Cardinals don’t feel like celebrating ‘Victory Monday’

There won’t be much celebrating for the Arizona Cardinals.

Not after they fell short on multiple 3rd-and-1 situations, not after two turnovers only led to two field goals and not after the run game chugged for 2.4 yards per carry, most of which happened before the top two backs on the depth chart left with injuries.

That means there will be no “Victory Monday” when the Cards arrive back at their Tempe training facility. There’s a sense of urgency as the team hopes to get back to work quickly following a less-than-impressive game against the 49ers.

After Arizona head coach Bruce Arians finished his postgame speech following a 19-16 win at San Francisco on Sunday, Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson silenced his cheering teammates.

“Hold on! Defense, we’ll be in at 11,” he said before quarterback Carson Palmer broke the huddle. “11 a.m.”

#AZCardinals @RealPeterson21 told media that he exercised his powers as team captain and cancelled “Victory Monday” for @AZCardinals defense

— Paul Calvisi (@PaulCalvisi) November 30, 2015

Arizona’s defense allowed Niners quarterback Blaine Gabbert to connect on 25-of-36 passes for 318 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s crew also allowed San Francisco to rush 17 times for a 3.9-yard average.

It wasn’t until safety Tony Jefferson blitzed Gabbert and sacked him in the backfield, setting the defense up to stop a 4th-and-20 that the 49ers were short of converting. Anquan Boldin’s reception ended 18 yards downfield and two yards short of a first down that would have allowed them an opportunity to take the lead late in the fourth quarter.

“We lost focus quite a few times during that game,” Jefferson told Arizona Sports 98.7’s Paul Calvisi. “But we knew we couldn’t let that one slip away.

“It felt like the Steelers game, it felt like Atlanta last year,” he added. “We were flat. Usually, we have Victory Monday but we’ll be in the lab tomorrow.”

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