Cardinals Defense Get Credit For Another Win
By Earl Burnett
Oct 6, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington (58) celebrates after tackling Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) and preventing a first down during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Its no secrete that the Arizona Cardinals defense has been the sole reason they are at 3-2 on the season, the first four games on defense have been a sign of getting better and better each game.
Then today at home to the Carolina Panthers the defense just looked dominant in every phase. The Cards run defense was already number 2 in the league coming in, and they may have just climbed the list in total defense as they forced Cam Newton to throw 3 interceptions and sacked him a team high 7 times.
This defense is getting stronger and stronger by the weeks and it only helped to get back a great pro-bowl linebacker in Daryl Washington, who being back in his spot made Karlos Dansby looks 5 years younger. Both were all over the field keeping Newton at bay.
The defense also caused a fumble and numerous pressures on Newton all day long, Panthers offense could not breathe under the suffocation of the Cardinals defense.
This will for sure be the talk of the week, and this win was really needed as the offense has yet to catch up to the defensive focus. But one thing is certain in my opinion, the Cardinals can not be blown out of a game by any opponent this year if this defense continues to keep them in games and set the offense up with a short field as they did today.
Daryl Washington retuning made the defense look complete, there were not many broken plays or mental errors on defense, Patrick Peterson took Steve Smith out of the game and the defensive line up front dominated the line of scrimmage. The defense held the Panthers running game to only 95 total yards and that are including Cam Newton’s rushing yards as well.
The combination of turning the ball over and stopping the run can only yield good things to come for this Cardinal defense and it looks like they are getting better, but they will need help from an offense that has not put it all together yet. The San Francisco 49ers on the road next week for the Cards will be a task but it’s the defense that will play the biggest part in this game, and I’m feeling a little better about hanging with the top teams in the NFC West, if the defense stays playing this dominate.