NFC West more balanced • Wojciechowski: Broncos are mile-high • Clayton: Bengals surprise leaders • Pasquarelli: The Raiders' downward spiral • NFL Nation: Reactions | Wrap-ups | Live • Monday Night Football HQ

"People jumped the gun a little too soon with us starting off 1-2," Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston said.

The teams with the most decorated quarterbacks won every game involving NFC West teams Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks were significantly better with a high-functioning Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback. Also predictable, though not to this extent. No one knew if Hasselbeck would be healthy enough to produce the way he did during a 41-0 undressing of Jacksonville, but nearly anything is possible against the Jaguars' pass defense. Hasselbeck and the Cardinals' Kurt Warner have completed 42 of 56 passes for 484 yards, six touchdowns and a 136.3 rating against it this season.

"One thing about Seattle," Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said, looking ahead to a Week 6 visit to Qwest Field, "when they've got Matt Hasselbeck, they are a dangerous team."

The affirmations do not end there.

Suspicions about the San Francisco 49ers' one-dimensional offense appeared justified during a 45-10 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers found out what it's like to be on the other end of the turnover lottery. It's not much fun for a team that grudgingly throws the ball. The 49ers are much better than they showed Sunday, but not nearly as good as their 35-0 victory over St. Louis one week ago might have led some to think.

Week 5 stands as a helpful reminder on that front.

San Francisco can win the division. It's just going to be tougher if Warner and Hasselbeck get hot. The 49ers will need to become more 21st century on offense.

Even with the 49ers' one-week swing from 35-point victors to 35-point losers, the Cardinals remained the most enigmatic team in the division. No team in the division can look better, but the consistency still isn't there.

"I'm a little bit frustrated that the game turned out like it did," Warner said. "Guys stepped up and made plays at the end, but it shouldn't have been that close."

The Cardinals assumed their winning 2008 postseason identity against the Texans when they ran five times during an eight-play touchdown drive to open the game. They used two or fewer wide receivers five times in those eight plays, including pass completions covering 20 and 12 yards. But after two first-half touchdown passes to Larry Fitzgerald helped Arizona take a 21-0 lead into halftime, the Cardinals opened the second half with nine consecutive passes. They used three or more receivers seven times in those nine plays.

What gives?

Warner changed run plays to pass plays when the Texans brought an eighth defender near the line of scrimmage.

"We feel like if they are going to try and do that to take away the run, our strength is throwing the football and we can operate doing that," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

The Cardinals did come close to capitalizing against the Texans' run-stuffing tactics, but they couldn't finish plays. Fullback Dan Kreider dropped a pass. Tight end Anthony Becht committed pass interference, turning a 24-yard gain on third-and-1 into a 10-yard penalty and, eventually, a sack on third-and-11.

Hitting on a couple of those plays would have changed everything for Arizona in the second half. We all know Arizona can make those plays. But if the Cardinals are serious about balancing out their offense with first-round choice Beanie Wells, an obvious big-play threat, they're going to have to give him the ball -- even when defenses know he's coming.

"So many of our runs were in a three-wide receiver set because that gives us the option to throw the ball," Whisenhunt said. "We did try some in our regular package (two backs, one tight end) and they had the extra guys in the box.

"I know when we look at the tape tomorrow we're going to see a tremendous amount of those plays where we had the opportunities to really get us going, put the game away, and we didn't make those plays."

The challenge becomes playing to the Cardinals' strengths without becoming one-dimensional.

I keep flashing back to the playoffs last season.

Warner to Fitzgerald for 62 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. One wide receiver on the field.

Warner to Anquan Boldin for 45 yards against Pittsburgh. Two wide receivers on the field.

Warner to Fitzgerald for 42 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta. Two wide receivers on the field.

Warner to Fitzgerald for 41 yards against Carolina. Two wide receivers on the field.

Sometimes the Cardinals forget how dynamic their passing game can be without using three-plus wide receivers every time. Four of their six longest plays in the 2008 postseason featured two or fewer wideouts. Those four plays averaged 47.5 yards. Arizona has had three or more wideouts on the field for all six of its longest plays this season. Those plays averaged 27 yards.

Wells carried only seven times Sunday, once in the second half. That isn't enough, even if he still has much to learn about pass protection and a pro-style offense.

The Cardinals came out OK anyway. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's 49-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:20 remaining bailed out Arizona. A goal-line stand prevented overtime.

