Tale of 2 halves: Pressure and lack thereof key factor in Cardinals’ loss vs. Bills

TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals’ prospects of stealing one on the road against the Buffalo Bills went from rolling to stolen on Sunday.

Flying high to a 17-3 lead at one point in the second quarter, the Cardinals offense eventually came crashing down to Buffalo in the second half of Sunday’s 34-28 loss.

Beyond rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. failing to see a target in the final two quarters — and only having three on the afternoon — the Cardinals offense just didn’t have an answer for a Bills pass rush that turned up the heat.

It was a big reason why the Cardinals offense was held to just a field goal in the second half. Losing starting right tackle Jonah Williams to a knee injury at the end of the first quarter didn’t help, either.

After getting four pressures (one sack) on Murray in the first half, Buffalo’s defense accounted for nine in the second. The late effort included three sacks, one of which was a strip of the franchise signal caller.

The uptick in the second half led to a 34.2% pressure rate. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, when a team is between 32% and 40%, the defense has a win percentage of 56%.

The Cardinals pass rush, meanwhile, was stymied in the second half after registering a pair of sacks, one being a strip-sack, and three pressures in the two quarters prior. There could have been a third, too, had it not been for a questionable roughing the passer call on Zaven Collins in the second quarter.

Going up against dual-threat quarterback Josh Allen, the defense posted three pressures across the final two quarters but came away empty handed.

Instead, Allen made something happen to keep drives alive, whether it be a 25-yard pass to running back James Cook on third-and-long or a five-yard scramble for a first down on fourth-and-two.

That led to a 20% pass rush rate, which has a defensive win percentage of just 33%.

“I thought we had enough opportunities, especially in known pass, to affect him,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Monday when talking about getting initial pressure on Allen.

“I think we gotta capitalize on more opportunities, whether that be a game, getting on the right person as a low cross or a checkdown or bringing him down or not fouling. A free runner, get him on the ground. We’ve got to collectively coach and play a little bit better.”

Next up for Arizona’s pass rush is the far less mobile Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford behind an offensive line already beaten up by injury.

The opportunities should be there in Sunday’s home opener at State Farm Stadium. Can the Cardinals defense capitalize?

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