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

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.

Follow @Vincemarotta