The Arizona Cardinals have shown themselves to be a team willing to go for two after touchdowns and to go for it on fourth down a lot. That willingness to take risks might have cost them a win against the Houston Texans.
They lost 21-16 to Houston on Sunday and were in position to potentially get a game-winning touchdown.
However, with different decisions earlier in the game, they could have been playing for a game-winning field goal.
The Cardinals turned the ball over on downs three times in the game, including their final drive.
They went for it on fourth down at the Houston 23 rather than kicking a 41-yard field goal. They went for two after Kyler Murray’s rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
Had they picked up those four points earlier, they would have been trailing 21-20 on that final drive and, rather than having to throw the ball in desperation, they could have been setting up a game-winning kick.
Instead, it was a five-point loss.
Of course, other events would have possibly played out differently and perhaps they would have lost anyway, but had they take the points that were there initially, they are in a different situation late in the game.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
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