Fitzgerald, Cards provide thrilling finish, hope

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The storyline entering Sundays season finale at University of Phoenix Stadium was the Cardinals quest for a .500 record following a 1-6 start. Arizona (8-8) accomplished that remarkable feat in typically dramatic fashion, getting a 28-yard field goal from Jay Feely to beat Seattle 23-20 and earn its fourth home overtime victory this season. The win capped a 7-2 finish that has coach Ken Whisenhunt and his players dreaming big for 2012. But before we get into those particulars, lets take some time to marvel at the Valleys greatest current athlete, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Without him, theres no way the Cardinals would have achieved that previously mentioned goal. The six-time Pro Bowler caught nine balls for 149 yards to join Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison as the only players in NFL history with four or more 1,400-yard receiving seasons. Thats noteworthy enough, but there was far more drama inside those numbers than meets the eye. The Cardinals confirmed after the postgame locker room had closed that Fitzgerald suffered a riblung injury during the game. His father, Larry Sr., tweeted that his son was spitting up blood on the sidelines. An X-ray revealed no punctures or breaks, but an MRI is still possible on Monday after Fitzgerald is further evaluated. Now, about those nine catches. At least half were of the circus variety, like the leaping grab over two defenders for a first down. Anybody whos watched Fitz knows that catch is a product of his vice-like hands and his incredible body control at the top of his leap. I see it every day in practice, strong safety Adrian Wilson said. Its not uncommon for him to make a pinkie catch or an over-the-shoulder, one-handed catch with people dragging all over him. Fitz did it repeatedly on Sunday. After the Cards squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, he hauled in three balls on the game-winning drive in overtime. Following a 26-yard catch and run over the middle, he raised his head, pumped his arms and cut loose with a burst of emotion few have ever seen from him. I try to stay even keel for the most part, he said. But sometimes you get overcome with emotion, and that was one of those times. It was Cardinal Nations turn to let loose on Fitzgeralds final catch, a 12-yard grab to the Seahawks 24-yard line on which he laid out, horizontal to the ground, and literally caught the ball with one hand as if it were a magnet. I just saw him stick his arm out, stick it and stick the landing, quarterback John Skelton said. Its Larry being Larry. The catch put the Cards in position for the game-winning field goal, and it put the franchise in position for a brighter future. During the final week of practice, coach Ken Whisenhunt wouldnt address the possibility of a two-game season-ending losing streak and its potential impact on all that perceived progress. After Sundays game, he admitted how much it meant. The thing that really stuck in my head was to get back to .500, he said. I dont think there have been very many teams in this league that have won eight games after losing six in a row. I think it sets the table for us. Time will tell if this notion of momentum is anything more than talk. The offseason is seven months long. Its tough to sustain anything with that kind of break. But you have to marvel at the Cardinals resolve this season after such a dreadful start. You have to acknowledge that this defense was vastly improved once it absorbed the details of coordinator Ray Hortons new scheme. And you have to commend this team for finishing the job Sunday with a backup quarterback playing, both running back Beanie Wells (knee) and free safety Kerrey Rhodes (ankle) sidelined by injuries, and defensive end Calais Campbell knocked out by an ankle sprain midway through the second half. What was so impressive about this group of men was the resiliency -- the way guys hung in there, the way guys hung together, 14-year veteran defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. Ive been a part of teams where guys started pointing fingers. Its been a pleasure working with these men -- fun group to be with. There are concerns aplenty for the Cardinals in 2012. They could lose both starting tackles, they still dont have a legitimate No. 2 receiver, they could lose some of their depth on the defensive line and they still dont know if they have an elite quarterback, a must in todays NFL. But those are concerns for another day. Sunday was a day to drink in the promise of young stars in the making such as Patrick Peterson, Sam Acho and Daryl Washington. Sunday was a day to pinch yourself because you got to watch Fitzgerald be Fitzgerald once again. Sunday was a day for hope. Given where the Cardinals were after eight weeks, that is an unexpected reward for this franchise and this city.