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5 big mistakes that doomed the Arizona Cardinals in 2022

By Sion Fawkes

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws under pressure from linebacker Uchenna Nwosu #10 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at State Farm Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 31-21. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws under pressure from linebacker Uchenna Nwosu #10 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at State Farm Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 31-21. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 13: Andy Lee #14 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with Tristan Vizcaino #15 after a made field goal in the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on November 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

4 – The kicker carousel

You don’t realize how important the kicker position is in the NFL until you go through the kind of carousel the Arizona Cardinals went through. And while Matt Prater missed time with an injury, former general manager Steve Keim went through three different kickers.

Replacing Prater were Matt Ammendola, Rodrigo Blankenship, and Tristan Vizcaino. Ammendola, as you may remember, cost the Cardinals a chance at tying and taking the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles into overtime. Signing Ammendola was the worst move of the bunch, as he also missed an extra point against Seattle the following week that would’ve put the Cards within a field goal against their division rival.

Had Ammendola made that last-minute kick against the Eagles and the Redbirds took the eventual NFC representative in the Super Bowl into overtime, it could’ve changed the course fo the season. The Eagles were the best team in football all year, and a Cardinals win could’ve given them momentum early in the year.

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