Fitzgerald enjoys bigger role; Okafor steps in, steps up
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- He's back.
The Cardinals made Larry Fitzgerald a large part of their game plan Sunday, and he made the most of it with six catches for 98 yards and his first touchdown of the season in a 30-20 victory over Washington.
Fitzgerald tied a season high for receptions and set a season high for yards, and it was the touchdown that showed him at his bullish best. Fitzgerald snatched a ball away from a Washington defender at the 10-yard line and wrestled a defender the final 5 yards into the end zone to complete a 24-yard play for a 14-10 advantage, a lead the Cardinals did not lose.
"I knew I would get my opportunities," Fitzgerald said of his expanded role. "Mentally, I've always prepared myself for a big day. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I take my same approach every single week, every single day in my preparation. That doesn't change. I believe in the way we work as a team. I believe the way we prepare is the right way. I believe the way I prepare is the right way. That's not going to change."
He had just 13 receptions for 164 yards in the Cardinals first four games.
Sunday's touchdown reception was the 88th of his career, tying Hall of Famer Don Maynard for 12th in NFL history. He is second among active players behind San Diego tight end Antonio Gates (92).
"He obviously did a great job catching it, but he's 225 pounds, he's dragging guys into the end zone," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "I kind of felt right when I let the ball go, there's a chance he was going to break a tackle and score. Wasn't surprised one bit by what he did with the ball."
For an opening act, Alex Okafor could have hardly done more. Okafor had two sacks at outside linebacker while making his first start in place of Matt Shaughnessy, who suffered a knee injury last week that will keep him out until at least December.
"I was just waiting my time, fighting with injuries," said Okafor, a 2013 second-round pick out of Texas who played only one game last season before going on injured reserve with a season-ending biceps injury.
"It's a great feeling knowing I can get back out there and still do it," Okafor said. "It's the next-man-up philosophy. A lot of people say that, but we truly believe it. Whenever somebody comes in, you have to maintain the production that that starter had, and that's what I tried to do."
Okafor sacked Kirk Cousins on the first play of the second quarter and got his second with 10 minutes left in the game, three plays before Rashad Johnson's first interception.
"I just learned the snap count early and fed off that," Okafor said. "I just timed up the snap. I knew when it was about to get snapped. I watched a little bit of film, and when the came in here, it confirmed what I saw."
The Cardinals staff helped Okafor remain positive through his tough rookie year.
"They always kept me involved, never made me seem invisible throughout the facility. They always kept my head right so I would be ready for this opportunity," Okafor said.
Tyrann Mathieu was back in the lineup Sunday, making his first start at free safety as his balky left knee continued to improve. Mathieu had four tackles, knocked down a pass and came up with a fumble recovery that set up a field goal that gave the Cardinals a 23-13 lead with 10:27 remaining.
Washington reviewed the play, believing wide receiver Andre Roberts' knee was down before cornerback Jerraud Powers ripped the ball loose, and Mathieu could see it both ways.
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"I guess I must have been doing the right thing this week, because that ball popped right in my hand," Mathieu said. "Fortunate situation. It was a great play by Jerraud. I thought he (Roberts) was on the ground, but we got the call."
Washington use many three- and four-receiver packages, which led to a game plan making more use of Mathieu, who played sparingly in a reserve role in recent weeks.
"I just had to step up. I've been taking it real slow. I think I'll continue to take it real slow, just to get more and more reps and get back in the groove of things," Mathieu said of his return from the injury that knocked him out last Dec. 8.
"It felt great to be out there for a little bit more. I belong on the field. I'm not good at spectating."
Johnson was replaced in the starting lineup by Mathieu but that did not mean his production stopped. Johnson had two interceptions, and his 28-yard return for a touchdown with 18 seconds left concluded the scoring.
"I assumed I could beat the offensive tackle to the end zone, so I took that opportunity to put the game away," Johnson said.
Johnson has three interceptions this season, tying his career high set last year, and though he didn't start saw plenty of time against pass-heavy Washington.
"We're a mature group that steps in and does what we are coached to do," Johnson said. "Everybody sells out for one another."
Rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro made all three of his field goal attempts and is 14 for 14 this season.
"Really not feeling any pressure out there," Catanzaro said. "I'm kind of just doing my thing. Once I step on the game field, I can get into a zone and block everything out. For those three seconds, it's just me and the ball. That's my job, just helping the team win.
He is three field goals short of the NFL record for consecutive makes to start a career, set by Washington's Kai Forbush two seasons ago.
"I hold myself to a very high standard and I expect myself to make every single kick," Catanzaro said. "I always visualize positive things. "I guess I'm the guy here. I know there is going to be some adversity this season, but I'm looking forward to being the rock out there that my team needs me to be."
Powers had an interception and a forced fumble, but like many in Washington he believed the fumble was going to be overturned after review.
"When I first saw the replay, I started to walk back on the field," Powers said. "Then, when they slowed it down, I'm like, 'I'm not sure.' As a defender, you never get those calls, so in our heads it's like, 'We're going back on the field.' I didn't hear what the official said, I just heard the crowd cheering. So I just walked back off."
The Cardinals have thrown 178 passes without an interception in their first five games, a franchise record since 1940, the first year full statistics are available. Carson Palmer has 81 attempts, Drew Stanton 88, Logan Thomas eight and Ted Ginn Jr. one. ... Even in a passing league, the fact the Cardinals limited their first five opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing is not diminished. Washington had 72, with halfback Alfred Morris gaining only 41 on 13 carries. That also is a franchise first since full records were kept. ... The Cardinals committed 14 penalties for 108 yards after committing 20 penalties in their first four games, but their four takeaways and plus-four turnover margin negated any ill effect. "It's got to be cleaned up," coach Bruce Arians said, specifically addressing the offensive penalties.