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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Early Doucet kneels in the end zone after missing a touchdown catch in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 23-16. David Kohl, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals' John Skelton, left, reacts with Calais Campbell late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 23-16. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt questions an official in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
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An official separates Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham, left, and Arizona Cardinals defensive end David Carter, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Tony Tribble, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells rushes against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Wells gained 53 yards to go over 1,000 for the season. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals' Adam Jones during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 23-16. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) fumbles the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Arizona recovered the fumble but lost the game to the Bengals, 23-16. Tony Tribble, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals' John Skelton reacts late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 23-16. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled short of the goal line by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) in the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
By Associated Press

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Cardinals almost pulled off their most improbable comeback yet.

But it wasn't to be.

The hole they dug in Cincinnati was too deep and the only goal left is to finish the season at .500.

Arizona can wind up 8-8 with a victory at home Sunday against Seattle.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt says that still is a significant accomplishment for a team that opened the season 1-6.

He also says that the fact that it's the final game of the season will have no impact on whether to play two important injured players — cornerback Patrick Peterson and quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Peterson injured his left Achilles tendon in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Bengals, but an MRI on Monday showed no tear, that it was only tendinitis.

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