The Arizona Cardinals lost their sixth straight ballgame on Sunday. This time, it was a 23-17 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had undrafted rookie quarterback Duck Hodges as their starter.
What did we learn in the loss?
No home-field advantage
The official attendance was 63,880. However, this was not like a home game for the Cardinals. Steelers fans were everywhere. Pittsburgh fans are everywhere but State Farm Field hasn’t felt like a significant home presence in quite a while.
Pass defense can’t even stop a Duck
The Cardinals have struggled to stop any quarterback this season. That trend continued on Sunday. Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges, an undrafted rookie, didn’t put up insane stats but was still very effective. He had a touchdown pass and only three incompletions in 19 attempts, finishing with 152 yards. However, his passer rating was an outstanding 117.5, which was above the average passer rating the Cardinals had been allowing this season entering the game.
With Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson and Jared Goff still on the schedule ahead, things aren’t going to get better.
Kyler Murray is having a rough run with turnovers
After throwing only five interceptions in his first 10 games, he is beginning to be more careless with the football. He had one last week against the Rams and easily could have had two more. Against the Steelers, he was picked off three times. One was a fantastic play by Joe Haden. The second was a poor decision and the third was a desperation throw on fourth down at the end of the game.
No matter the reason, it appears he is beginning to go backward in his progress.
J.R. Sweezy and Mason Cole rotated at right guard
We will see the snap counts on Monday, but Cole and Sweezy both rotated in and out at right guard. Sweezy had been ill earlier in the week. However, coach Kliff Kingsbury said Sweezy was dealing with an ankle injury, which he must have sustained during the game. He was very comfortable with getting Cole in the game.
They had some new defensive looks
The Cardinals tried a few new looks defensively. They kept their base defense on the field a few times when the Steelers had three receivers. That normally would result in a nickel defense.
They also had a new big defensive package they ran a few times. It featured three defensive linemen, three inside linebackers and only three defensive backs. Tanner Vallejo got to play and he made some plays. In those sets, Chris Banjo came in the game at safety, replacing Jalen Thompson.
Haason Reddick got his first snaps at outside linebacker, coming in for their pass rushing set, when they use three outside linebackers and only one down lineman.
Special teams figured heavily into the result of the game
Special teams was the difference in the game. Diontae Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. That was the difference.
There were other plays, though.
The Cardinals ran a fake punt successfully to extend a drive but that drive ended in a turnover.
Then, the Steelers punter inexplicably tried to run for the first down and was stopped. Three plays later, the Cardinals scored a touchdown and were within three points.
Byron Murphy struggled
Murphy didn’t have a great game. He was flagged twice for pass interference and gave up the one offensive touchdown the Steelers had, although he had good coverage on the play.
He has not had a good game in a while.
Kyler Murray had little running room
Murray was sacked four times but that wasn’t it. He never really even had room to run. On multiple occasions when he tried to take off and get to the edge, the Steelers got to him first. He finished with six carries for two yards.
Tanner Vallejo played well
Vallejo got playing time in a special defensive package the Cardinals used a few times. He was promoted from the practice squad this week. He made plays when he was on the field.
He finished with five tackles, one for loss, a sack, a QB hit and a forced fumble.
David Johnson made an impact
Johnson had his best game in weeks, even though it was still in a limited role. He ran the ball well with limited touches, picking up 19 yards on three carries. He also had two catches for 34 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown catch to pull the Cardinals to within three points.
“It felt good to get involved and get into the end zone, but at the end of the day we still lost, so it doesn’t feel too good after,” he said after the game.
Kingsbury integrated all three running backs
Kenyan Drake, David Johnson and Chase Edmonds all got offensive snaps. In fact, there were a handful of plays in which all three were on the field. Drake still got the most touches, getting 11 carries for 37 yards and catching three passes for 30 yards. Johnson had three carries and two catches. Edmonds had one carry on special teams and was targeted twice in the passing game.
A TE scored but not against the Cardinals
The Cardinals have been bad against tight ends this season defensively, but the only tight end to score was their own. Charles Clay scored the Cardinals’ first touchdown of the game on a five-yard grab.
Defensively, the Steelers only got one catch for three yards from tight end Vance McDonald. He only has averaged three catches per game and left the game with a concussion.
That said, when the Cardinals have given up two touchdowns to a tight end named Ross Dwelley, this can be seen as progress, even though the Steelers use their tight ends very little in the passing game.
They might not win again this season
The Cardinals one more game at home left on the schedule. It is next week against the Cleveland Browns. If they can’t manage to get a win next week, they have to go on the road to play the Seattle Seahawks, who have everything to play for as they try to win the division, and the Los Angeles Rams, whom they haven’t even been competitive with since 2016.
3-12-1 is better than 3-13, but not really.
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