FanHouse RalphBrown

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

After astonishing everyone and heading to the Super Bowl last season, the Arizona Cardinals now face truly raised expectations for the first time in memory. We all remember the magical postseason run, when Larry Fitzgerald established himself as the NFL's premier wideout (even if Andre Johnson wants to argue), Kurt Warner polished his legacy, and the defense showed its capability -- one we had not seen much in the regular season.

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Here's Week 12 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Matt Cassel and Randy Moss, New England (8 connections, 125 yards, 3 TDs) -- This team is starting to look a lot like 2007 if you ask me. Cassel has become comfortable, and is riding the huge wave named confidence to victory after dominating victory. Moss put out 100 percent on his routes, caught some beautiful passes from No. 16, who had himself a pretty decent game. Cassel has thrown for 815 yards and six touchdowns, and ran for one, in the last two weeks. I know Varsity Blues is a movie but if Gisele ends up leaving Tom Brady for the USC product I wouldn't be the least surprised. "Hey Tom ... I don't want, your life."

The Arizona Cardinals are on the cusp of clinching the NFC West, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. They received a good litmus test today, as the best team in the NFL visited them in the desert. The Cards found out they aren't quite there yet, but when the dust settles they need to realize this game showed they are quite close to joining the upper echelon in the NFL.

The little things separated them.

- Domenik Hixon averaged 60 yards per return via kickoff, allowing the Giants incredible field position for most of the day.

- A botched extra point meant the Cards were going to have to go for two eventually.

- Neil Rackers duffed a 68 yard free kick chance at the end of the first half. Man, that would have been awesome to see him make it.

- The Cardinals twiced attempted onside kicks, and twice came up empty-handed. On the first attempt, Rackers connected on possible the best onside kick I've ever seen. The ball went far enough airborne for the Cards to get players into position, and it bounced right into the hands of Ralph Brown. Brown dropped it, and the Giants recovered.

Of course, they also lost the turnover battle, 2-0. That is definitely not a "little thing."