Week 17 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 13, Indianapolis Colts 17

What you need to know

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were within inches of handing the Colts their third loss of the season and second consecutive in the RCA Dome. The Colts recovered a Josh McCown fumble in the end zone with thirteen seconds left in the game to end the Cardinals' upset bid. McCown finished the afternoon completing 31 of 42 passes for 297 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The Cardinals have arguably the best receiving combination in the game as both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin surpassed the 100 catch plateau. Fitzgerald’s 25 yard touchdown reception gave him 102 catches on the season breaking the old mark of 101 held by Boldin. Fitzgerald finished the season with 103 catches on the season while Boldin surpassed his old mark and caught 102 for 2005.

Arizona broke the 100 yard rushing barrier for the first time this season as the team rush for 129 yards on 31 carries. Marcel Shipp led the way with 57 yards on 16 carries.

Indianapolis Colts

The return of Tony Dungy to the sidelines also brought the return of winning football to the Colts. While the Colts offensive starters were all relegated to the sidelines by the third offensive series Jim Sorgi led the team on the team’s first touchdown drive on that third series. Sorgi completed 21 of 31 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. He did have an interception of a tipped ball thrown to Troy Walters.

The Colts had ten rushing attempts on the game, two of which were kneel downs by Sorgi to end the first half. Aaron Moorehead was the team’s leading receiver on the afternoon with a career high five catches for 59 yards.

The team awarded Coach Dungy the game ball after recovering the Cardinals’ fumble at the goal line.

What you ought to know

QB Josh McCown, Pass: 31 - 42 - 297 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 8 - 42 - 0

The lack of a substantial running game keeps this team from taking the next step. McCown was very efficient on the afternoon and completed 31 of 42 attempts for 297 yards and a touchdown. The team continues to struggle in the red zone due to the lack of a rushing attack causing defenses to flood the end zone taking away the quarterback’s receivers.

RB Marcel Shipp, Rush: 16 - 57 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (4 targets)

Shipp led the Cardinals rushing the ball 16 times for 57 yards. He also had three catches for 19 yards. The Cardinals have struggled keeping a healthy offensive line, which contributes to the team’s inability to establish a consistent running game.

RB J.J. Arrington, Rush: 5 - 27 - 0, Rec: 2 - 7 - 0 (4 targets)

Arrington carried the ball five times for 27 yards and caught two passes for another seven yards.

RB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0, Rec: 4 - 28 - 0 (4 targets)

Ayanbadejo caught all four balls thrown his way on the afternoon for 28 yards.

WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 8 - 81 - 0 (17 targets)

Boldin led the Cardinal receivers catching eight of the 17 balls thrown his way for 81 yards. Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined for 205 catches on the season and are arguably the best wide receiver combination in the game today as they become the first combination since Ed McCaffery and Rod Smith of the Denver Broncos to both surpass the 100 reception plateau in a season.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Rec: 6 - 80 - 1 (7 targets)

Fitzgerald caught six of the seven balls thrown to him on the afternoon for 80 yards and a touchdown. Fitzgerald’s 25 yard touchdown catch was his 102nd catch of the season and gave him the team’s reception record previously held by teammate Anquan Boldin. Fitzgerald finished the season with 103 catches.

WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Johnson caught both balls thrown his way for 16 yards.

TE Adam Bergen, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (4 targets)

Bergen caught four passes on the afternoon for 35 yards.

PK Neil Rackers 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

Rackers set the record for field goals on a season with 40 when he kicked his second of the day from 42 yards out. Rackers was successful on both attempts on the day his first from 28 yards out.

ARI Rush Defense

The Cardinals’ rush defense went untested on the afternoon as the Colts only attempted to run the ball ten times on the game. Two of those attempts were kneel downs by quarterback Jim Sorgi. Karlos Dansby led the Cardinals in tackles with eight.

ARI Pass Defense

The Cardinals pass defense gave up 207 yards passing and two touchdowns to Jim Sorgi.

QB Jim Sorgi, Pass: 21 - 31 - 207 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 4 - 0 - 0

Sorgi took over for Peyton Manning on the team’s second series of the game. He led the team on a touchdown drive on the team’s third possession. On the day he completed 21 of 31 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. His interception came on a pass of the hands of receiver Troy Walters.

QB Peyton Manning, Pass: 1 - 2 - 5 - 0 TD / 0 INT

Manning played the team’s first series of the game and completed one of two passes.

RB Dominic Rhodes, Rush: 5 - 4 - 0, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (6 targets)

The Colts made little attempt to run the ball on Sunday afternoon as Rhodes led the team with five carries. Rhodes did contribute four catches for 29 yards on six targets.

RB James Mungro, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (2 targets)

Mungro was actually the Colts’ leading rusher on the afternoon as he took his only carry seven yards. Mungro had two catches for 21 yards.

WR Aaron Moorehead, Rec: 5 - 59 - 0 (8 targets)

Moorehead tied his career high with five catches for 59 yards. Moorehead is a big target and showed good hands on the afternoon.

WR Troy Walters, Rec: 5 - 43 - 1 (7 targets)

Walters had another successful afternoon substituting for Marvin Harrison on the team’s third possession. On the day Walters caught five balls for 43 yards and a touchdown.

WR Reggie Wayne (1 targets)

Wayne dropped the only ball thrown his way on the team’s first possession of the game.

TE Ben Utecht, Rec: 2 - 33 - 1 (4 targets)

Utecht caught two of the four balls thrown his way for 33 yards and a touchdown. Utecht’s second catch of the day was the first ball he’s caught that did not result in a touchdown.

PK Mike Vanderjagt 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

Vanderjagt was successful from 44 yards out on his only field goal attempt on the day. He was a perfect two for two on extra point attempts.

IND Rush Defense

The Colts’ rush defense allowed the Cardinals their first 100 yard rushing game on the season. Gary Brackett led the defense with nine tackles. They defense did hold the Cardinals to a field goal with the team on the three yard line and they also forced a McCown fumble at the goal line to preserve the win.

IND Pass Defense

The Colts pass defense surrendered 297 yards passing on the afternoon. They did sack McCown three times on the day and intercepted him once.