Five Obstacles the Arizona Cardinals Must Overcome in 2017
By Jeremy Meek
The Cardinals must improve on the road in 2017
Every NFL team needs to win their home games. The Cardinals went 4-3-1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium, which isn’t ideal. However, on the road, things were worse, and it’s something that needs to be addressed.
The Cardinals started the season 1-5 away from home before winning their final two, when it was too late. Three of the five losses were by ten or more points, including a blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons in week 12.
There were a number of reasons for the road struggles. Carson Palmer had some tough outings, and injuries, forcing less experienced players into the game, certainly figured in. The biggest difference was on defense, though. At home, the Cardinals surrendered just over 16 points per game. On the road, they gave up 26 per game. The offense simply couldn’t keep up in the scoring department.
Most teams, in any sport, play better at home than away from it, but the Cardinals simply can’t repeat 2016. The defense has to improve, and give the offense a chance. If they don’t, next year will look too similar to this year for comfort.