The Arizona Cardinals regarded misplaced in Week 1 of their 2022 season. And whereas they confronted lengthy odds to beat the Chiefs, nobody anticipated this debacle.
Issues couldn’t have gone worse in Week 1 for the Arizona Cardinals. On the very least, they’ll say that they scored extra factors than the Los Angels Rams and San Francisco 49ers mixed. However which means little when 14 of these factors occurred in rubbish time.
The Cardinals additionally confronted Patrick Mahomes with a depleted protection. However nonetheless, it’s powerful to make use of the rash of accidents as an excuse once you enable 44 factors. Earlier than the Chiefs lastly backed off and rubbish time hit, it was 37-7 after simply three quarters. Sure, the Cardinals have been banged up, but it surely wasn’t like your complete protection was on injured reserve.
Need extra enjoyable? Chiefs head coach Andy Reid pulled Mahomes in favor of 15-year veteran Chad Henne to shut this one out. Issues like this shouldn’t occur within the NFL, and the Cardinals have to be embarrassed about their efficiency. So what went unsuitable? Let’s take a look at three causes they misplaced this one.
Three causes the Arizona Cardinals misplaced to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Motive #1 – No reply for Patrick Mahomes
Whereas it’s true Mahomes is without doubt one of the league’s finest quarterbacks, groups just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals have discovered methods to decelerate and cease the All-Professional. This occurred with blitzes from various angles whereas dropping seven and at occasions, eight defenders into protection.
As an alternative, the Cardinals tried to strain Mahomes from the center, which was an enormous mistake on their half. While you attempt to overwhelm the offensive line when enjoying towards Mahomes, he’ll step up into the pocket, ship a strike, and take a success. And it’s why he completed the sport 30 for 39 with 5 touchdowns and 0 picks.
Motive #2 – The Cardinals by no means established a operating recreation
When the opposing quarterback picks your protection aside, your finest wager is to maintain the ball out of their fingers. Sadly, Kliff Kingsbury appeared to have zero intention of slowing the sport down and enjoying ball management. And it resulted in sheer catastrophe.
Who was the Cardinals main rusher on this one? Kyler Murray, who gained simply 29 yards on the bottom. James Conner led the staff with 10 carries, whereas Murray and backup quarterback Hint McSorley mixed for eight.
If the Cardinals protection goes to look this dangerous towards opponents sooner or later, Kingsbury must swap in his college-style Air Raid offense for one thing extra conservative. Working the ball a minimum of 40% of the time is an effective place to start out, although he might need to think about operating nearer to the 45% mark.
Motive #3 – No reply for Travis Kelce
While you play the most effective tight finish in soccer, it is advisable pressure the quarterback to look elsewhere. As soon as once more, the Cardinals failed in that regard. How open was Kelce? He hauled in eight catches for 121 yards, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. Mahomes focused the longer term Corridor of Famer 9 occasions, but the Cardinals by no means cared to key on the tight finish.
General, this might not have been a extra embarrassing efficiency for the Arizona Cardinals, they usually have a proper to hold their heads. Now it’s time to pack ’em up and transfer on to Las Vegas, the place the Raiders will probably be ready for them on the opposite aspect of the desert.
(Sport statistics offered by ESPN.com)
