The Arizona Cardinals needed this game in the “W” column. Unfortunately, it became another loss as the franchise were beaten 27-24 in overtime to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
RELATED: CARDINALS FALL FLAT IN OVERTIME
LOSS
There has been plenty of buzz surrounding whether the coaching staff will be sent packing
after this season is over with. Every team in the NFC West has a winning record, except for the Cardinals.Each loss is agonizing, especially ones like this because Arizona had many chances to take home the win, and did not. The offense once again had problems.
So, who played well for Arizona? Who didn’t?
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WINNERS
QB Jacoby Brissett – Quiet first half with several good throws to WR Michael Wilson. Had a great scramble for a first down with just over four minutes left in the half without a slide. Had a wide open WR Xavier Weaver in the back of the end zone with 17 seconds left in the first half, and overthrew him as the pass rush crushed him. At one time was in the medical tent and went back onto the field. Had a strike to Wilson with just over 13 minutes left in the game for a key first down. The third-and-eight strike to WR Greg Dortch for a 39-yard touchdown was all Brissett. Good vision seeing Weaver with 1:28 left in the game on a third-and-10. Then tossed a strike to Wilson who was down at the Jacksonville 11-yard line after gaining 31 yards. Finished going 33-49 for 317 yards, one TD, zero picks, sacked six times, had a QB rating of 92.0
S Jalen Thompson – Seems like he was everywhere the ball was. Had an assist on that long run by RB Travis Etienne in the first quarter, or else it was six points. It was his hit/sack of QB Trevor Lawrence that forced the fumble for the Walter Nolen touchdown. Thompson tackled TE Brenton Strange with less than two minutes left in the game, or else he would have scored. Led all Cardinal defenders with nine total tackles.
S Budda Baker – Also had nine tackles, plus an interception. He blitzed in the second quarter and was able to get to Lawrence for the sack. What a tremendous stick on Washington in the third quarter after a short gain. Forced Washington out of bounds later in the fourth quarter after a missed tackle. Then two plays later he made the diving pick with 8:39 left in the game.
WR Michael Wilson – Is really impressing the more games he plays. Great catch for 16 yards as the first quarter was winding down to convert the first down. Converted a first down with 10:44 left in the first half with an 11-yard grab. Almost made the fingertip diving catch in the fourth quarter. Nice concentration on the 31-yard grab with 26 seconds remaining in the game. Finished with 15 targets, 10 receptions for 118 yards, an 11.8 yards per reception average, and zero TDs.
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LOSERS
Lack of running attack – The Cardinals just could not move the ball whatsoever on the ground. The leading ground gainer was RB Michael Carter, who had just 28 yards rushing. Bam Knight had 10 carries for a miserable 12 yards. 55 total rushing yards for a team whose ambition for the season was to ground-and-pound each opponent. 11 running plays went for a loss of yardage. Only good runs were the nine-yard scramble by Brissett in the final quarter and Carter’s 11-yard scamper up the middle early in the second quarter.
Offensive line – Could not keep out Jacksonville’s pass rush for the majority of the game. Six sacks could have been double-digit instead if not for Brissett’s escape ability. The first sack was on a third-and-six in the first quarter as Brissett was flushed out to the right flats, and the Jags only rushed three with two linebackers feeling out the process. As Brissett moved out, LB Dennis Gardeck had a clear shot at the QB and brought Brissett down. The second sack came as the first quarter was winding down, making two in the first quarter alone. Arizona had six blockers to the Jags’ four defensive linemen.
But LDE Josh Hines-Allen bush rushed RT Kelvin Beachum, who forced Brissett to step up into the waiting arms of DT DaVon Hamilton. On a third-and-14 midway in the third quarter, the line busted, and Brissett was forced to throw it out of bounds with a 14-10 lead. Brissett was buried with 5:48 left in the third quarter by three defenders and a huge loss. As the Cardinals were trying to get into field goal range with 2:55 left in the game, the Jaguars sent five defenders. Carter did not attempt to block either of the two defenders coming off the left edge, as both RG Isaiah Adams and C Hjalte Froholdt had doubled one defender. This placed two unmarked defenders chasing Brissett, and getting the sack to force a third-and-21. First play in overtime? Smothered for a sack. Third-and-five? Harassed and flushed. Jaguars had 15 QB hits and batted away five passes.
