Tag: Cardinals

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Saints

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 26-8 win over the Saints.

The Chargers beat the Saints on Sunday afternoon, improving to 4-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 8 win.

It was over when…

Ladd McConkey scored his second touchdown to extend the Chargers’ lead to 18.

Notable number

According to NextGen Stats, Joe Alt did not allow pressure on any of his 38 pass-blocking snaps against the Saints, tied for the most snaps without pressure allowed by a rookie tackle over the last three seasons.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert had a strong performance against the Cardinals last Monday night and carried that over to this weekend. Herbert finished 20 of 32 passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 49 yards on the ground on four rushes, including one for a big 38-yard gain.
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey has shown flashes this season, but it was only a matter of time until he had a breakout game. That came on Sunday when he caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, including one for 60 yards.
  3. LB Daiyan Henley: Henley led the team in tackles (11) and had a pass deflection.

Quick hits

  • Herbert engineered a multitude of big plays through the air. On 10+ yard throws, he finished 7 of 11 for 195 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by McConkey’s 60-yard scoring grab.
  • The Chargers had no problems finding the end zone after failing to score a touchdown since the second quarter of the Week 6 game against the Broncos.
  • Second-half scoring has been a problem this season. The Chargers hadn’t scored a touchdown in the third or fourth quarter since Week 1, but they ended that drought by scoring two in the second half. They were 2-of-3 in the red zone.
  • The offense had its fair share of struggles, however. The Chargers struggled to run the ball against a Saints defense that was bottom of the barrel in that department. They went 3-for-12 on third down. The pass protection was uneven.
  • The Chargers held the Saints to 2-for-14 on third down and prevented them from reaching double digits in scoring. But they still allowed 366 total yards, 117 of which came on the ground. Alvin Kamara had a few explosive plays, a product of Los Angeles’ handful of missed tackles in open space.
  • The Chargers did a much better job of generating pressure. They finished with five sacks and seven quarterback hits.
  • Special teams was sloppy early on. Josh Harris and JK Scott failed to connect on a punt snap, which resulted in a safety. Cameron Dicker also missed an extra point.

What’s next?

The Chargers are back on the road to face the Browns next Sunday, Nov. 3, at 11:00 am PT.

Tyreek Hill active, Storm Duck ruled out vs. Cardinals

The Dolphins ruled out seven players Sunday, but WR Tyreek Hill is good to go against the Cardinals.

The Miami Dolphins released their list of inactives before kickoff Sunday and it did not include wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who will play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8.

Hill was the only Dolphins player listed as questionable on the team’s injury report after Tua Tagovailoa was removed from the list altogether Saturday.

The only other question mark was undrafted rookie Storm Duck, who was listed as doubtful Friday, and is inactive against the Cardinals.

Dolphins inactives:

  • CB Kader Kohou
  • RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
  • CB Storm Duck
  • LB Mohamed Kamara
  • OL Andrew Meyer
  • TE Tanner Conner
  • DT Zach Sieler

Cardinals inactives:

  • CB Kei’Trel Clark
  • CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
  • OL Christian Jones
  • TE Travis Vokolek
  • WR Xavier Weaver
  • DL Roy Lopez

With both Duck and Kohou sidelined, the Dolphins will likely rely on 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith in his first snaps of the 2024 season after sitting on injured reserve for the first seven weeks of the season. Special teamer Siran Neal may also get work in the slot.

Perhaps the most surprising inactive for the Dolphins is Kamara, who made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts and did relatively well. Earlier this week, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said the team would work Kamara into the mix more and “live through some of those rookie mistakes.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Dolphins vs. Cardinals broadcast map: Where will the game be on TV?

The Dolphins and Cardinals won’t be on many televisions this weekend.

When Tua Tagovailoa returns to the Miami Dolphins’ starting lineup Sunday, there won’t be many televisions across the country tuned into the Week 8 matchup.

Despite the intrigue of the return of the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, only a small fraction of the state of Florida, along with most of Arizona and a small sliver of California, will have Miami’s home game against the Cardinals on their local FOX affiliate. The Cardinals are 3-4, while the Dolphins are 2-4 after losing three of their four games with Tagovailoa on injured reserve.

