Cardinals Defense Saved It All

For a moment it looked like it was all going down the drain.

The Arizona Cardinals' season that is.

For a moment it looked as though the Cardinals stood a chance of falling to 1-3 on the season and placing themselves in a position to where they would have to fight the middle of the pack just to get into the pack of potential playoff contenders.

But it didn't happen and you can thank the Cardinals' defense for that.

After watching a 21-0 lead transform into a 21-all tie against the Houston Texans Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium, Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made one of the biggest plays of the season when he jumped a Matt Schaub pass, intercepted it and returned it 49 yards for the go ahead touchdown and a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter.

In fact the Cardinals have Schaub to thank, too. He made a forgettable read on the pass and later in the fourth quarter, facing a third and goal from the 1-yard line, Schaub overthrew a wide open receiver for a potential game-tying touchdown, setting up a fourth-and-goal situation from the 1-yard line.

The Texans were stuffed on a running play to end the game. The Cardinals' defense held on an epic goal-line stand that saved Arizona's season.

"That's a good (Texas) offense," Cardinals tackle Darnell Dockett told The Arizona Republic. "They got one of the best receivers in the game, one of the best young running backs and one of the most underrated quarterbacks. But when I looked at my guys, I looked in their eyes and I knew they weren't crossing that goal line. "That's what great defenses do. The stats may not say it, but in the end, we created a way to win."

In a critical moment, the Texans didn't cross the goal line. Houston didn't even cross the line of scrimmage as the Cardinals' defense, twice, got penetration and denied the Texans the yard they needed to score a touchdown.

Now anger turns into relief and frustration becomes hope.

For one quarter--the most important one--the Arizona defense showed flashes of brilliance and a flare for the dramatic. On a day where the Cardinals' offense struggled late, the defense was able to carry the team the rest of the way. These games can give a team confidence. Moments like these can create momentum. The season could have been finished before it really ever began. But the defense answered the call and now everything is still within reach.