Big plays from Derek Anderson and TIm Hightower got the Arizona Cardinals into field goal range before the St. Louis Rams defense could respond, and the beleaguered Cardinals lead 3-0 five minutes into the first quarter. The Rams couldn’t respond in kind, going three-and-out on their first drive of the afternoon.
Tim Hightower is the most dangerous force so far, with five carries for 50 yards. Anderson has done more than just gotten out of his own way, at 4-for-6 with 56 yards passing. The Rams have been unable to keep the Cardinals under five yards on successfully plays—they’ve been pushed on almost every play.
The Rams have already gone to Danario Alexander once—on a third-down play that Bradford had to force—and look to do so considerably more frequently in the future. But it’s the Rams defense that’s going to have to put things together if this team wants to improve to .500 and control their own first-place destiny.