Arizona Cardinals defense plays well despite rough first half for offense
Aug 30, 2015, 7:04 PM | Updated: 7:06 pm
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
In games like Sunday’s when the Arizona Cardinals offensive line has its struggles, the defense proved that it was up to the task of keeping the team in the game.
A Carson Palmer interception on the first possession of the game gave the Oakland Raiders great field position on the Cardinals 34-yard-line. The defense responded quickly, with Raiders running back Latavius Murray getting stuffed by Cardinals safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Deone Bucannon on a blitz.
That drive resulted in a field goal and the Raiders offense was out there quickly again after a three-and-out from the Cardinals offense. The defense threw that right back at the Raiders, with a three-and-out of their own after a good pass deflection from cornerback Jerraud Powers and a crisp tackle by Mathieu a yard short of the first down.
Not today! #AZvsOAK pic.twitter.com/ys9LvYQmN5
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 31, 2015
The third straight three-and-out for the Raiders offense came next. A great pass deflection on a fade by Mathieu and reliable pass coverage when Raiders quarterback Derek Carr had time to throw stopped the silver and black once again.
The one area the Cardinals could look to improve on is the pass rush and it eventually led to Raiders points. Carr continued to have time to throw and made a key third-down completion that was followed by a rare effective run for Murray.
Murray’s 12-yard rush put the Raiders in field goal range, but they were stopped there after some more good defensive plays. Powers made a good tackle on a quick pass to Raiders receiver Amari Cooper and Alex Okafor, the only Cardinals pass rusher having real success, pressured Carr into a bad throw to force another field goal.
More solid coverage from the secondary stopped the Raiders for their third field goal of the half. Even on a drive when the Raiders got some momentum going after catches from Cooper, the defense still stood tall and denied the Raiders a trip to the end zone. That drive included a great play again from Okafor.
Alex Okafor is looking beastly tonight. #AZvsOAK pic.twitter.com/OjCU3pDr1B
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 31, 2015
As if the Cardinals offense was testing their defense enough, another interception from Palmer put the Raiders in great field position again. The theme would repeat though, with the coverage from the secondary again coming up big to hold the Raiders to yet another field goal.
For most football teams in the NFL, Sunday’s game would have been over by the third quarter. The Cardinals repeatedly put their defense in bad spots, but the resilience they showed not only kept the game competitive, it kept the Cardinals in the game with a chance to make a comeback. That’s something the Cardinals can rely on when the regular season starts in less than two weeks.
