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Rookie QBs Leinart, Cutler duel on Sunday

Dec 17, 2006 - 3:15 PM Denver (7-6) at Arizona (4-9) Sunday 4:05 pm EST

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Rookie quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler duel for the first time on Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals host the Denver Broncos in an interconference game.

The 10th overall pick in the draft, Leinart lost his first five starts. Since then, he has led the Cardinals to three wins in four games, completing 86-of-138 passes for 1,056 yards and five touchdowns with only two interceptions in that span.

Last week, the former Heisman Trophy winner threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-21 win over first-place Seattle. The victory was Arizona's first against a team with a winning record since 2004.

"As the quarterback grows and as we keep playing together, you see what happens," Cardinals running back Edgerrin James said.

The Broncos need their rookie quarterback to develop rapidly if they hope to make the playoffs. They are one game behind Jacksonville and Cincinnati in the battle for the AFC wild-card spots.

Coach Mike Shanahan made the switch from veteran Jake Plummer to Cutler after Denver lost back-to-back games to AFC West rivals San Diego and Denver. But the losing streak is now four with Cutler dropping his first two starts against Seattle and San Diego.

The 11th overall pick in the draft, Cutler has completed 27-of-51 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in the two games.

Cutler threw a pair of touchdown passes to rookie tight end Tony Scheffler, but was sacked four times and lost a fumble in a 48-20 loss at San Diego last week.

The defense yielded 419 yards to the Chargers. Philip Rivers threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 103 yards and three scores.

On Sunday, the Broncos will face Leinart and a talented stable of receivers featuring Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin along with James, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in two straight games after failing to reach the century mark in his first 11.

The Cardinals limited Seattle's Shaun Alexander to 76 yards on 22 carries last week. They will face Tatum Bell, who has rushed for 898 yards, on Sunday.