Inspired by the creators of Winnie the Pooh, Cheers & Jeers brings you “Kurt Warner and the very bad fantasy day.”
Warner’s impressively terrible performance (two interceptions, two fumbles, four sacks) Monday night against the 49ers was a downright fantasy football meltdown. C&J is aware of at least one matchup — with a playoff spot on the line — where a team with Warner on the roster had the lead entering Monday night, only to watch it slip away during Arizona’s seven-turnover debacle.
But perhaps lost amidst the fantasy impact, Warner’s dreadful night has reality football implications as well. The last seven weeks have had a rollercoaster-like quality to them. On Nov. 1, Warner threw five interceptions in a loss to Carolina. Then he followed with three straight games with a quarterback rating of 120 or higher. He missed a game with a concussion, and then came back to throw three touchdowns in Arizona’s 30-17 win over Minnesota.
That brought us to Monday night’s 24-9 loss to the 49ers, a game that would have clinched Arizona its second consecutive NFC West title. Instead, Warner and the Cards laid an egg, reinforcing the notion that last season’s march to the Super Bowl was an aberration.
At this point, when it comes to Arizona’s identity, your guess is as good as ours.
