The Arizona Cardinals Hot Start is a Distant Memory and Things Don’t Get Easier Now

Let's think back to two weeks ago, just as week five in the NFL was starting. The Cardinals were 4-0, heading into a Thursday night showdown with the St. Louis Rams. Road teams on a short week are always in a hole, and not surprisingly, the Cards got thumped 17-3. That was understandable to some degree, but the Cards not only got beat, they looked terrible in the process.

What's a good remedy to shake off a loss? Buffalo coming into town on the heels of getting waxed 45-3 by San Francisco would seem to be just what the doctor ordered. What happened was far from what the Cardinals were hoping, as they fell to the Bills 19-16 in overtime. Not only did they lose the game, but Arizona lost QB Kevin Kolb late in the fourth to a rib and/or chest injury. And don't look now, but the Cards' schedule for their next five games is brutally tough.

John Skelton looked okay in relief of Kolb, but if he has to start the next game or more for Kolb, this is what he's facing. Arizona goes to Minnesota this week, then San Francisco visits them in the desert. After that, the Cardinals head up to Green Bay to face the Packers in Lambeau. Arizona gets a bye week following that, but then travels to the ATL to take on the Falcons. Even the game after that isn't easy, because the rematch with the Rams takes place in Arizona.

Everyone was talking about Arizona after starting 4-0, now they're 4-2 and are looking like they could be 4-6 in a month. They aren't totally out of it, because remember Skelton was the opening day starter, only to get hurt and not get his job back because Kolb was undefeated. Now with the roles possibly reversing, things could get out of whack quickly in Arizona.

Kolb is scheduled to have an MRI today to see how badly he was injured after x-rays came back negative. The problem is that they can't seem to keep either guy healthy, and that usually doesn't help when you're trying to maintain consistency with an offense.