Revenge of the Birds
The Cardinals are gearing up for a Week 3 matchup with the 49ers, where they will look to stay undefeated and atop the NFC West.
Arizona is coming off a close win over the Panthers, which saw them go up by as many as 24 points before Carolina rallied back within five points and almost completed an epic comeback.
With Week 3 upon us, how does Arizona compare to the rest of the NFL from a statistical standpoint on both sides of the ball?
Points per game: 23.5 ppg / T-11th
Passing offense: 170.5 ypg / 27th
Rushing offense: 114.0 ypg / T-13th
Total offense: 284.5 ypg / T-24th
3rd down conversions: 40.91% / T-17th
Red zone scoring: 57.14% / T-16th
Sacks allowed: 6 / 9th
Turnovers: 1 / 18th
Arizona’s offense must be better to keep stacking wins. A 52-yard run by Trey Benson and a 30-yard run by Kyler Murray help push up the rushing yard average. However, if you take those two runs away, they’re only averaging 3.1 yards per carry. James Conner has been held to less than 40 yards rushing in back-to-back games. It all starts up front, where the offensive line has struggled to generate push and open up lanes. As for the passing game, they rank near the bottom of this department because they aren’t getting the football down the field. Most of their production has come from short and intermediate throws. Trey McBride continues to be a reliable target, catching six catches in each of the last two games for a combined 139 receiving yards. After being held to just two receptions for 27 yards, Marvin Harrison Jr. is still looking to play to his draft status.
Points allowed: 17.5 / 10th
Passing defense: 255.5 / 26th
Rushing defense: 78.0 / 6th
Total defense: 333.5 / 21st
3rd down conversions: 34.48% / 11th
Red zone defense: 50.00% / T-11th
Sacks: 4.0 / 19th
Takeaways: 2 / 11th
The Cardinals’ defense has played well enough to fend off their first two opponents. But there are still things that need improvement, starting with sustaining consistency through all four quarters. This past weekend, the Panthers managed long stretches of play without being forced into third-down situations, resulting in worn-out defensive players. It ultimately led to Carolina coming back and pulling within a score. The Cardinals are tied for third in first-half scoring defense, so it’s key that they keep their foot on the gas for the entire game moving forward. Despite the offseason additions along the defensive line, Arizona hasn’t generated consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which is also due to the lack of blitzing. As for the positives, Calais Campbell looks like he is 39 going on 29. Will Johnson has proven to be a draft steal. The secondary, including Johnson, is dealing with some injuries, but the group as a whole has shown a lot of promise.
