Absolutely overlooked in the aftermath of the Arizona Cardinals loss to the Lions on Sunday was another game with a minimal number of penalties.
In three games played, the Cardinals have not had more than five penalties in any game and their total of 14 is tied for the third-fewest in the NFL. The 113 yards lost is the fourth fewest in the league, although some penalties weren’t assessed at the usual yardage because they were half-the-distance flags. Also, one landing-zone penalty on a Matt Prater kickoff doesn’t have yardage associated with it even though the ball is placed at the 40-yard line.
Still, there have also been no declined penalties by opponents or offsetting calls, so the 14 total infractions are the fewest in the NFL.
Furthermore, their two presnap penalties are tied for the fewest in the league.
As consistent as head coach Jonathan Gannon wants his team to be, he wasn’t overflowing with praise when asked Wednesday if he was pleased with the three-game penalty numbers.
“I am, but you can always clean them up and that’s kind of week-to-week,” Gannon said. “Am I ‘rah-rah’ because we’re low? That’s good because we’re not beating ourselves, but am I going to be down in the dumps if it’s high one game? Yeah, a little bit (but) they’re teaching moments for us. But every crew calls it different. Every game materializes different. I know this: If you play with the proper technique and make the correct decisions over and over and over and over, over the long haul of a season you should be pretty good with that.
“I feel like our guys understand that and do a good job of it because we put a lot on their plate with decision-making to not foul, but there’s a lot of plays that are bang-bang and if they call it, they call it. Yeah. I’m pleased right now. It can always be better, and we have to continue to coach it.”
The penalties break down to six on defense for 60 yards, five on offense for 38 and three on special teams for 15. The only players with more than one are guard Will Hernandez (two holding penalties) and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (one hold and one pass interference.
Here is the breakdown by game:
Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills: 5 penalties, 31 yards
- CB Sean Murphy-Bunting: Pass interference, 6 yards
- CB Sean Murphy-Bunting: Holding, 5 yards
- LB Zaven Collins: Roughing the passer, 15 yards
- K Matt Prater: Failed to reach landing zone on kickoff
- Defense: Too many players on the field, 5 yards
Week 2 vs. Los Angeles Rams: 5 penalties, 52 yards
- T Kelvin Beachum: Holding, 8 yards
- LB Julian Okwara: Unnecessary roughness, 14 yards
- C Hjalte Froholdt: False start, 5 yards
- G Will Hernandez: Holding, 10 yards
- LB Mack Wilson Sr.: Taunting, 15 yards
Week 3 vs. Detroit Lions: 4 penalties, 30 yards
- G Will Hernandez: Holding, 10 yards
- CB Kei’Trel Clark: Unnecessary roughness (special teams), 10 yards
- TE Elijah Higgins: Holding (special teams), 5 yards
- TE Tip Reiman: False start, 5 yards
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