It’s hard to believe the Cardinals’ problems are fixable
Sep 25, 2017, 11:04 PM | Updated: Sep 26, 2017, 5:41 pm
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)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was ready to move forward about 15 minutes after his team lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 28-17, on Monday night at University of Phoenix Stadium.
“When you look at the big picture, we’re a game out of first place in our division and we’ve got a big division game next week,” Arians said. “This one’s over with. We’ll learn from it.”
The Cardinals have to move on. The problem is that same issues that cropped up in Week 1 are still lingering. The same issues that cropped up all of last season are still lingering.
It’s getting hard to imagine that progress is waiting just around the corner.
Arizona’s pass protection has been poor, it’s run blocking has been worse, the defense is still giving up big, back-breaking plays and kicker Phil Dawson is picking up right where Chandler Catanzaro left off, missing his third field goal in as many games on Monday.
“It’s demoralizing any time you lose a game,” said receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who did everything he could to rescue his team with 13 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. “There was great energy with the home field advantage and Monday Night Football. This would have been a great one to be able to get.”
The Cardinals came out of the gates on fire. Quarterback Carson Palmer led an eight-play, 76-yard drive by completing all five pass attempts, including a 25-yard touchdown to receiver Jaron Brown.
The defense forced a three-and-out, and Palmer had the Cardinals knocking on the door again before Brown’s second touchdown catch was nullified by a holding penalty on right tackle Jared Veldheer. Dawson missed a 36-yard field goal and the gaffe seemed to take the wind out of the Cardinals’ sails.
Dallas tied the game just before halftime on Dak Prescott’s 10-yard run, and an offense that had been stymied for two quarters finally found life.
“I thought that was huge,” Arians said. “To not get points and to play as well as we did and to walk into halftime 7-7 was a little disappointing.”
It got worse from there.
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott got a little life, the Arizona defense gave up two fourth-quarter touchdowns for the second time in three weeks, left guard Alex Boone left the game with an injury and the right side of the Cardinals offensive line was a crumbling dam. Dallas sacked Palmer six times and either hurried or moved him off his spots numerous other times.
“It’s frustrating,” Veldheer said. “If you could put your finger on it a little quicker then hopefully it could get solved.”
As Arians noted, there is still hope this early in the season. The Cardinals could get left tackle D.J Humphries and left guard Mike Iupati back soon and the woeful San Francisco 49ers are coming to town on Sunday.
The way things this season is progressing, however, it would be folly to take any win for granted.
The hard truth may be that the Cardinals are nothing more than a mediocre team.
