Arizona Cardinals passers on impressive interception-less streak
Oct 13, 2014, 11:02 PM | Updated: 11:03 pm
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals lead the NFL in different players throwing a pass this season, with four.
That’s not particularly impressive, nor something the team wanted to be the case.
However, what is impressive is something the quartet of Carson Palmer (81), Drew Stanton (88), Logan Thomas (8) and Ted Ginn, Jr. (1) has accomplished when letting their passes fly.
Their 178 throws have either been completed or fallen harmlessly to the turf.
For the first time in team history, the Cardinals have opened a season with five consecutive games without throwing an interception. In fact, dating back to 1940 it is the first time the franchise has gone five straight games at any point in a season without being picked off.
Going back to last season, the Cards have thrown 223 passes without an interception.
It’s the longest such streak in the NFL, with second place New England sitting at just 79.
“The other teams have dropped a couple,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians joked Monday when asked what the secret has been to the team’s interception-free start. “Knowing where you’re going with the ball. The guys are studying, but we’ve been lucky. We’re fortunate we’ve had about three dropped.”
Indeed, there have been throws that could have been intercepted, most notably one that Washington linebacker Brian Orakpo dropped Sunday. But still, there are also times where good throws end up finding their way into a defensive back’s hands or, simply, a defender makes an outstanding play.
At any rate, dating back to 1932 the Cardinals’ stretch is tied for the third-longest streak in NFL history to open a season, and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception to start a season is 251, which was set by the Redskins in 2008.
In all likelihood, at some point in the near future the team’s streak is likely to end. However, as of now they are 74 passes away from making some pretty impressive history.