Turnovers and goal-line stands make for flighty friends.

Give the Cardinals a running game and they'll win the division.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Give Kurt Warner time and he's going to look like a Hall of Famer.

Take away that time and the Cardinals will have a hard time protecting a 21-point lead.

That was the case Sunday and it will be the case all season for the Cardinals as long as they want to pass the ball a disproportionate amount of the time.

Leading 21-0 at halftime Sunday, the Cardinals passed the ball nine consecutive times to open the third quarter. They had opened the game running five times during an eight-play touchdown drive.

If not for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's interception return for a touchdown with 2:20 remaining in a tie game, and if not for a goal-line stand in the final minute, the Cardinals might be trying to figure out how they could fall to 1-3 with three home defeats.

A few lingering questions remain on offense.

What kind of team are the Cardinals going to be? Are they going to be the balanced team that won playoff games? It hasn't happened to this point in the season even though Arizona used its first-round choice on Beanie Wells.

A victory is a victory and the Cardinals get credit for finding a way to get one Sunday. Enough questions remain about their identity, however, to justify asking them anyway.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Bet you're feeling great about starting Matt Hasselbeck in your fantasy league.

Hasselbeck

Wait, you didn't start him? Me neither.

Four touchdown passes against the Jaguars answer any questions about Hasselbeck's fitness after a broken rib sidelined him.

The division race is looking a little different than it did a few hours ago. The 49ers are getting pounded and the Cardinals' lead has shrunk to 21-14, with the Texans in possession at the 11:14 mark of the fourth quarter.

The locals booed here at University of Phoenix Stadium after Kurt Warner threw incomplete on third down a few minutes ago.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Matt Hasselbeck and Kurt Warner are showing what Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks can do against bad defenses.

Hasselbeck has two long touchdown passes in staking the Seahawks to a cathartic 20-0 first-half lead against the Jaguars. You remember the Jaguars, right? Kurt Warner set an NFL record for completion percentage against them not long ago. Now it is Hasselbeck's turn.

Warner, meanwhile, has completed 20 of 23 passes against the Texans, twice finding Larry Fitzgerald for touchdown passes. The score is 21-0 at halftime and it could get worse if Warner keeps having so much time. Warner has completed 44 of 49 passes against AFC South teams this season (minus those pesky Colts, of course, but they're in another class). Take that, Paul Kuharsky.

The 49ers, meanwhile, are finding out what coaches mean when they say turnovers tend to even out. They do not always even out, of course, and the 49ers should continue to fare well over the long haul in that category because of their conservative style. But turnovers have proven to be the main reason for their 28-10 deficit against the Falcons.

San Francisco's last-second defeat to the Vikings is costing them now. A loss to the Falcons would leave them at 3-2. The Cardinals appear on their way to 2-2. Even the Seahawks could be within striking distance at 2-3.

As we discussed during the week, it's a long season and far too early to jump to any conclusions about which team will prevail in the end.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Cardinals are protecting Kurt Warner well enough for Arizona to eventually pull away from the Texans.

Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown reception moments ago gave Arizona a 14-0 lead. Warner stood back there seemingly forever before throwing.

Other thoughts on NFC West games so far:

• 49ers cornerback Nate Clements can cover Fitzgerald, but that appeared to be his coverage when Roddy White broke free for a 90-yard touchdown reception. Atlanta has a 28-10 lead and it's looking like the NFC West race could tighten up. Make that a 35-10 lead. White has six catches for 185 yards in the first half.
• Fans cannot complain about 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye being too conservative. Raye has made some gutsy calls in this game, including a pass to Vernon Davis on play-action in a fourth-and-inches situation.
• Turnovers can be difficult to predict. The 49ers have won by the turnover this season, but they are losing by it Sunday. Turnovers are an unreliable friend.
• Matt Hasselbeck hasn't been spectacular for the Seahawks, but he appears to be functioning pretty much as usual for a quarterback shaking off the rust. He has even scrambled a few times and absorbed a tackle at least once. The Seattle lead is only 6-0, but Hasselbeck could be in position for a better second half.
• The Rams have not suffered any turnovers in the red zone since their game ended.

More in a bit.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Texans are keeping five defensive ends and nine defensive backs active against the Cardinals, presumably because they expect Arizona to pass the ball frequently.

