With a three-game losing streak now on the horizon, Arizona Cardinals frustrations are building with questions in their own minds as well as their fans about playoff hopes. The team, after a fantastic start to the season, has seen its last several games end poorly, mostly due to a lack of key play from its big-name contributors and errors made at pivotal moments that prove fatal. The latest loss has raised questions about the direction of the team, and the Cardinals are desperate to find a way to break the streak and get back on track.
The Cardinals have been really bad on both offense and defense for quite some time. The game, which was expected to be close, went poorly for Arizona in terms of executing on both sides of the ball. The offense has not performed well, mainly with quarterback Kyler Murray at the helm. The passing game just has not been able to get in a groove. Murray, recovering from injury, has flashed moments of his better self but hasn’t been able to piece it all together in his recent games.
The defense also has some things to be concerned about. St. Louis Cardinals’ defense, which had a stellar beginning to the season, ran out of steam in both literal and figurative sense against more potent offenses lately. They have major defensive mishaps mainly in missed tackles, and blown coverage, and cannot put pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. It seems this is the crux because the defensive front hasn’t really pressured the quarterback yet; consequently, it brings them another set of burdens. They give a light breeze for any opposing offense on the field.
Injuries have also played a significant role in the team’s problems. Several key players were rendered sidelines or played through injuries, including star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and linebacker Isaiah Simmons. Despite its best efforts, the team has failed to win when its key contributors have not been available to perform. This is especially so where a young receiving corps like Baltimore, which lost a favorite in Hopkins, had its key players in Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore.
The team and head coach Kliff Kingsbury, under much scrutiny for much of the season, are feeling it all, as the team seeks answers. Kingsbury has come forth and addressed the team’s recent shortcomings by calling for a quick turnaround to keep the Cardinals’ playoff hopes alive.
Their back against the wall, a critical stretch of games may determine if the Cardinals remain relevant in the NFC playoff picture. They need answers for offense, defense, and special teams to turn things around. The team is sure to have to look themselves square in the face and refocus rather than be relegated to the back burner if they want to continue improving as well as avoid slipping further into the standings ahead of the next game.
As the season continues, one has been wondering whether Arizona can redeem the form that made the team a serious contender at first or if this losing string will be the start of a more pronounced slide down. Only time will tell if the Cardinals will recover after this tough stretch.
