ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals’ red zone failures glaring in lopsided loss to lowly Lions

Dec 19, 2021, 2:08 PM | Updated: Dec 20, 2021, 8:10 am

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is pressured by Detroit Lions inside linebacker Jale...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is pressured by Detroit Lions inside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

(AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

The Arizona Cardinals offense could not figure it out in Detroit.

On the opposite side of a lopsided 30-12 loss, the Cardinals had no answers for the Lions defense despite getting more than enough advantageous looks.

“We’re obviously pissed to come out and play like that,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Sunday. “That’s not who we want to be or what we want to be but I gotta tip my hat to Detroit. I thought they had a tremendous plan. … They outcoached us, outplayed us and we gotta be better.”

After being held scoreless for most of the first half, the Cardinals’ fourth drive of the afternoon appeared to be the most promising.

Starting from their own 39-yard line, quarterback Kyler Murray and the offense looked to have found their rhythm, driving all the way down to the Lions’ 3-yard line on seven plays.

But on third- and fourth-down looks, Murray couldn’t hit his man, coming away with zero points and giving the momentum right back to Detroit.

The Lions would respond with a decent drive of their own just before halftime, capped off by a Jared Goff 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Josh Reynolds.

“Got to give them credit, they did a great job of converting those third downs. I thought Jared was tremendous and you’d like to get off and swing momentum but we weren’t able to,” Kingsbury said.

It would be a sign of things to come for Arizona.

Starting with the ball in the second half, the Cardinals got a big boost from running back James Conner, who ran the rock 22 yards on the first play from scrimmage to give Arizona another first down in a short-field situation. A Chase Edmonds chunk play a few snaps later would push Arizona further into Detroit territory.

But a promising 1st-and-10 look from the Lions’ 18-yard line quickly turned to a 3rd-and-3 situation after the drive lost its legs. A Kyler Murray incompletion to A.J. Green would spell the end to any chances at scoring a touchdown, though Arizona did come away with points of some kind in a Matt Prater field goal.

“I thought that first drive in the second half we were a little bit more efficient but it wasn’t good enough,” Kingsbury said.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their ensuing drive reflected much like the last.

Down 24-3 after another Goff touchdown throw and on their own 17-yard line, the Cardinals once again kicked off their drive with a 20-yard pass from Murray to tight end Zach Ertz.

Behind the arm of Murray, Arizona was able to flip the field in a hurry, eventually getting down to Detroit’s 10-yard line with a new set of downs. A bad snap and an incompletion would spell the end to any touchdown optimism as the Cardinals had to settle once again for a Prater field goal.

All told, the Cardinals failed to convert all four of their red zone looks in the loss, with their only touchdown coming on a 26-yard score by Christian Kirk.

“This is the NFL, it’s not easy,” Murray told reporters after the loss. “If you don’t come prepared, don’t give respect to who you’re playing, you get beat. Hats off to them.”

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions running back Godwin Igwebuike (35) is stopped by Arizona Cardinals' Jonathan Ward, left, and defensive back Charles Washington (28) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions running back Godwin Igwebuike (35) outruns Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Zaven Collins (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks over his play sheet during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) is stopped by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Charles Harris (53) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions running back Godwin Igwebuike (35) is tackled during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) runs into the end zone for a touchdown on a 37-yard reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, right, and Kalif Raymond celebrate after St. Brown's 37-yard reception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals receiver Antoine Wesley (85) walks by the Detroit Lions as they celebrate stopping the Cardinals on fourth down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds, defended by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy catches a 22-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) celebrates his 22-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) catches a 22-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (2) rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks downfield during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, left, looks downfield during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) looks over quarterback Jared Goff during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Teammates congratulate Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) after his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda catches a 6-yard pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (2) rushes as Detroit Lions outside linebacker Charles Harris (53) gives chase during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) reacts after his 6-yard reception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (2) is stopped by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Charles Harris (53) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) pulls away from Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) to score during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) pulls away from Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) to score during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is sacked by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Charles Harris (53) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Jordan Phillips #97 of the Arizona Cardinals sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions on the first play of the game in the first quarter at Ford Field on December 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (86) is tripped up by Detroit Lions cornerback AJ Parker (41) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is pressured by Detroit Lions inside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) walks off the field after a failed two-point convertion during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

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