Positives from Arizona Cardinals’ depressing loss
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals opening night defeat wasn’t all gloom and doom, there were good aspects of the game to build on also
When almost every NFL expert picks a talented team like the Arizona Cardinals to win, defeat becomes harder to accept. Even if the team they’re expected to beat IS the New England Patriots (albeit the Pats minus Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski).
A fan’s first reaction is to dwell on everything that went wrong, not right. Here’s a look at some parts of the loss that will bode well for the Cards going forward in 2016.
The forever young wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald turned in yet another impressive performance. The future Hall of Famer hauled in eight passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Three of the receptions were on what should’ve been the game-winning field goal drive.
Running back David Johnson is without a doubt headed for stardom. His 89 yards rushing total included a dazzling 45-yard romp that is worthy of every highlight film compilation. His terrific night also consisted of 43 receiving yards and a rushing score.
Quarterback Carson Palmer was criticized by some for throwing “almost” interceptions. What was more evident were the four clutch completions on the team’s final drive. For the night, he completed 24 of 37 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns with ZERO interceptions.
Safety Tony Jefferson played with exuberance, making plays all over the field. He led the defense with 10 total tackles, including two for losses. Being that he’s playing for a new contract, it’s safe to assume he’ll be delivering more of these solid performances.
Outside linebacker Chandler Jones made his Arizona debut against his former team. He recorded a sack, five total tackles, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hits. He certainly appears to be a playmaker and should enjoy a big year in the desert.
The opening game result is hard to swallow, but the club must put it in the rear view mirror quickly. The NFL is an unforgiving league that doesn’t allow teams to bask in misery for long. The Cardinals will be back on the field before they know it. Hopefully with a better result.