Opportunities lost – Had three picks and a fumble recovery, yet did not dominate the game. With just over six minutes left before the half, Arizona began a drive on its own 13-yard line. Good pass completions to both TE Trey McBride and WR Michael Wilson, and the Cards had a first down at the Jaguars 18 18-yard line. Two incompletions created a fourth down at the 15. Chad Ryland then missed a 33-yard field goal right before halftime after a 16-play drive that encompassed 72 yards and used up 5:53 of clock. Defense got four turnovers and still lost the game?
CB Garrett Williams – In the first quarter, Etienne got through a hole and burst past the second level. As he was running free, Williams was ahead a few steps and had a good angle. But Etienne made a shoulder move as Williams completely missed the tackle, and 14 more yards were gained to the Cardinals’ 15-yard line. On the very next play, Jags Lawrence threw a short flare pass to Etienne in the left flats. Up ran Williams after the catch was made, only to stumble and fall over, well….nothing, as Etienne rambled into the end zone. His interception in the end zone took away Jacksonville points, but Williams’ man WR Jakobi Meyers had two steps on him as DT Calais Campbell tipped the ball, which changed the ball’s flight and ended up right in Williams’ hands instead of six points for the visiting team.
With 4:36 left in the game and nursing a 21-17 lead, Williams was guarding Washington, who just ran into the end zone and caught a perfect pass for the go-ahead touchdown. All Williams had to do was turn his head around with room to bat the ball down. Instead, he never looked back.
Special teams – Ryland’s missed field goal right before the half. With 10:55 left in the third quarter, after a good 54-yard punt by Matt Haack, Jags’ KR Parker Washington took it down the left sideline for 43 yards and finally pushed out at the 27-yard line. On the play, Haack wanted no part of the tackle.
CB Kei’Trel Clark – After the long punt return by the Jaguars, Lawrence found a wide-open Meyers at the 10-yard line in front of Clark. On the very next play, Lawrence, under a heavy rush, flung the ball into the end zone with no defensive effort by Clark, who just calmly jogged away.
Fourth and four – Down by three points in overtime, Arizona began at its own 28. Six plays later, they were working at Jacksonville’s 42-yard line. On a third-and-four, an incomplete pass. Go for it on fourth-and-four, or attempt a 61-yard field goal? Brissett took the snap in shotgun, Dortch was open in the left flats, but with a linebacker keeping tabs on him nine yards away and seven yards shy of the first down marker.
Carter left the backfield and was wide open in the right flats, just three yards short of the line to gain, and the nearest defender about eight yards off. Instead, Brissett tossed it downfield to Weaver into double coverage. CB Christina Braswell was step-for-step with Weaver as S Andrew Wingard came over to assist and help bat the ball away. Weaver had no shot at catching the ball. McBride was open for the first down just past the marker. Wilson had the hot hand. Carter was open in the flats. Over four minutes left in overtime, so that wasn’t an issue.
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Birdseed – Calories don’t count on Thanksgiving
DT Walter Nolen – Was steady in his gap responsibilities, but his fumble recovery for a touchdown will always be highlight material. How he held onto the ball, hitting the turf so hard, is a mystery. The 45-yard Travis Etienne run in the first quarter went right by Nolen.
TE Trey McBride – Always a steady option, no matter what down-and-distance. Had a nice grab for a first down with just over seven minutes left in Quarter 3. Nice 14-yard catch in overtime for the first down. Finished with 10 targets, nine catches for 79 yards, an 8.8 yards per reception average, and zero TDs.
RB Michael Carter – Had the 11-yard run in the second quarter and was used quite a bit in the passing game. It looked like he was going to score when he collected the short dump pass at the 13-yard line of Jacksonville and went down at the four. Grabbed the 18-yard pass with just 41 ticks left before halftime to bring the Cardinals to Jacksonville’s 36-yard line as he ducked under defender Oluokun. Was used for blocking as well on critical passing downs. Five rushes for 28 yards, and caught all three of his targets for 30 yards.
C Jon Gaines – Lined up at fullback in the second quarter with just over seven minutes left before the half. Arizona had the ball with a second-and-goal at the two with Bam Morris in the backfield. McBride went in motion to the right as the play headed left between the tackle and tight end Pharaoh Brown, who was pulled up off the practice squad for this game. LT Paris Johnson and Brown provided the hole through which Gaines went in first, with Morris trailing with the ball. Gaines destroyed LB Foyesade Oluokun as Morris squeezed into the end zone. If you ain’t starting, be useful.
