If some people took a closer look at the Arizona Cardinals, they’d understand why the loss of Carson Palmer is not a deal breaker
We’ve spent some time over the last couple of days dissecting the loss of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and just how this team can get to the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl with Drew Stanton behind center. What some don’t get though is just how this team has been winning. It has been a team effort.
More from Cardinals News
- Arizona Cardinals: Could Eric Bieniemy come to the desert?
- Would Jonathan Gannon be a good fit for the Arizona Cardinals?
- Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker right in his take regarding the next coach
- Arizona Cardinals: 3 reasons new coach should want to work with Murray
- Arizona Cardinals special teams could be completely revamped in 2023
Every week it has been a different player coming up big or multiple players in each game. Last week it was receiver John Brown and quarterback Drew Stanton getting it done on offense. On defense it was cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Peterson had two picks in the victory over the St. Louis Rams. Peterson’s pick was huge. He ended up with his first pick-six of his career. He struggled early on but over the past two weeks he really has picked up his effort.
Then you have someone like receiver Larry Fitzgerald to lean on. He has really picked it up the last three weeks, including this spectacular 75-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
There is safety Tony Jefferson. Back in one of Drew Stanton’s wins against the San Francisco 49ers, the Cards needed a huge defensive stop to keep the Niners from driving down the field for a possible game winning score. There is defensive tackle Ed Stinson. He stopped Dallas Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden from getting a crucial first down in the fourth quarter.
It could be defensive end Calais Campbell intercepting Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning or sacking Rams quarterback Austin Davis. It could be Antonio Cromartie intercepting Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. It could be Tyrann Mathieu intercepting Weeden. It could be John Brown laying out for a spectacular catch. It could be receiver Jaron Brown doing the same.
No matter who it is always next man up. It’s not just a saying, it’s a true philosophy in Arizona. Someone different is stepping up on both sides of the ball each week. The playoffs and the Super Bowl chances did not die with Palmer’s torn ACL.