Kolb’s sliding doors take Cardinals to 3-0

 

Roar Guru

By Alfred Chan, 25 Sep 2012 Alfred Chan is a Roar Guru

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 American Football, Arizona Cardinals, Kevin Kolb

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Two years ago, Kevin Kolb lost the starting quarterback job at Philadelphia in week one, after being named the team’s starter. Fast forward to today and Kolb has come off the bench as the Cardinals backup and led Arizona to three wins from three games.

In 2010, after Donovan McNabb was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles, Kolb was named starter but was concussed in the opening week of the season. Michael Vick came on and led the Eagles to wins with phenomenal numbers, two years after his release from prison.

Kolb lost the job solely to the red hot form of Vick and was never able to win it back. Of starting calibre in the league, he demanded a trade and Philadelphia obliged at the end of the season.

The Eagles sent Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a second round draft pick and pro-bowl cornerback Dominque Rogers-Cromartie.

Kolb signed a rich contract with the Cardinals worth $62.1 million over five years.

After an injury riddled debut season in Arizona, Cardinals backup quarterback John Skelton led them 6-2 as starter and an off-season quarterback controversy developed in the desert.

Kolb was certain to be released had the Cardinals been successful in signing Peyton Manning, who opted to sign with the Denver Broncos instead.

Neither Kolb nor Skelton convinced in the preseason, with both struggling to complete passes. Kolb struggled in games and Skelton struggled at practice.

The two featured in headlines across the league as the only unresolved quarterback controversy.

Good performances in games win, and Skelton was subsequently named starter. Kolb became the best paid backup in the league.

In the opening week of the 2012 NFL season, Skelton was sacked on a play in the third quarter and left the game. Kolb came on and led the Cardinals to a come-from-behind win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Skelton was later diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and Kolb was named the starter for week two against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in Foxborough.

In a game no one expected the Cardinals to win, Kolb led his team to a head-turning 20-18 upset over the Patriots. He threw for 140 yards, one touchdown and running in another.

Following the win, Skelton returned to training but erring on the side of caution, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced Kolb as the week three starter against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Both teams were unbeaten, only six teams were 2-0, and Kolb played a flawless game. Leading the Cardinals to a 27-6 victory at home, Kolb threw 222 yards for two touchdowns and a passer rating of 127.4.

For the first time since 1974, the Arizona Cardinals have started the season 3-0. Kolb has led the team to the top of the NFC West Division and looks entrenched as the Cardinals starting quarterback.

From sheer excellent play, Kolb has won the starting job in an identical reverse of what happened to him in Philadelphia two years ago.

The football gods have smiled on Kevin Kolb, who has taken the most of his opportunities.

After three weeks of football, the Arizona Cardinals are just one of three unbeaten teams in the league.