Raising Zona
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Arizona Cardinals back up quarterback competition heats up

By Scott Allen

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Drew Stanton #5 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Drew Stanton #5 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Cardinals backup quarterback competition took another turn on Saturday evening

The Arizona Cardinals have had two straight weeks of good quarterbacking from one of their backups.  In week one, Blaine Gabbert started the game against the Dallas Cowboys and played well.

On Saturday night in their 20-10 victory over the Oakland Raiders, it was Drew Stanton’s turn.  He played the second quarter and completed as many passes in that one quarter as he did in all of the 2016 preseason.

Stanton went 11-15 for 112-yards and a touchdown pass to tight end Troy Niklas.  He did not throw an interception, although one easily could have been picked in the end zone on a deep pass. However, it was dropped.

Coach Bruce Arians has said that Stanton doesn’t have anything to prove to him.  Those words make it sound like Gabbert has to play extremely well to supplant Stanton as the backup.

If Saturday’s game is any indication, Gabbert didn’t help himself.  In fact he may have hurt himself in the on-going competition.

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Gabbert went 5-9 for 53-yards.  He didn’t turn the ball over but he did get sacked four times.  It was not an impressive performance.

At this point for Gabbert to win the job, he needs to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.  He did not do that Saturday night and may be running out of chances.

Gabbert will get more playing time as the Cardinals will likely give him every chance to impress them.  Gabbert has performed better than expected and learned the Cardinals play book rather quickly according to comments Arians made earlier in the summer.

If Gabbert doesn’t put on another performance like he did in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game, then this competition will be over.  It will be difficult for Arians to choose Gabbert over Stanton.

That will likely upset some Cardinals fans.  The reality is though, Arians likes Stanton, always has. The only way Gabbert makes this roster most likely is if they decide to hold onto three quarterbacks.

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