Lack of passing game plagues Cardinals in loss to Dolphins
Dec 11, 2016, 7:32 PM | Updated: Dec 12, 2016, 7:29 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks to pass, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
A rain-soaked day in Miami, with the season on the line, was not an ideal time for Carson Palmer to have one of his worst games of the year.
The 36-year-old completed only 18-of-33 passes for 145 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 26-23 loss to the Dolphins. Palmer’s 145 yards were the least the quarterback has thrown since his 129-yard performance in a Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last season — a game in which he only played the first half.
Both of Palmer’s interceptions occurred in the first quarter, with the first coming on the opening drive for the Cardinals. After securing a first down, Palmer tried getting the ball to Larry Fitzgerald near Miami’s 49-yard line, but found rookie Mike Hull instead. Ryan Tannehill took the gift from Palmer and scored the first touchdown of the game, a 28-yard pass to Kenny Stills.
The second hiccup by Palmer happened at the 1:17 mark of the first quarter, where he again tried feeding Fitzgerald, but was picked off by Bacarri Rambo.
Pro Football Focus gave Palmer a passing grade of 52.7, and stated that while the quarterback didn’t perform at his best, it was good enough given the weather conditions.
When his offensive line could keep Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh off him, Carson Palmer was steady, if not explosive in the moist conditions in Miami. When the Dolphins’ pass rush got to Palmer (16 of his 37 dropbacks), the Cardinals’ offense and Palmer saw their performance drop off significantly. Palmer completed only four of his 12 pass attempts under pressure, good for only 3.4 yards per attempt.
However, the quarterback has been arguably ineffective all year with a 20:13 touchdown to interception ratio. To put that into perspective, Palmer turned the ball over in the air 11 times last season, but supplemented that by throwing a career-best 35 touchdowns.
Palmer’s two picks bring his season total to 13 and places him fourth in the NFL in interceptions. This marks his fourth multi-interception game of the year, the most he’s has had since his first season with the Cardinals in 2013 (seven).
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