The Arizona Cardinals clinched a playoff spot with two games to go in the regular season, although it feels like they backed into it. They had three opportunities to clinch with a win and lost all three games. Thanks to losses by the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings, they made it into the playoffs.
While the way the Cardinals made it is not ideal, the fact they did with two weeks to go in the season is a testament to the success they had early in the season.
But even with a playoff game guaranteed now, the Cardinals have bigger goals than that and they know they must be better.
“To be in the playoffs with two games left is an accomplishment, we understand that, but we know we’ve got to improve a lot and play better football,” Kliff Kingsbury told reporters on Monday.
The focus has not been on making the playoffs. The message has been get better and win each week, and the other things like the playoffs will take care of themselves.
However, they have been making mistakes. Penalties and missed kicks plagued them in their loss to the Colts.
“We’ve got to stop hurting ourselves in these games before we even think about taking the next step,” Kingsbury said.
With two games to go, they can turn things around. They have a road game this week against the Dallas Cowboys and close the regular season at home against the Seattle Seahawks. They still actually have a chance at winning the division, although they will need some help.
But as long as they can get back to playing good football by the time the postseason comes around, they will be a team to worry about. If they don’t, then a 7-0 start might end in being bumped out of the wild card round.
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