There is no one reason for Cardinals’ 1-3 record
Oct 3, 2016, 11:38 AM | Updated: 6:21 pm
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) walks to the bench after throwing an interception against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
This has to be a bad dream right? A nightmare? The Arizona Cardinals, the team going for a “Supa Bowl Ring” is 1-3 and resembles nothing like a playoff team, let alone a Super Bowl contender. How could this happen? How can the Cardinals’ season be on the brink — hanging in the balance of a likely Drew Stanton start in San Francisco on Thursday? I mean, 1-4 and they are done, right? With trips to Carolina, Seattle and Minnesota on the horizon, 1-4 might be too big of a hole to come back from.
But how did they get here? How did the Cardinals go from Super Bowl favorites to this?
There is not one reason. So many things are going wrong for the Cardinals you will lose count if you try. Let’s start with pass protection. The offensive line is supposed to better after the unit had the greatest turnover in the offseason, but it’s not. Sure they can run block, but they can’t protect Carson Palmer, he looks like a Rock ’em Sock ’em Robot getting his block knocked off. Palmer is also not the same quarterback he was last year and that was expected. Last season was a career year — it wasn’t the norm for Palmer. The Cardinals have 10 turnovers in the last two games. Palmer resembles more of the quarterback he was in Cincinnati than he has been the last two years in Arizona. Teams are taking away the deep ball and Palmer’s strength is not in making quick decisions with short passes.
The secondary revamped with the forced departures of Rashad Johnson and Jerraud Powers has not been good. Michael Floyd has the drops and should be moved to the No. 4 receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and Jaron Brown. Floyd seems more concerned with his upcoming contract than with actually holding onto the football.
Homefield swagger has been lost. The Cardinals have lost at home to Jimmy Garoppolo and Case Keenum. Arizona blew a fourth-quarter lead at home Sunday. Inexcusable. Special teams was at it again, giving up a long punt return that set up the Rams’ wining score.
Jeff Fisher tried to give that game to the Cardinals with two of the worst challenges and loss of timeouts you will ever see. The Cardinals shut down Todd Gurley and the running game, but allowed Gurley to catch a career-high five passes.
But the Cardinals couldn’t get out of their own way Sunday.
Second drive of the game in field goal position, Chris Johnson misses a block and Palmer gets sacked for a 9-yard loss, taking them out of field goal range.
Keenum throws a 65-yard touchdown pass to Quick because Marcus Cooper went for the ball and Tony Jefferson overran the play.
Kenny Britt converted a 3rd and 12 for 34 yards when Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu both stayed up, letting him get behind the coverage setting up a field goal.
The Cardinals force a punt from deep in Rams territory and get the ball at the LA 45 and Palmer throws a pick.
Chandler Jones forces a fumble giving Arizona the ball at their own 48, and Palmer fumbles it right back.
Arizona has it first and goal at the 4-yard line and can’t get in the end zone.
David Johnson fumbles, special teams gives up a huge return.
The Rams convert a 3rd and 8 to set up the winning touchdown. Palmer throws a pick, Drew Stanton throws another two picks and there you have it, 1-3.
UGH.
