Arizona Cardinals: One game does not make a season

22. 32. 24. 51. Final

No matter how you slice it, the Arizona Cardinals lost on Sunday. The box score won’t change that fact. The stats won’t change that fact. The 24-22 loss to the St. Louis Rams is now history. There are a lot of learning points though the Cardinals can take away from Sunday’s loss.

More than anything else, the Cardinals beat themselves. Take away the three turnovers on Sunday and the Cardinals beat the Rams despite running back Todd Gurley torching the Cards for 146 rushing yards.

There are correctable items from Sunday’s loss, so that is the good news. The bad news? Now they have to go on the road the next two weeks to correct them. They aren’t going to easy places to play either.

It all started with running back David Johnson’s fumble on the opening kickoff. Then you had quarterback Carson Palmer’s jump ball interception in the end zone. Finally you had receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s fumble trying to do too much on one play.

If the Cardinals come out against the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers the next two weeks and repeat that, it will result in two more losses. However, I don’t believe they will allow that to happen again. Sure they will turn the ball over again this season, let’s not get out of control silly here.

I just don’t think the Cardinals will make a habit of losing because of turnovers. They also had dropped balls, overthrown balls, and some poor play decisions at critical times.

Despite all that, the Cardinals still had the ball game in their hands on Sunday with a chance to win the game. Unfortunately they were about 10 yards shy of being able to attempt a game-winning field goal. It shouldn’t come down to that, but this is the NFL and it will sometimes.

The loss is a reminder the Cardinals aren’t perfect. One loss does not make a season though. I’ve seen some comments from people that think the Cardinals all of a sudden aren’t going anywhere. Well hold on there. Of course I have seen others echo the comments I am making. It is one game. Yes, it was a home division game and those are the most important but after all is said and done this weekend, the Cardinals are still in first place in the NFC West.

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