GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Greg Toler and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the first quarter to give the Arizona Cardinals a 14-0 lead over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.
Standings-wise, this wasn't much to get excited about. But the Cardinals gave Christmas dinner a tasty nightcap in their home finale, returning two passes by Jon Kitna for scores in the first 6{ minutes.Rodgers-Cromartie had the first on Dallas' second play, grabbing the ball after Miles Austin slipped on an out route, then leaping over the fallen receiver to race 32 yards down the sideline for a score.
Toler took it in from 66 yards on the Cowboys' next series, scooping up a pass that caromed off Dallas receiver Roy Williams' arm, then sprinting past Kitna in front of the Dallas bench.
Arizona, which had lost eight of nine coming in, now has 12 returns for touchdowns, one shy of the NFL record set by Seattle in 2003.
Not a bad start for a game that was supposed to be a final Christmas present but turned out to be more like an ugly sweater knitted by a wacky aunt.
Start with Dallas.
The Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones came into the season hoping for a home game in the Super Bowl at their billion-dollar football utopia. Now, there's nothing left but to try to figure out what went wrong and if Jason Garrett is the answer as head coach after Wade Phillips was fired following a 1-7 start.
Dallas has won four of six under Garrett, the former offensive coordinator, and has been able to generate some offense under 38-year-old Kitna, the replacement the past nine games with Tony Romo out with a broken collarbone.
Still, the Cowboys had already secured their first losing season in six years and didn't have Romo, who was placed on injured reserve this week.
Arizona's season hasn't been much better. The two-time defending NFC West champions have been mired in a who-should-play-quarterback funk all season, starting with the late training camp decision to move Derek Anderson ahead of Matt Leinart, who was released.
Anderson wasn't the answer, neither was Max Hall and now it's John Skelton's turn.
The rookie from Fordham -- 16 years younger than Kitna -- had a decent debut in a 43-13 win over Denver, though he hasn't been overly impressive in his two starts. Still, he got the nod against the Cowboys, and Anderson, on the mend from a concussion, was the third quarterback behind recently signed Rich Bartel.
Of course, it's been more than the quarterback.
Arizona has been inconsistent on both sides, staying in the playoff race until recently only because the NFC West is so weak. The Cardinals, after a 3-2 start, lost seven straight games as they juggled quarterbacks and followed a Dec. 12 win over Denver with a loss to then-one-win Carolina.
Even with two lump-of-coal teams, the University of Phoenix Stadium was sold out for the 53rd straight game and the roof was open for one of the few times this season, giving everyone inside a chance enjoy the balmy weather while a good portion of the country shivered.
And with nearly half of the fans on hand to see the Cowboys, a game that doesn't mean a whole lot was filled with Christmas cheer (and jeer).
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/cardinals-return-2-picks-for.html
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