Kicker Jay Feely is congraulated by holder Dave Zastudil after booting the game-winning field goal in overtime Sunday.
Before Jay Feely kicked the game-winning field goal Sunday afternoon, he started singing a little tune.
It wasn't the type of song you'd expect from a 36-year-old kicker. Even holder Dave Zastudil turned around when Feely started crooning some Flo Rida. But it relaxed Feely enough to nail a 46-yard field goal in overtime to give the Cardinals a 24-21 win at University of Phoenix Stadium.
"I just try to stay calm and stay in the moment and not think about the implications," Feely said. "Obviously for me, that was a big kick."
It wasn't just his ninth game-winning kick, it was a game-winning kick against the only team to cut him. Feely was released by the Dolphins after the 2007 season after he set the franchise record for field-goal percentage.
"You remember sitting in (Miami general manager) Jeff Ireland's office and (him) releasing you," Feely said. "I hold that in the back of my mind. I always want to have a great game against them. Some people say it doesn't matter but to me it does."
Feely was confident lining up from 46 yards – the ball was spotted at the Dolphins' 28 – but he told Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb in the first quarter just to get to the 35, and Feely would take care of the rest.
Kolb led the Cardinals to the Dolphins' 35 in overtime with a 10-yard pass to Early Doucet. After three handoffs to Ryan Williams for seven yards, the Cardinals put the game on Feely's foot.
"He's always in your ear and for good reason," Kolb said. "He's an intelligent guy. I knew when we gave him those extra seven or eight yards there that he was going to be confident with it and he did it. He stroked it."
WELCOME TO THE NFL, WiPo
William Powell was moved up the depth chart when Beanie Wells was put on the injured reserve/designated to return list last week. But when LaRod Stephens-Howling was deemed inactive for Sunday's game, Powell went from inactive the first three weeks to the second-string running back.
"You got to be ready, even more on your toes, be ready to go in at any moment whether it be to run the ball, make a block, run a route," said Powell, who finished with just two yards on two carries. "I feel like I adjusted well and played pretty good."
Despite fumbling the opening kickoff, Powell nearly single-handedly won the game. He returned the opening kickoff of overtime 41 yards, nearly breaking it for a touchdown before kicker Dan Carpenter took out Powell's legs.
"The kicker. Can't believe it. I'm so mad at myself," Powell said with a chuckle. "I saw him a split-second too late to make a move. I was thinking about hurdling him but it was little bit too late."
TOLER SEIZES THE MOMENT
Cornerback Greg Toler let an interception bounce of his chest early in the third quarter. He wasn't about to let it happen again. Later in the third, Toler broke on a pass from Ryan Tannehill to Brian Hartline, securing the interception.
"I actually seen a sit down route a lot and we've seen it on film," Toler said. "I said, 'OK, he gave it to me on the opposite side and if I jump this one hopefully it's coming.' And it just happened to fall in my way."
With William Gay struggling, Toler rotated in and impressed his veteran safety.
"He came in and just played football," safety Adrian Wilson said. "We rotated down and just tried to keep guys fresh. We kind of knew they were going to go no-huddle. We just wanted to keep guys fresh and Greg was hot. We just stayed with the hot hand there."
MASSIE LEARNS ON THE FLY
Right tackle Bobby Massie had a first half most offensive lineman would want to forget. He gave up three sacks to Miami defensive end Cameron Wake in the first two quarters. After a pep talk from injured tackle Levi Brown, Massie made a few adjustments and didn't allow another sack until early in the fourth quarter. Wake finished with a career-high 4½ sacks.
"He's probably the best defensive lineman I've gone against in my entire football career," Massie said. "My hat's off to him. He's a good player. I just go to come back and practice and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Levi's advice was simple: Don't worry about what everyone is saying. Just do what got Massie to the NFL.
"He was telling me how I was setting and talking about the angle I was setting at and just how I need to punch and get him out of hole and give the quarterback a chance," Massie said. "It worked."
EXTRA POINTS
In the first quarter Larry Fitzgerald tied a Cardinals' franchise record with a catch in his 121st consecutive game. …
The Cardinals remain one of three undefeated teams. Both the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans won Sunday to improve to 4-0. …
Sunday was the Cardinals' 500 win as a franchise. They're one of nine teams to reach that mark.
