Die Macht » d. "It is tough mentally as well, going in there

(SportsNetwork.com) - Jay Grudens learning that being a head coach in the NFL isnt easy. His Washington Redskins have a short week and will try to end a three-game losing streak Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. The Redskins fell to 1-4 after coming up short, 27-17, Monday night versus the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks at FedEx Field. Now the Redskins are tasked with ending an eight-game road losing streak dating back to a Sept. 29, 2013 win at Oakland. They have a good chance at halting the road slide having won the past eight matchups with the Cardinals, including a 22-21 triumph on Sept. 18, 2011. Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgeralds 133 yards and a touchdown on seven catches went to waste, while Redskins running back Roy Helu ran for 74 yards and also had 38 receiving yards. The Redskins havent lost to the Cardinals since a 16-15 setback on Nov. 5, 2000, when both teams resided in the NFC East. The Cardinals are now in the NFC West and trail the all-time series with Washington by a lopsided 74-44-2 margin. Washington will try to pick up the pieces from Mondays loss and has failed to score more than 17 points in each of the past two games after averaging 37.5 points in two games prior. Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins made his third straight start and threw for 283 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was a far better performance than the 45-14 setback to the New York Giants in which Cousins passed for 257 yards with four interceptions to one TD pass. Cousins has exceeded a passer rating of 100.0 in three of his four games this season. Cousins talked about having to start drives deep in his own territory, which occurred often versus the Seahawks. When youre backed up like that against a great defense, the odds are stacked against you, Cousins said. When you got bad field position, it is a challenge to go 89 yards against arguably the best defense in the NFL. The Redskins avoided Seahawks wideout and key return man Percy Harvin because as Gruden put it, the Redskins didnt want him returning it. That was the staffs decision going into the game and it cost the offense, which is now seventh in total yards (393.6), 15th in points (22.4) and 21st in passing (104.8). The Redskins are fifth in rushing (288.8), but Alfred Morris was held to a season-low 29 yards on 13 carries. Morris has yet to run for 100 yards this season after doing it three times in 2013. Arizona knows a lot about offensive woes and suffered its first loss of the season Sunday on the road against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Manning and the Broncos lit up the Cardinals to the tune of 568 yards in a 41-20 rout and the future Hall of Fame quarterback was 31-of-47 for 479 yards, four touchdown passes and two interceptions. Except against the run, which the Cardinals are fifth (76.8), they have struggled in all other areas. The Cardinals are 13th in points allowed (21.5), 24th in total yards (379.2) and 31st against the pass (302.5). Theres a huge problem if a team is giving up an average of 300 yards through the air. Manning exposed it and the Redskins will be trying to as well. Denver receiver Demaryius Thomas burned the Cardinals for 226 yards and two scores. When you give up 230 damn yards to any damn receiver, its not your best day, Cardinals defensive back Antonio Cromartie said. No matter how you look at it, its not my best day. We have to regroup. Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers was humbled by the loss. The NFL is real humbling, Powers said. You can go and feel like youre up here and then go (down). We went 3-1 in the first quarter of the season and now its on to the second quarter and getting ready for Washington. We just have to learn from this and move on. The Cardinals also have to deal with injuries, as cornerback Patrick Peterson left Sundays game with an ankle injury and defensive end Calais Campbell is out with a balky knee suffered on a chop block by Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, who was fined for the move. Campbell is expected to miss a few weeks. Kareem Martin and Ed Stinson will see more action with Campbell out and Alex Okafor is expected to start at outside linebacker with Matt Shaughnessy sidelined with a knee issue of his own. Shaughnessy landed on IR but will be back after sitting a minimum of six weeks. Its about how to face adversity, Peterson said. How to respond when guys go down. Thats what its all about. We have to learn from it and regroup. Arizona better learn fast because they probably wont have quarterback Drew Stanton, whos been filling in for starter Carson Palmer (shoulder). Stanton sustained a concussion against the Broncos, forcing rookie third-stringer Logan Thomas into an NFL game for the first time. Palmer threw sparingly during warmups and went through position drills Wednesday. He hasnt played since Week 1 and is 8-2 in his last 10 starts. If Thomas gets the nod Sunday, he will be ready. He took all the first-team reps during practice. Thankfully, Im a pretty quick learner, Thomas said. Im looking forward to the chance. And if Carson or Drew can come back, Im excited to have those guys back. But if its my turn, I have to be the guy. Arians wasnt clear on who will be under center versus the Redskins. Yeah, we really dont have any plans right now. Everything is up in the air. We have got a game plan, and well find out who can play quarterback as the week unfolds. Logan Thomas will take most of the snaps today (Wednesday). Carson is attempting to throw again today. He threw yesterday, and Drew is going through the protocol trying to pass his test. So, well take the guys as they come back off of injury or well go with Logan. WHAT TO WATCH FOR If Thomas makes his first NFL start, be sure to watch the Redskins tee off on the Virginia Tech product. Thomas is athletic, but the Redskins were able to sack Seattle elusive quarterback Russell Wilson three times. But then again Russell ran for more than 100 yards. Washington is fifth in the NFL with 14.0 sacks this season. Thats not surprising with linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan charging, and the latter is tied for the NFL lead with six. Either way, its the next man up for the Cardinals. Thats why we practice, Cardinals center Lyle Sendlein said. Its not like we go out on each side of the ball every day just 11 on 11. Its about trusting the next guy. Rarely is there a game where someone doesnt get hurt. Theres always someone who has to go in and step up. Of course, the Redskins will try to force Thomas into throwing interceptions, something they have only done twice through five games. Only Jacksonville, New Orleans and the New York Jets have less INTs with one apiece. The Redskins may see a lot of linebacker Will Compton Sunday with starter Perry Riley Jr. bothered by a knee injury. Gruden said Compton, who took reps with the first-team defense at Wednesdays practice, would start if Rileys not ready. Riley recorded a team-high 115 tackles last season. Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson has been as advertised in his first season in DC. Jackson rebounded from a poor outing against the Giants with five catches for 157 yards and a 60-yard TD catch, beating Seattles vaunted secondary for his second score of the season. Jacksons first touchdown in a Washington uniform came against his former Eagles team, an 81-yard bomb by Cousins. He also had a 57-yard reception Monday night and leads the team with 364 yards. Jackson is tops in the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards. Those two plays showed how good he is, Cousins said. Its just a matter of finding ways every week to get him the football. In Cousins defense, he still has to get the ball to Pierre Garcon, Morris, Helu, Andre Roberts and Niles Paul to name a few. Roberts was drafted by the Cardinals in 2010 and will face Peterson and other former teammates. Oh yeah, it is going to be a pleasure going up against Andre when it is for real now, Peterson said. I havent gone up against him for three years, my first three years here, like one-on-one in practices and all that stuff. I am kind of familiar with the way he moves and all that stuff, but now it is going to be different actually going up against him when it actually means something. But I know Andre is going to be hyped up to get back here to Arizona. It is going to be a blast. Peterson also has some history defending Jackson from his days in Philly. Arizonas offense has seen better days despite a 3-1 record. The Cardinals, who are tied with Seattle for first in the NFC West, rank 22nd in passing (217.0), 26th in rushing (88.5), 28th in points scored (21.5) and 29th in total yards (305.5). Meanwhile, Fitzgerald has caught a pass in 153 straight games and has 100 or more yards receiving in each of the past two against Washington. OVERALL ANALYSIS It doesnt matter whos under center for the Cardinals because good teams with leadership rarely lose back-to-back games, according to Arians. If you have leadership on your football team, you never lose two in a row, Arians said. Arians believes one of the two injured QBs will return, but until then will devise a scheme to beat the reeling Redskins. Well formulate a game plan to beat Washington and then see what quarterback is available to do what he does best, Arians said. Im comfortable with Logan once he gets all the snaps and all the reps that well be able to put out a plan for him to be successful. We feel like one of the other two will be back. The Cardinals, winners in six of seven at home, must improve the ground attack, which produced a mere 37 yards in Denver, and that means Andre Ellington has to step it up running the football. Ellington had 32 yards and a score on 16 carries and that wont get it done with the Redskins in town. However, Ellington caught four passes for 112 yards and a TD against Denver. Look for a more balanced approach in an Arizona win. Sports Network predicted outcome: Cardinals 24, Redskins 20 Roger Maris Cardinals Jersey . He learned about pressure and expectations at the 2010 Games in his hometown of Vancouver. His next mission is to build on that experience at his next Olympic appearance in Sochi, where he plans to ride the momentum from the teams strong start to the season. Junior Fernandez Cardinals Jersey . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/724t-junior-fernandez-jersey-cardinals.html . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Jose Martinez Cardinals Jersey .Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season. Custom St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys . The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lose three straight finals in Monte Carlo to Rafael Nadal from 2006-08, has not played in the tournament since 2011, when he lost to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals.Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos continued towards his potential return on Friday, taking part in practice drills with light contact. While the 23-year-olds progress had some teammates saying he was looking pretty good, Stamkos offered a more tempered approach to his return. "I dont feel where I need to be in order to play a game yet, but its getting there," he told reporters after practice at the Bell Centre in Montreal. "Its nice to hear that the guys are saying that. Today I was in the corners a little more and getting bumped around (but) by no means was it full contact." Stamkos fractured the tibia in his right leg in a Nov. 11 game against the Boston Bruins and underwent surgery the following day. He returned to practice earlier than expected, leading each days progress to be closely monitored by Lightning fans as well as Canadians. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman named Stamkos to Canadas 25-man roster for the coming Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, but with Canadas first game just two weeks away, the clock is ticking on his hopes to be healthy in time. "You just have to listen to your body," Stamkos said. "Were talking a lot about the Olympics and my goal is to try to be ready for those Games, but your body doesnt lie. If youre doing certainn movements and you feel pain then thats an indicator that maybe its not quite ready.dddddddddddd. "It is tough mentally as well, going in there knowing that youre a little hesitant in certain areas. Ive said that before that thats what you dont want so you just try to overcome that as you progress and you take more contact in practice and hopefully that goes away." Stamkos scored 14 goals and 23 points in 17 for the Lightning this season prior to his injury. However, opportunities to get into game action before the Olympics are dwindling for the sniper. The Lightning have four games remaining before the NHL goes on break for the Games with the teams final game coming Feb. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings. While the Brampton, Ontario native wouldnt commit to a timeline, he acknowledged his progress thus far and expressed hope for it to continue over the next two weeks. "It has gotten better," he said. "Theres less and less pain every time I get on the ice but there is still a little discomfort. "Im hoping in the next week and a half, two weeks, that that feels a lot better and I can do certain movements without having that pain or at least with some pain thats manageable. Right now its still a little sharp in certain areas so thats what Im trying to improve." ' ' '