While the Arizona Cardinals usually get attention for their offense because of head coach Kliff Kingsbury, quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, perhaps what has led to most of their success in their 3-2 start is the play of the defense.
After having one of the league’s worst defensive units in 2019, the Cardinals stack up really well against the rest of the league statistically.
Here are the numbers.
- The rank 10th in total defense, allowing total yards per game allowed with 346.6.
- They have allowed the fifth fewest points per game at 20.4.
- They have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game at 222.4 yards per game.
- They are No. 4 in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert only 35.6% of the time.
- They are tied for seventh in the league in sacks with 14.
- They are No. 2 in the league in red-zone defense, allowing touchdowns only 42.6% of the time.
Some numbers aren’t as great. They allow 126 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per attempts, both of which are middle-of-the-road in league rankings. Their passer rating allowed was over 100 until after Week 5. They are 19th in the league in passer rating allowed, which is impressive considering they have only one interceptions as a unit. They had the worst passer rating allowed last season.
Of course, they have played the Jets and Washington Football teams, both of whom are not good offensively. They played the 49ers with basically no receivers.
That said, after their struggles in 2019, this is a big improvement.
Now with the loss of Chandler Jones, the defense will need to work even harder. They face the Dallas Cowboys, who are one of the league’s most potent offenses.
If they can slow Dallas’ attack, it will be time to take this defense seriously.
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