Arizona Cardinals head coach has much to prove this weekend
By Jim Koch
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is out to prove his detractors wrong when his squad takes the field this Sunday
The honeymoon period is obviously over for the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Many fans granted Kliff Kingsbury a pass for the squad’s 5-10-1 record last season, but those same enthusiasts now want more. Cards followers badly want the club’s five-year playoff drought to end this weekend, and are going to be incredibly disappointed if Kingsbury and his team fail to make that happen.
Kingsbury, who’s in his second year as Arizona’s on-field leader, is basically out of excuses. A 6-3 start to the current campaign raised expectations to an extremely-high level. Failing to get to the postseason after such an optimistic beginning could raise some major red flags around the 41-year old Kingsbury.
The Cardinals road to a playoff spot couldn’t be any more cut and dried. A mere victory over the Los Angeles Rams is all that is needed to accomplish that task. And given the circumstances, a loss this coming Sunday would be nothing short of disastrous for both the Cards and Kingsbury.
Los Angeles will take to the field this week without the services of three of their top players. The biggest loss is quarterback Jared Goff, who broke the thumb on his throwing hand during a week 16 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams will be forced to roll with John Wolford, a 25-year old signal-caller who has never taken a snap in the National Football League.
On the defensive side of the ball, Los Angeles will be without one of their most-productive defenders. Michael Brockers, a first-round draft pick of the franchise back in 2012, has been placed on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list. The 30-year old has contributed 51 tackles, five sacks and 10 quarterback hits in 15 starts for the Rams this fall.
Los Angeles also placed another member of their roster on the reserve/COVID-19 list this past week. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp will miss the matchup with the Redbirds after testing positive for the coronavirus. The 27-year old has tallied 92 receptions, 974 receiving yards and three touchdowns during his 15 appearances (12 starts) for the Rams this season.
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It’s plain to see that the breaks have fallen Arizona’s way over the past few days. Nevertheless, the organization’s critics have been out in full force, predicting failure for the youthful head coach and his Cardinals. Let’s hope that Kingsbury can rise to the occasion, and make all of the naysayers eat their words once and for all.