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Playoff-minded Cardinals visit disappointing Bengals

Nov 18, 2007 - 11:27 AM Arizona (4-5) at Cincinnati (3-6) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals can ill-afford to fall any further out of playoff contention.

In what will be their first regular-season visit to Cincinnati since 2000 and just their sixth game here since the teams' first meeting in 1973, the Cardinals are in position to all but end the Bengals postseason hopes Sunday.

Despite being a game under .500, the Cardinals remain a player in the NFC playoff race, especially in the NFC West where they are just one game back of front-running Seattle (5-4).

Additionally, with wild card co-leaders New York (6-3) and Detroit (6-3) playing each other Sunday, Arizona stands to gain a game in that race as well with a victory.

The Cardinals come into this game on a high note following a decisive 31-21 home victory over the Detroit Lions.

Despite a torn ligament in his left elbow, Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner channeled his 1999 form in the victory, going 26-of-36 for 259 yards with three touchdowns - two to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

With starter Matt Leinart done for the season with a broken collarbone, the Cardinals hope the 36-year-old Warner will continue to play like the quarterback who helped the St. Louis Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV.

Still, because of Warner's injury and subsequent inability to hand off with his injured left hand, coach Ken Whisenhunt has been going to backup Tim Rattay in goal-line situations.

Rattay made the most of the opportunity in Sunday's win, tossing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Pope in the second quarter.

Even if Whisenhunt himself decided to take over quarterback duties this weekend, the Cardinals likely would be able to move the ball against the Bengals' putrid defense.

Cincinnati is ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per game and has given up 251 points this season - only Cleveland (264) and the winless Miami Dolphins (257) have allowed more through nine games.

Nonetheless, the Bengals are coming off their best defensive effort of the season in a 21-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Perhaps more a product of the Ravens' inept offense, the Bengals forced six turnovers and allowed just 272 yards in the decisive win.

While the Cincinnati defense awoke from its slumber, the team's usually reliable offense never got in the end zone. All 21 points in the victory came off the foot of placekicker Shayne Graham, who booted a career-high seven field goals.

The Cardinals secondary will have its hands full with quarterback Carson Palmer the Bengals' formidable receiving corps.

In addition to the always dangerous T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, the Bengals saw Chris Henry make an impressive season debut Sunday after serving an eight-game suspension to start the season.

The big-play target, who scored nine touchdowns on just 36 receptions a year ago, hauled in four passes for 99 yards.

Houshmandzadeh has 10 touchdown receptions and had scored in every game this season prior to Sunday's win. Johnson has three touchdowns and his 852 receiving yards ranks fourth in the league.