Three things the Arizona Cardinals must improve to make the playoffs
By Sion Fawkes
Put the special back in special teams
The Cardinals are a mess on special teams and you can’t ignore the fact they cost the Cardinals at least one game and hurt them from winning two others. They also almost cost the Cardinals the first game against the Seahawks in week seven.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez needs to start making important field goals. And while every field goal is important, he needs to start making kicks that will either tie or outright win a game during the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
As of week thirteen, Gonzalez is still wearing an Arizona Cardinals uniform. But you can make the bet that he will be looking for work if he misses another kick with the game on the line.
But you can’t just blame Gonzalez for the Cardinals special teams woes. The kick and punt coverage teams had an abysmal outing against the Patriots; probably their worst all season.
The Cardinals practically allowed New England back in the game after a big return from Donte Moncrief against New England. Later in the game, they allowed what should have been a punt return for a touchdown that got negated because of an illegal blindside block.
You can’t underestimate the importance of special teams. Especially when the units have helped contribute to losses more than once in 2020.