Arizona Cardinals: Who is on a Hot Streak or a Cold Streak After Week 1?

Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead (39) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Larry Foote (50) at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chargers 18-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Hot streak: Run defense (1)

As said before, it was a tossup whether the Cardinals defense would be a shadow of its former self or look like it hadn’t missed a beat. Against San Diego, it was definitely closer to the latter. The Cardinals, the best team at defending the run in 2013, allowed only 52 yards are the ground to the Chargers.

Everyone got in on the action. Even DE Tommy Kelly, who replaced the injured Frostee Rucker, held his own. First round pick Deone Bucannon, who played a few snaps as a nickle linebacker, also hit the line a few times. The Cardinals executed their usual plan by the book, making good tackles and being as aggressive as any defense in the league

The Cardinals run defense is such a huge asset because of its talented secondary, confusing as that might sound. If opposing teams can’t run the ball, they’ll have to throw in Patrick Petersons direction. They’ll have to throw in Antonio Cromartie’s direction. They’ll have to throw in Tyrann Mathieu’s direction. The Cardinals run defense makes throwing into that talented secondary the lesser of two evils, turning the Cardinals defense one of the toughest in beat the NFL.