Nobody wants to read about a terrible loss, especially when it’s your favorite NFL team. The Atlanta Falcons dismantling the Arizona Cardinals 38-19 on Sunday was sickening to watch. The Falcons improved their record to 7-4 and the Cardinals are now sadly 4-6-1. When a team with such high expectations at the start of the season loses so badly and squanders so many chances in so many games, the disappointment level rises to the breaking point. Face it, the Cardinals are fast becoming unwatchable football. Coach Bruce Arians and the team have their work cut out for them if they plan on ending the season with a winning record. Maybe it’s a good time to consider the prospects of rebuilding.
Arizona Cardinals Week 12 Takeaways
“It’s very frustrating,” said coach Arians. “You’ve got to start with yourself and see if you’re asking guys to do things they can’t do. I don’t think catching the ball is one of them.”
Dropped Passes (holding on to the ball)
So crucial to a team’s momentum is the ability to hold on to the ball. Wide receiver Michael Floyd dropped at least two passes that could’ve been game changers for the Cardinals. Safety D. J. Swearinger failed to secure an errant pass from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan early in the third quarter, which would’ve been Swearinger’s second interception of the day. Earlier in the second, quarterback Carson Palmer fumbled a high snap that ended a very successful drive for pay-dirt and resulted in a three-point score by kicker Chandler Catanzarro. Mistakes like these add up throughout a game as important for the Cardinals to win as this one. The end inevitably results in a loss.
Defensive Struggles
The Cardinals came into this game with the number one defense in the league. Throughout the game, the team showed scant examples of greatness, but it wasn’t enough to carry over victoriously for four quarters. Cornerback Patrick Peterson smothered guru wide receiver Julio Jones like a blanket for the entire game, but the Falcons offense continued to hum as though Jones wasn’t even on the field.
David Johnson
The one positive for the Cardinals in this game was the performance of running back David Johnson. Finishing the day with 58 yards on the ground, Johnson also completed eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Johnson has accumulated 1,534 total yards and 13 touchdowns so far this season. Johnson is the greatest rushing/ receiver ever in NFL history.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals are at home to face the 6-4-1 Washington Redskins next Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Redskins are third in the NFC East division.
