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Cardinals' Defense Has Arizona Buzzing

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: January 16, 2009

Bertrand Berry got his first good jolt of the Cardinals fever that is sweeping through the Arizona desert earlier this week when he ventured out to a local gym for a quick workout.

"I walked into the place and everybody there got off their equipment and started clapping," the Cardinals' veteran defensive end said. "It was a great feeling. I've never had that before."

Of course he hasn't. The Cardinals have reached the playoffs only twice since the franchise moved from St. Louis to Phoenix in 1988, and the first of those appearances came 10 years after the move. In at least one respect, though, the Cardinals' two Arizona-based playoff teams are similar. That 1998 team was led by a defense that ranked 10th overall in the league, and the defense has led the way at times this year, too.

The Cardinals finished the 2008 season ranked 19th overall in total defense, but Berry says that's largely because the Cardinals displayed a tendency to play sloppy in meaningless games.

"When we haven't had something to play for we've had lapses," Berry said. "But when we've been locked in and focused, we've responded pretty well to the challenge and played well."

The Cardinals were locked in last week at Carolina. After surrendering a score on the opening defensive series, they turned up the intensity and dominated the rest of the way, forcing six turnovers, including five interceptions.

The story was pretty much the same a week earlier against Atlanta, when the Cardinals limited the Falcons to 60 yards rushing, forced three turnovers, sacked Matt Ryan twice and intercepted him twice.

What has happened to the Cardinals is unprecedented. They're in the NFC Championship Game for the first time, and Berry said all of Arizona is abuzz.

"When you go out to eat or go to the store, everybody is like, 'Good luck; let's do it,'" Berry said. "It's easy to understand. I mean, there hasn't been a lot to cheer about here. What's happening here is something that words really can't describe. I mean, if we can do this, it would mean that we've definitely taken a step in the right direction. That we can be known for winning."

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