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Welcome to the second Zona Zone of 2024, where I'll recap the middle six games of the Arizona Cardinals' 2024 season.
After a shaky 2-4 start, the Cardinals brought themselves to an even 6-6 record through their last six contests. If you told any Cardinals fan heading into the season that they'd be .500 at this point, they would be ecstatic. To my surprise, I am quite displeased with that mark, especially given the four-game win streak we went on against some tough teams.
What can the Cardinals build on through the last five games to not only make a potential playoff push, but record their first winning season since 2021?
Photo: Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images
What's Gone Right
Holy hell, has this defense turned it around or what? After looking like a UFL unit for the first part of the season, the Cards have become one of the best in the league - thanks mainly to Nick Rallis and the personnel he's deployed. Since Week 7, the Cardinals have the 7th highest defensive DVOA, trailing teams like the Packers, Vikings, and Eagles. Additionally, young studs like Garrett Williams, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, and Max Melton have improved their play in the secondary, and have earned over 140+ snaps in that time frame, with Garrett and Max hitting 275+ each.
Garrett has really come into his own, as he's posted an 81.1 defensive grade, which ranks 9th amongst DBs with over 100 snaps played in that same span. He's allowed 13 receptions on 25 targets for 128 yards and 0 TDs, while intercepting 1 pass and deflecting 2 others. He's also been a sure-fire tackler, as he's missed just 4.2% of his tackles - and all of these numbers become even more impressive considering he's played almost all of his snaps in the slot or box.
As a collective unit, they've generated 119 pressures over the past six games, which is nearly double their mark of 64 through the first six contests. It's clear the defense and the scheme is effective, and they're only gonna get better with Darius Robinson back from injury and Baron Browning helping get pressure off the edge.
On the flip side, the offense has had it's share of ups and downs, but mainly it's been good - especially from Week 8 to Week 10. Below are some grade comparisons between different points over the past seven weeks:
Player | Grade (Rank) | Week 8-10 | Week 7, 12, & 13 |
Kyler Murray | 76.8 (17th) | 82.6 (7th) | 67.8 (22nd) |
James Conner | 84.0 (5th) | 76.0 (6th) | 81.8 (4th) |
Marvin Harrison Jr | 74.0 (26th) | 80.6 (9th) | 64.6 (47th) |
Trey McBride | 88.1 (2nd) | 81.2 (8th) | 86.7 (3rd) |
Each main positional player has played well for the majority of this span, but Kyler and MHJ have had some short comings in recent games. It's not entirely their fault that the offensive scheme is limiting their connection, but when they do get their moments, they haven't been able to provide the spark we've been waiting 13 weeks for.
As for the offensive line, they've been incredibly impressive, allowing just 3 sacks over the past six games, and allowing just 1 in that dominant Week 8-10 stretch. Paris Johnson Jr looks more and more like a franchise LT every week, and Evan Brown and Hjalte Froholdt have been awesome interior pieces since Will Hernandez went down for the season. Jonah Williams has also looked decent since returning from injury, and I'd like to see rookies Isaiah Adams and Christian Jones get more chances.
I can't leave this section without mentioning Chad Ryland, who has been a great fill-in for the injured Matt Prater.
What's Gone Wrong
This coaching staff has gotten way too conservative in crucial moments. It seems like they are coaching not to lose instead of going for the win any chance they get. The game against Minnesota was the epitome of that, as the Cardinals passed up multiple chances to add more than 3 points on the board at a time. On their first drive, after turning a 3rd & 6 to a 4th & 2 on the Vikings 13 yard line, the Cardinals opted to kick a field goal to score first. As a good rule of thumb, depending on the distance and field position, if you gain half the yards you need or more on 3rd down, you should probably go for it on 4th. The Cardinals did not follow that rule at all, and it showed up later in the game.
To close out the first half, the Cardinals marched 64 yards downfield across 12 plays in just 1 minute and 12 seconds and nailed a field goal as a result. This sounds wonderful, but there was some serious clock mismanagement, as the Cardinals may have had even more time if Gannon had called a timeout after sacking Sam Darnold on third down right after the two minute warning. Instead, the Vikings burned the clock down to 1:12 before kicking a field goal, and thus made the Cardinals ensuing drive tougher to score a TD. If Gannon elected to call a timeout, they would have had roughly 1:40 on the clock to start their drive, which most likely results in getting two or three more plays in, giving them a better chance to score a TD.
With the game coming to a close, the Cardinals had a 19-16 lead with 11:08 left in the game. They drove 66 yards across 16 plays in 7 minutes and 48 seconds, leaving just 3:20 on the clock on the last play of the drive. Remember that rule I mentioned earlier, where if you gain half the yardage you need on 3rd down, you should go for it on 4th? Well, once again, the Cardinals elected to ignore that rule, and kick a field goal to go up 22-16. The kicker? Arizona had gained 12 yards on a 3rd & goal from the 16, meaning they needed just 4 yards to score a TD. If they convert, the game is practically over, as they'd be up 25-16 at the worst. If they don't get it, then Minnesota is backed up deep in their own territory, and the Cardinals defense had held them at bay the entire game. Alas, this situationally inept coaching staff decided to play it safe in a seemingly must-win game, and had their decision to kick it thrown back in their face with a Minnesota game-winning drive.
Between game management and poor offensive design, the Cardinals lost themselves two games in a crucial stretch. In an alternate timeline where Gannon isn't a soft decision maker and made gutsy calls in an overachieving season, the Cardinals may find themselves sitting at 8-4. To our optimistic dismay, we live in a reality where the Cardinals are 6-6 - and most fans aren't happy about it. Whatta world.
Looking Forward
Through their final five matchups, the Cardinals take on the Seahawks, Patriots, Panthers, Rams, and 49ers. All of these games will be dogfights, even against the Patriots and Panthers. Both squads have found new offensive life, and divisional games are never easy. Besides winning out, a victory against the Seahawks and one of the Rams or 49ers could spell for our best chance at winning the NFC West - which wasn't even a thought six games into the season.
Drew Petzing needs to get more creative at getting MHJ involved, Jonathan Gannon needs to take more risks if he wants to beat the rest of the division, and Kyler Murray just needs to trust his arm and athleticism to put stress on defenses. If at least two of these asks can happen, then the Cardinals will have more than a fair shot at being division champs in what was supposed to be another rebuilding year.
Photo: Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Final Notes
Not much else to say here. Let's hope I'm happier in five weeks.
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