It's a logical move given the Cardinals' known style and one more reason Arizona should try to get Beanie Wells going on the ground.

Houston named defensive tackles DelJuan Robinson and Frank Okam among its inactive players. Also inactive: Glenn Martinez, Nick Ferguson, Antwaun Molden, Antoine Caldwell and Anthony Hill. Dan Orlovsky is the third quarterback.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Bryant McFadden's ankle injury will not keep him from playing for the Cardinals against the Texans.

Arizona downgraded McFadden to questionable Saturday, but McFadden is active for the game. The Cardinals need him against the Texans' passing attack.

Inactive for Arizona: Reggie Walker, Herman Johnson, Jeremy Bridges, Early Doucet, Dominique Byrd, Kenny Iwebema and Keilen Dykes. Brian St. Pierre is the third quarterback.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Five things I'll be watching for from NFC West teams in Week 5:

• More carries for Beanie Wells. The receivers are getting the attention heading into the Texans-Cardinals game, but Wells' running is a key for Arizona this season. He has looked very good as a runner in limited work this season. Let's see what happens when he gets more touches.
• The Rams actually finishing a drive. Two turnovers deep in Vikings territory have short-circuited an otherwise respectable showing so far.
• Matt Hasselbeck finishing a game. That means no more gutsy quarterback keepers up the middle in the red zone.
• The 49ers' receivers stepping up. Josh Morgan caught a touchdown pass against the Rams, but the 49ers' receivers aren't getting enough chances to get into a rhythm. The 49ers have figured out how to get the ball to tight end Vernon Davis. They need to get the receivers involved next.
• At least one NFC West team winning. All four lost in Week 3. NFC West teams are 1-6 outside the division. Can one of these teams win a game outside the family?

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cardinals' situation in the secondary appears less than ideal heading into their matchup against receiver Andre Johnson and the Texans in Week 5.

One starting cornerback, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, is playing with a broken finger and has struggled some this season. The other starting corner, Bryant McFadden, suffered an ankle injury in practice Friday. The Cardinals downgraded McFadden from probable to questionable Saturday.

I'm at the airport about to head for Arizona to cover this game Sunday. Wanted to pass that along first.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

NFC West teams went 0-4 the last time they played four games outside the division on the same Sunday.

What's going to happen in Week 5? Glory awaits those in the know.

Simply use the comments section of this blog entry to predict winners and final scores of games featuring at least one NFC West team in Week 5. Correct predictions earn bearers a spot on the Wall of Fame and NFC West blog immortality. The games:

• Falcons at 49ers
• Jaguars at Seahawks
• Vikings at Rams
• Texans at Cardinals

The fine print: Those submitting predictions for "You called it" must pick the winner correctly for their scores to be considered. Scoring is easy to calculate. The difference between a 20-17 prediction and a 31-14 outcome would be 14 points. We would calculate this by adding the difference between 20 and 31 to the difference between 17 and 14.

The Wall of Fame presently features:

(Read full post)

Johnson receptions Johnson yards Season Fitzgerald yards Fitzgerald receptions 20 336 2009 181 17 115 1,575 2008 1,431 96 60 851 2007 1,409 100 103 1,147 2006 946 69 63 688 2005 1,409 103 79 1,142 2004 780 58 66 976 2003 -- -- 5.6 74.6 Per Game 77.9 5.6

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Texans-Cardinals matchup featuring elite NFL receivers led Paul Kuharsky and I to size up two of them, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson.

Sando: There's so much to like about each of these receivers. I would have sided with Johnson a year ago. His superior speed gives him the better overall fear factor, but Fitzgerald's big-game production, increased attention to detail and striking development into a leader took him to another level.

Kuharsky: I'd happily put Johnson or Fitzgerald on my team as my No. 1 receiver. I've misperceived their speed in the past, but know now that Johnson has a large edge there. Give me two guys with similar capabilities who are about the same size, and I'll take the faster one. In this scenario, I'll take Johnson.

I haven't seen Johnson play nearly as much as I'd like to have seen him. Sunday represents a rare opportunity. It's one of the reasons I'm heading to Arizona in Week 5 even though the Falcons-49ers game is highly appealing.

With the focus on Fitzgerald and Johnson, wouldn't it be fitting if Anquan Boldin or even Steven Breaston enjoyed the most noteworthy performance? That shouldn't shock anyone if it happens.