ARIZONA CARDINALS

Rapid Reaction: Cardinals drop to 1-2 after Monday night loss to Dallas

Sep 25, 2017, 10:25 PM | Updated: 11:28 pm
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)...
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A fast start, and a painful finish.

Those few words describe the Arizona Cardinals’ 28-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Here’s some quick reaction from the staff of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and ArizonaSports.com on the game.

Of course, you can get more reaction Tuesday, starting at 6 a.m. with Doug and Wolf and continuing with The Blitz with Bertrand Berry & Mike Jurecki and Bickley & Marotta — who will both broadcast from the Cardinals practice facility in Tempe. Then, Burns & Gambo will wrap up the day’s analysis on your drive home from 2-6 p.m.

Vince Marotta, Co-host of Bickley & Marotta

Where have I seen this before? Oh yeah, it was two weeks ago in Detroit, when the Cardinals squandered opportunities to put a sloppy Lions team away and saw their defense fold in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys weren’t sloppy Monday night, just ineffective for most of the first half and the Cardinals’ defense folded again in the fourth quarter, allowing Dak Prescott and Brice Butler (of all people) to beat them. Butler had a 37-yard touchdown catch and then a 53-yarder on which Tyrann Mathieu fell asleep and nearly didn’t touch Butler down in time to prevent another score. No matter — Zeke Elliott scored on an 8-yard run to seal the deal.

The Cardinals were impressive on offense early, but had a touchdown nullified by a holding penalty on Jared Veldheer before Phil Dawson missed a 36-yard field goal.

Like I said, it all sounds familiar, huh?


Dave Burns, Co-host of Burns & Gambo

In many ways tonight’s game was similar to the opener vs. Detroit. A strong start wasted because they couldn’t fully take advantage of it. A touchdown taken off the board on a holding call on Jared Veldheer. A missed Phil Dawson field goal. A drive that started at the Cards 44 yard line that yielded no points. The Cardinals had 140 yards in the first quarter but only 192 the rest of the way including the 85 yard drive at the end of the game that got them no points.

The offensive line continues to be the big problem. It’s time to start thinking of real solutions at right tackle and perhaps right guard as well. Palmer put up gaudy numbers in the first quarter when he wasn’t touched. But after the first quarter he was sacked six times and the game flipped. Dawson’s miss was his third in as many games. He had three misses all of last year. Defensively, give it up to Dak Prescott. His arm strength on the move is something to see.

A shame that a great effort from Fitz was wasted. The catch he made looked like something out of “The Matrix.”


Craig Grialou, Reporter

It’s simple: If the Cardinals cannot protect Carson Palmer, then they cannot win. Of course, as we’ve seen through the first three games, that’s easier said than done.

Palmer was sacked a season-high six times and hit 11 more in Monday Night’s loss to Dallas.

The right side of the offensive line — guard Evan Boehm and tackle Jared Veldheer — needs to step up, and that goes without saying. Meanwhile, the left side needs to get healthy. Will D.J. Humphries be ready to go next week? What about Mike Iupati? And how hurt is Alex Boone, who exited the game late in the fourth quarter?

Games are won at the line of scrimmage, and right now, the Cardinals are losing that battle.


Mike Jurecki, Co-host of The Drive with B-Train & Jurecki

The Cardinals got off to excellent start but couldn’t sustain drives after the first quarter, still struggling protecting the quarterback. Arizona gave up six sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss.

Arizona dominated in yardage and time of possession going into halftime but it didn’t show it on the scoreboard. The Cardinals outgained Dallas 145-57 and held the ball for 20:41 to the Cowboys’ 9:19.

The Cardinals’ lack of a running game (21 carries for 49 yards) showed again. Starter Chris Johnson had only 17 yards on 12 carries while Andre Ellington showed a little flash with 22 yards on five carries. Arizona’s longest run of the night was six yards.


Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes the catch as Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) and cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) defend during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) is hit by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) looks at Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence after being sacked during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) trees to elude Arizona Cardinals defensive end Frostee Rucker (92) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians talks with quarterback Carson Palmer (3) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) misses the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pulls in a touchdown catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is hit by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) celebrates his sack of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) with teammate nose tackle Corey Peters (98) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with offensive guard Zack Martin during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Antoine Bethea and inside linebacker Haason Reddick (43) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Antoine Bethea, rear, defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) dives for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Antoine Bethea, rear, defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, left, greets Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians prior to an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) From left; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, president Michael Bidwill, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and head coach Bruce Arians stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Dallas Cowboys stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) scores a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) scores a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) stretches for yards as he is hit by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is hit by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Corey Peters (98) and outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is hit by Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jeff Heath (38) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) looks way after missing a field goal as Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Kyle Wilber (51) heads to the bench during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson (4) walks to the bench after missing a field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) signals first down against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks for a call from line judge Julian Mapp (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Dallas Cowboys, led by owner Jerry Jones, center, take a knee prior to the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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