Cardinals’ loss to Rams brings new mark for home futility

Dec 24, 2018, 9:18 AM | Updated: 11:39 am

An Arizona Cardinals fan holds a sign prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

BY VINCE MAROTTA

Arizona Sports

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Longtime fans of the Arizona Cardinals have suffered through some bad football at both venues the team has called home since 1988.

Faithful fans who showed up to all eight home tilts in 2018 experienced something even the diehards at Sun Devil Stadium never did — a 1-7 record.

Sunday’s 31-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams sunk the Cardinals to these new home depths. Squads in 1989 and 1991 both went 2-6 in front of the home crowd. The previous mark for futility in State Farm Stadium — a 3-5 record — came in the venue’s first year of existence, 2006.

To put things in some perspective when talking about “protecting the nest,” the Cardinals lost only five games at home over a three-year stretch from 2013 to 2015.

Fans aren’t used to seeing what they saw this season.

“It’s a big disappointment, because we have great fans,” embattled head coach Steve Wilks said Sunday. “Our fans are extremely important in the things we want to portray and represent and give to them, and I take full responsibility for the letdown this year.

“It’s unacceptable.”

Most fans would agree with the “unacceptable” label. The tone was set in Week 1 when the Wilks era began with a thud — a 24-6 loss to the Washington Redskins. Other low marks in Glendale included a 35-point embarrassment at the hands of the Denver Broncos in the team’s only nationally-televised game of the year, a last-second loss to the lowly Oakland Raiders, a punchless performance in 14-point loss to middling Detroit and Sunday’s effort against the Rams.

The average margin of defeat on home turf for the Cardinals was a whopping 13.7 points.

“It’s been really difficult and really frustrating,” wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. “This has always been a place that we play well in historically, and to not play well here all season has been disturbing.”

Even with this year’s struggles on their home field, the Cardinals own a 62-41-1 regular-season record at State Farm Stadium.

Follow @Vincemarotta

Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) falls into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) and Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly (42) is hit by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gerald Hodges during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates his touchdown pass with teammates against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) pulls in a touchdown pass from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during the first half of an NFL football game as Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) pursues, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) pulls in a touchdown pass from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) throws a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) laughs prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (86) is hit by Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Mark Barron (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws over Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tries to elude Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) dives in for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson (38) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) washes his field goal split the uprights against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) recovers a fumble as Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea, right, tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) gives a thumbs up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) greets head coach Steve Wilks prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, in Glendale, Ariz. The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Cardinals 40-14 on Sunday, Dec. 16. Another blowout loss has first-year coach Steve Wilks on even shakier ground. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley (53) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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