Raising Zona
FanSided

More tricks than treats for Arizona Cardinals

By Mark A. Hernandez

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 25: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 25, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyboys defeated the Cardinals 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 25: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 25, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyboys defeated the Cardinals 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Coming fresh off their bye week and looking to get things back on track, the Arizona Cardinals are hoping that the off-week will scare away the ghostly play displayed so far in 2017

With as many players the Cardinals have lost to serious injury this year, you’d think their roster was part of The Walking Dead cast. It’s been spine-chilling, to say the least.

Halloween puns aside, the Cardinals’ season is currently heading into the abyss. With Drew Stanton now driving the offense and the defense showing us their best Mr. Hyde impression, things are looking bleak for a team that had high expectations.

The ugliest — and still the worst — phase of the team is the special teams play. Yet, miraculously, special teams coach Amos Jones is still employed. I guess he will continue to be as long as Bruce Arians is as well. We’ll save that for another day.

For now, the Cardinals are still trying to turn their season around. All without their two best offensive players (Carson Palmer and David Johnson) and their sack leader (Markus Golden) from a year ago. Add in the fact that their all-pro guard, Mike Iupati is down as well, and the make-shift offensive line has been a huge disappointment thus far. It’s been quite hard to find any silver lining for the Red Birds as they look to finish the final nine games of the season.

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But as the old adage goes, “any given Sunday,” and mathematically the Cardinals still have a shot at turning things around. Realistically, not so much. With a stubborn head coach, terrible effort from all sides of the ball and a career backup driving the offense, it’s hard for anyone to find optimism with this team moving forward. But stranger things have happened in the NFL.

The fans of the great state of Arizona are still hungry for a championship. It’s been 16 years now since there was a parade honoring such a feat. The Cardinals were expected to be that next team to bring the valley to the pinnacle of the sports world. But as my dad always said, “always next year, son.” Seems, still, we will be waiting for a coveted trophy, at least for another year.

So far in 2017, we’ve seen more tricks than treats and are still asking what the true identity of the team really is. But with nine games left, the answer to what that identity will come to fruition.

Will we see a historic turnaround, or will the Cardinals continue to play as zombies on the field, completely lost and lifeless?

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