Cardinals enduring home woes

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals have lost three games at home for the first time in Ken Whisenhunt's tenure - and there are still four home games on the schedule.

University of Phoenix Stadium was once kind to the Cardinals and gave them a true advantage over the opponent.

In both of Whisenhunt's first two seasons as Cardinals head coach the team went 6-2 at UPS.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn't think there is anything specific to point out for the recent failures at home.

"Na, disappointed, very disappointed because we have been a very good home team," Whisenhunt said on Sports 620 KTAR's Doug & Wolf show when asked about any theories he has on why the team has played so poorly at home this season. "I feel like we have let our fans down from that standpoint because they have been so supportive."

Regardless of their play at home the Cardinals are unbeaten on the road (3-0) and sit atop the NFC West standings with a 4-3 record.

Whisenhunt, of course, would like to win the home games but realizes it's a long season and that the team can't put too much emphasis on one game when they still have nine to play.

"It's just one game, [we] can't overreact [and] have to keep moving forward," Whisenhunt said.

The game on Sunday against the Panthers came down to the Cardinals not being able to stop the run - the Panthers rushed for 270 yards - and turning the ball over - the Cardinals turned the ball over six times.

"A lot of self-inflicted wounds," Whisenhunt said of why the Panthers were so successful against his team. "I think you can pinpoint why we didn't win [Sunday], we had a couple situations where we didn't make tackles, it wasn't that we got out physical-ed and it wasn't that we got beat it was that we made mistakes."

The Cardinals entered the game with the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL.

The Panthers entered the game with the plan to run and that's exactly what they did. At halftime they had nearly 200 yards on the ground.

Kurt Warner went into Sunday with six interceptions thrown. He threw five on Sunday and also lost a fumble for a total of six turnovers.

Whisenhunt knew what the Panthers were capable of but also knows that if the Cardinals clean up their game they can get the wins they need and want.

"Carolina is a good football team, a lot of people didn't think that because they were 2-4, but I still think if we don't make our mistakes we'll win that game."