Arizona Cardinals Play “Dumbest 30 Minutes of Football”

Aug 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals line backer Sam Acho (94) fumbles the ball after a lateral safety Rashad Johnson (49) in the first half of a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was not happy after the 24-7 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Saturday night.  He shouldn’t be, especially with the way the Cards performed in all three phases of the game in the first half, when they went to the locker room trailing 14-0 but with the feeling the Chargers should have been headed into the locker room with a 28 or 35-0 lead.

After the game, Arians said that the Cards played the “dumbest 30 minutes of football that I’ve ever seen.”  This is a guy who has coached football in some form or fashion for 38 years.  To me, that statement says a lot.  It tells me you have a group of players who aren’t staying focused.  It was as if they were just going through the motions of having to play a game.  It should have been the other way around.  It was preseason game number three where the starters would see their most playing time of the entire preseason.  It’s the last chance for many to get out there and get ready in live game action, for the regular season.  If that was the goal, they failed.  Now the Cards may be forced to see some of the vets play in the final preseason game against the Denver Broncos.  How much remains to be seen.

Arians hit it right on the money though with that comment.  Blocked field goals, blocked punts, ridiculous laterals, poor penalties, the Cards had it all.  That was just the first half.  It would be all the Chargers needed though.

It just wasn’t smart football.  Arians said they teach smart football.  Well, lesson not yet learned.  It is one thing to just be overpowered and lost to a much better team.  That wasn’t the case on Saturday night.  The Chargers are good but they are a very beatable team.  The Carss just spent the first half last night beating themselves though.  With the blocked field goal attempt by kicker Dan Carpenter and the blocked punt of Dave Zastudil, the special teams didn’t hold up their end.  Then the defense just lost their minds recovering a fumble.  Rashad Johnson lateraling that ball was pretty much the icing on the cake.

They have just one more game on the schedule that doesn’t count.  We can thank our lucky stars in some senses this one didn’t count.  However you hate to lose the guys they did in a game that didn’t count.  Time to re-focus and move on to next week.

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