Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals aren’t going to the playoffs this year. Too many “what-ifs” and “why-not’s” and “because” have done them in. Double-digit loss NFL teams don’t get invited to the dance.
RELATED: CARDINALS OPEN AS SLIGHT HOME UNDERDOGS TO FALCONS
The Cardinals are currently 3-11-0, in last place in the talented NFC West Division, and have the #6 slot in next April’s NFL draft as of this moment. They conceivably could get the first overall pick, or at the very least a Top-4 pick.
Everything about this year’s roster screams “help me.”
Just don’t tell that to the passing attack of the offense. It is kicking some serious ass in the process. These players are the orchestra players on the USS Titanic who are still playing music as the ship is starting to sink.
Yes, an 11-loss season is a lost season. This squad was supposed to be much better this year. This group gave away too many games they had already won. Their defense could not finish games, and there are numerous problems around every corner.
The run game is nonexistent after losing their top two running backs. The offensive line hasn’t played well at all, with a strong emphasis on the guard positions. Quarterback was up and down for a while. Dropped passes. Missed assignments. Pass coverage has been spotty. Defense will quit at times.
However, with all the flaws, with all the failure to be able to establish any running game, without knowing how the OC and the new QB Jacoby Brissett would meld together, with the WR1 hurt with missed games, this offense is cranking it out on gamedays via the pass.
Has anyone noticed?
The entire offensive unit knows the ship is sinking. They see the water rising. They know no matter what happens, there won’t be a life protector, much less a lifeboat, waiting for them.
Yet, they play on. They play to win.
There aren’t any season bonuses for adding “L’s” to the standings. At this point, there are no bonuses for more wins either. But a four-win finish to the season, now it would be three, might become a catalyst to grow on. Something to build on beginning in next year’s training camp, right? A positive outlook during the offseason, while running or lifting weights, or not eating the wrong things, which might upset the team nutritionist. There is no such thing as kale pizza.
The Cardinals have the league’s #4 passing attack.
This tops some of the league’s best passing teams, such as the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears. And by the way, all of these clubs are headed to the playoffs.
Let’s start with the quarterback position. Brissett’s stats are for nine starts, not 14 games like most starting NFL quarterbacks. Remember that. In all league statistics, he is missing five games’ worth of numbers.
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Passing yards: ranked #16 – 2,708
**Average...
