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Cardinals, Buccaneers both looking to snap losing streaks

Nov 4, 2007 - 11:54 AM Arizona (3-4) at Tampa Bay (4-4) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The Arizona Cardinals are hoping a combination of a bye week and the improving health of quarterback Kurt Warner will get them back on the winning track.

Arizona looks to snap a two-game losing streak when it visits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Warner suffered torn ligaments in his left elbow in the first quarter of a 25-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers on October 14, forcing Tim Rattay into the lineup just four days after he was signed.

Thought to possibly be done for the season, Warner played the following week at Washington and led a comeback that fell just short in a 21-19 loss.

Now with two weeks to heal, Warner said the elbow is feeling much better as the Cardinals prepare for a matchup against a team that they could be fighting with for a playoff spot.

"Obviously if you do the movement it is going to hurt because the ligaments aren't healed," Warner said. "But we have gotten over some of the initial trauma. The time off helped."

Arizona running back Edgerrin James is second in the NFC with 603 yards rushing, while Anquan Boldin returned from missing three games with a hip injury to catch two TD passes in his last game. Fellow wideout Larry Fitzgerald has 31 receptions in his last four games.

The Buccaneers also are trying to snap a two-game losing streak, following Sunday's 24-23 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Injuries and a barrage of turnovers have contributed to the recent skid. Quarterback Jeff Garcia did not throw an interception in his first seven games but was picked off three times against the Jaguars.

A week earlier, Garcia lost two fumbles - including one at the 1-yard line - in a 23-16 loss to the Detroit Lions. Prior to that, the Buccaneers had not committed a turnover in the previous five games.

Garcia did direct the Bucs to 20 unanswered points after they fell behind the Jaguars, 17-3, but he completed just 19-of-41 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown.

Due to injuries to the top three running backs, Earnest Graham has been carrying the load for Tampa Bay. However, newly acquired Michael Bennett scored on a 19-yard touchdown run against Jacksonville and could be ready to assume a bigger role in the offense.

The Buccaneers have enjoyed great success in the past against Warner, intercepting him nine times in three games.