Three things the Arizona Cardinals must improve to make the playoffs
By Sion Fawkes
Cut the penalties
The Cardinals are the league’s most penalized team. And they often commit penalties at the worst possible time. While there is never a good time to commit a penalty, many have occurred on the wrong end of the field, stalling drives, and momentum.
This issue has plagued the Cardinals all season, starting in week one against the San Francisco 49ers. Great teams, playoff teams, are always on top of their game by fixing their early-season mistakes. But the Cardinals have continued to commit mental error after mental error.
Too many false starts and holds on offense, holds and hands to the face on defense have resulted in the team losing the field position battle while handing multiple first downs to the opponents. You saw it on full display when the team played the New England Patriots in week twelve and the previous week against the Seahawks.
What’s worse, is that the Cardinals have been in all but one game all season. If the team cut their penalties by even a quarter, they may have at least another win or two to show for it at this point in the season.