Drew Petzing gets last laugh as Lions light up Cardinals

GLENDALE — In case you forgot amid all the Marvin Harrison Jr. trade news, the Arizona Cardinals played a game on Sunday.

The result was very much like the Harrison trade, a loss for the home team.

In the battle between current and former Cardinals coordinators, it was Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing flexing his scheme and personnel all over State Farm Stadium in the 45-21 win.

For a fourth-straight game, the Cardinals defense again was on the hook for allowing at least 31 points to opposing offenses. The unit has allowed at least 30 to its opponents in 10 of the last 14 games.

Twenty-four of Detroit’s 45 points came in the first half alone, with the Lions doing just about whatever they wanted to.

The most back-breaking part of the first two quarters, though, was Arizona’s inability to get the Lions offense off the field despite Detroit’s 1-of-8 mark on third down.

A big reason for that? The Lions making the most of their fourth-down looks.

Petzing and Detroit had no fear going early on, converting all three of their fourth-down tries. Two of those went for touchdowns to tight end Sam LaPorta and wide receiver Jameson Williams.

That aggressive mindset only continued into the second half. Detroit again added a fourth-down touchdown as it tallied 412 yards. The Lions’ 45 points were a season high for the franchise.

I don’t know how defensive coordinator Nick Rallis survives after a loss like this one, especially given his defense’s track record of giving up points in bunches.

Arizona’s defense deserves its fair share of the blame for Sunday’s loss. The offense, however, did little to help flip the score.

Up against the worst defense in the league, the offense under Mike LaFleur looked more like Petzing’s last year in the desert (not good!).

The Lions defense, which has given up three games of at least 30 points, somehow turned into the 1985 Chicago Bears behind multiple sacks, tackles for loss and an interception to end the half.

Detroit’s pass rush provided a huge boost for the away team. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s play for the Cardinals did not.

In the first half, Brissett mustered just 90 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 9-of-21 passing.

He finished the afternoon with 292 yards, three scores and the pick on 29 of 47 passing.

Much like Rallis, it’s hard to imagine Brissett hanging onto his starting role for much longer. He was already on the hot seat heading into this one. That temperature has only cranked up, with fans clamoring for Carson Beck or even Gardner Minshew II at this rate.

Given the blowout nature of Sunday’s game, it would have been nice to see the rookie get some game reps. But alas, he was inactive as the emergency quarterback.

Weave in an Arizona run game that was averaging 3.1 yards per carry and posted one first down. Because of the offense’s inability to move the chains or pick up third downs more frequently, Detroit enjoyed shorter fields more times than not.

When it comes to playing complementary football, the Cardinals were about the furthest thing away from it on Sunday.

They now get an even tougher test in Week 6 with the Los Angeles Rams on deck.

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