Arizona Cardinals 2-0 Start Nice But Work Still To Do
By Scott Allen
Sep 14, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer (20) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals are 2-0. This we all know. We also know thanks to the countless NFL shows on television that 63 percent of teams that start 2-0 in the NFL make the playoffs. It is still just 2-0 though. This is the fifth time the Cards have been 2-0 since moving to Arizona in 1988. Of the previous four times, only once did they finish with a winning record.
In 1989, the Cards started 2-0 thanks to road victories at the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. Then they went and got demolished by the New York Giants in week three 35-7. They managed to be 5-5 after a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. They never won again, dropping their last six and finishing 5-11.
In 1991, the Cards started 2-0 with double-digit victories on road at the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. In week three, the Cards were shutout by the Washington Redskins 34-0. They would go on to only win two more games at home against the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons and finished 4-12.
In 2008, the Cards had their only successful season to date after starting 2-0. They started with wins at the San Francisco 49ers 23-13 and home against the Miami Dolphins 31-10. They actually lost their next two games to go back to .500 at 2-2. They finished 9-7 for their first NFC West title and eventually made the Super Bowl before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23, as much as it pains me still to write that.
Then there is 2012. Not only did the Cards start 2-0, they started 4-0. They ran through September with great defense and timely offense. Then the offense was exposed after injuries and showed their lack of depth at most major skill positions and the offensive line. They would only win one more and finish 5-11.
I don’t think this team finishes 5-11 or 4-12. I’ve said time and again that every team is different and each season is a game by game proposition. This just points out being 2-0 promises you nothing other than you are just that, 2-0. The Cards have tough matchups against the Niners and the Denver Broncos with a bye week thrown in between over the next three weeks. We’ll find a lot out about the Cards during this stretch.