Mike LaFleur should have been more aggressive in the red zone vs. Broncos

The Arizona Cardinals’ red-zone issues followed them into Sunday’s home loss to the Denver Broncos.

After going 11-for-18 (61%) through the first five weeks of the season, Arizona’s efficiency has nosedived the past two games behind a 1-for-10 clip to drop its season success rate to 42.8%.

And although Arizona would have needed more for a comeback bid, head coach Mike LaFleur’s decision not to go for it on fourth-and-goal from Denver’s two-yard line stands out as a what-if.

“It was 6-3 and so we took the (delay of game penalty) on purpose. If we had got it inside the one-yard line, we would have gone for it,” LaFleur said postgame. “But I just thought against a team who up until somewhat today was struggling to score, our defense was playing well, it was 6-3, we’re getting the ball coming out of the half … I wanted to get it to a tie game.

“I’ll stick with that one in this game based on how we thought we were going to have to win it. Other weeks might be a little bit different.”

The explanation is understandable, but the lack of aggressiveness in an area where something needs to shake loose was not.

Arizona has proven it can move the ball between the 20-yard lines. Their 28 red zone trips rank top 5 in the league heading into Monday Night Football.

Up against a Denver team that has one of the toughest defenses in the league but averaging just 19 points per game, turning in a similar showing like Arizona had in its win over the Los Angeles Rams (six field goals) could have gotten it done.

But as of late, you just don’t know what you’re going to get when the Cardinals are in striking distance.

So why not push the issue and set the tone early on, especially when you pull back the curtain and see the success Arizona has had inside the two-yard line this year?

Of four such looks this year inside the two-yard line entering Sunday, the Cardinals had been perfect. Expand it to the three-yard line and you were still looking at 5-for-6.

There’s plenty to clean up for the Cardinals offense when it comes to the red zone as a whole.

The run game continues to struggle to get much of anything going as injuries in the backfield and along the offensive line impacting.

Sunday was no different, with most runs inside the 20-yard line going for no gain or negative yardage. The longest run of the day from that side of the field went for nine yards but was called back due to a holding penalty.

Execution has to be there, too. Bam Knight’s drop in the end zone despite a well-placed ball from Jacoby Brissett in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss stands out big time.

The same goes with keeping defenses on their toes and not telegraphing passes to Trey McBride and finding ways to get others involved.

When LaFleur and the Cardinals have those advantageous opportunities like on Sunday, they’ve got to strike.

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