Bird Bits: Non-existent offense plagues Cardinals in loss to Jets

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a football game. So, we will give you Bird Bits providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Cardinals’ 7-6 loss to the New York Jets.

The Story:

Looking for their first win since Week 4, the Cardinals turned to rookie quarterback Ryan Lindley for the second straight game against the New York Jets. While Lindley didn’t have a four-turnover performance like he did in the team’s loss to the Rams, the sixth-round draft pick was just as ineffective Sunday, if not more.

Lindley finished 10-of-31 for 72 yards, as Arizona wasted another terrific effort from its defense in a 7-6 road loss to the Jets.

The Good:

Kerry Rhodes returned to the Meadowlands to face his former team and did about as much as an opposing player could do to quiet a hostile New York crowd.

Rhodes picked off two Mark Sanchez passes in the first quarter, the first of which came on the first play from scrimmage. In the fourth quarter, Rhodes also forced a fumble on a pass play to running back Kahlil Bell. The fumble turned into the Cardinals’ lone three points in the second half.

The Bad:

The Cardinals forced three turnovers and were rewarded with two missed field goals by Nick Folk in the first half, but offensively couldn’t make the most of their opportunities. The team’s only points in the first 30 minutes of play came on a Jay Feely field goal to end the half.

If not for a 40-yard run by safety Rashad Johnson — the team’s largest play of the day from scrimmage — on a fake punt, Feely’s kick would never have even happened.

When Lindley missed Sunday, he missed badly. After Rhodes’ forced fumble in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals had the ball inside the Jets’ 40-yard line. Unfortunately for Ken Whisenhunt and Co., Lindley misfired badly on two straight passes to Larry Fitzgerald (one catch for 23 yards) a la John Skelton in the team’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Arizona settled for three points and never challenged the rest of the afternoon.

Noted:

• The Cardinals defense has now forced 10 turnovers in their last two road contests.

• If there was one statistic that could properly sum up Sunday’s pathetic performance on offense it would be third-down percentage. Arizona was 0-for-15 on the afternoon.

• Greg McElroy, a former seventh-round draft pick out of Alabama, came in during the third quarter to replace Mark Sanchez. McElroy’s first career touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland proved to be the difference.

• The Cardinals have now been held out of the end zone in three of their eight losses this season.

• Arizona has suffered three eight-game losing streaks since moving to the Valley. The last of which occurred in 2006.

Coming Up Next:

The Cardinals will stay out on the road next Sunday with a divisional game against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks at 2:25 p.m. One of Arizona’s four wins came against Seattle back in Week 1.

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