Reportedly, head coach Bruce Arians was hospitilized with chest pains after returning home from Sunday’s game. Tests have been favorable so far. Coach Arians will remain in the hospital for further test evaluations. LWOS and the staff will update any changes, if anything does incur. Hopefully, all will be well for the beloved head coach and his family.
Arizona Cardinals Week 11 Takeaways
U. S. Bank Stadium – The Arizona Cardinals may have had high hopes on Sunday when they faced the struggling Minnesota Vikings, but after the 30-24 loss, the team’s chances for a post-season berth have become almost hopeless. The Cardinals (4-5-1) have slipped below even .500. With just six very tough games remaining on the schedule, nothing going forward will be easy for the team and their struggles of having a successful (winning) regular season.
“It’s hard to win, period, in the National Football League,” said wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, after the loss. “It’s damn hard. These guys, every single week, prepare just like we prepare. You have to go out there and earn victories in the National Football League. No one is going to lay out for you. You have to be able to make it happen. Unfortunately, we haven’t done that enough this year.”
A Little About The Game
Cardinals fans were apprehensive from the start. When the Vikings drove down the field and took a 7-0 lead on their first drive, after a quick three-and-out from the Cardinals offense, and a pitiable 36-yard punt by kicker Drew Butler, the sky had already begun to fall. Tensions eased somewhat for the fans when the team was able to answer back with a score of their own. After the first quarter, the Cardinals led the Vikings, 10-7.
But the second quarter was a little much for Cardinals fans to ingest. Led by quarterback Sam Bradford, the Vikings were unstoppable against the Cardinals’ depleted defense. Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes interception and 100 yard score surely didn’t help. The team trailed the Vikings 20-17 at the half.
It was pretty much in the third quarter for the Cardinals when the wheels came off. On the opening kick-off, Cordarrelle Patterson returned a record-breaking 105-yard scurry for pay-dirt, which brought the score to 27-17.
The Cardinals stayed resilient and continued to fight to end out the game, but there wasn’t anything they could do to overcome their own self-inflicted injuries. The final score 30-24 reflects the struggles the team must address and find some way to nullify in order to be successful with such little time left of the NFL regular season.
TAKEAWAYS OF THE GAME
David Johnson
Running back David Johnson is a stud. On the ground, Johnson finished with 22 attempts for 103 yards and a touchdown. In the air, he grabbed seven receptions for 57 yards and an additional touchdown. Johnson finished the day with 160 total yards and two touchdowns. With now ten touchdowns and 863 yards overall, Johnson holds the lead with the most touchdowns among running backs so far this season.
Larry Fitzgerald
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald finished the day with six receptions for 63 yards. Fitzgerald was born and raised in Minneapolis. A victory against the Vikings would have been the greatest homecoming gift he could ever have received. This loss is very disappointing for Fitzgerald, for the team, and for the fans.
The Passing Game
To add more bad, quarterback Carson Palmer finished 20-of-38 for 198 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Overall, Palmer has ten interceptions this season to accompany his 13 total touchdowns. He’s also fumbled the ball ten times. These stats are clearly not good enough if the team still has chances of post-season play.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cardinals chances are fading fast. Safety Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder injury) wasn’t able to participate in this match-up but should be probable for next week. This will help. Next Sunday, the Cardinals go up against the 6-4 Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Game time is 11am MST, on FOX.