In-market fans can stream the Dolphins’ Week 8 game on fuboTV. Jason Benetti will be on play-by-play coverage in the booth with Mark Schlereth providing analysis.

Fans in the light blue area on the map below will have the Dolphins vs. Cardinals game on their local FOX station at 1 p.m. ET. Via 506sports.com:

Those who aren’t in an area highlighted light blue will need NFL Sunday Ticket, now offered by YouTube, to watch the Dolphins as an out-of-market game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill questionable for Week 8 vs. Cardinals

Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill are listed as questionable, but it’d be a surprise if either sat out Sunday.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill were both listed as questionable for a Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals. It would be a surprise, however, if either player was forced to sit out.

Tagovailoa is still on the Dolphins’ injured reserve and will likely be moved to the active roster Saturday after he officially cleared the concussion protocol Friday. But as a player who isn’t yet on the active roster, questionable is the standard status.

As for Hill, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that he was feeling optimistic about the receiver’s chances at playing through a foot injury suffered in practice.

“I’m feeling good,” McDaniel said of Hill and receiver Jaylen Waddle. “We’ll see how today goes, but yes, I feel very optimistic and feel good about where they’re at.”

Defensive lineman Zach Sieler is out after suffering an eye poke in practice and cornerback Kader Kohou is out with a neck injury. With rookie Storm Duck also likely to miss Week 8, the Dolphins may lean on second-year cornerback Cam Smith in his first game back from injured reserve as well as special teamer Siran Neal.

For the Cardinals, the loss of cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting leaves the team without much experience in the secondary.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Zach Sieler, Kader Kohou ruled out vs. Cardinals in Week 8

The Dolphins will be without one of their defensive captains Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins will be without defensive lineman Zach Sieler and cornerback Kader Kohou when they play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8.

Sieler, a team captain who is tied for the team lead in sacks and quarterback hits, was poked in the eye during practice Thursday and is now week to week, according to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

Depth along the defensive line is thin with Calais Campbell, Benito Jones, Da’Shawn Hand, and Brandon Pili as the only other four linemen on the roster. Miami doesn’t have much help stashed on the practice squad either after Naquan Jones and Jonathan Harris were signed away by the Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, respectively.

The only lineman still on the team’s practice squad is Neil Farrell, a former Raiders and Chiefs tackle who was signed by Miami in September.

Kohou suffered a neck injury in the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Undrafted rookie Storm Duck is also dealing with an injury and may be unavailable as well, although McDaniel said Friday was too early to determine his status.

“We have a bunch of guys I think are capable of [playing nickel in Kohou’s place],” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday. “I think we have a bunch of guys that have the skill set to get the job done. It’s just really a matter of what we’re trying to do at that particular moment and who we’re going to put there.”

Weaver specifically mentioned Jalen Ramsey, Jevón Holland, Siran Neal, and Cam Smith as four players who could play in the slot, if needed.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Tyreek Hill, Zach Sieler added to Dolphins’ Thursday injury report

The Dolphins added two key players to their injury report Thursday.

Tyreek Hill and Zach Sieler were limited in the Miami Dolphins’ practice Thursday after neither appeared on the team’s injury report Wednesday.

Hill was listed with a foot issue, while Sieler had an eye problem that limited him.

The only other change for the Dolphins from their Wednesday report was Tua Tagovailoa’s participation switched from limited to full. Miami is working the quarterback back into the mix and expects him to start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but for now, he’s still on the Dolphins’ injured reserve and is working his way through the concussion protocol.

Thursday participation

DNP

  • CB Storm Duck (ankle)
  • QB Tyler Huntley (right shoulder)
  • CB Kader Kohou (neck)

Limited

  • OL Liam Eichenberg (shoulders)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (foot)
  • S Jevón Holland (hand)
  • LB Emmanuel Ogbah (bicep)
  • DT Zach Sieler (eye)
  • WR Jaylen Waddle (quad)

Full

  • QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion)

Another missed practice for both Duck and Kohou means it’s unlikely that either cornerback will be available Sunday against the Cardinals. According to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, there are several players, including Jalen Ramsey, Jevón Holland, Siran Neal, and Cam Smith, who could play in the slot if both Duck and Kohou are unavailable.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Tyler Huntley, 2 Dolphins CBs sit out Wednesday practice

Five Dolphins were absent from practice Wednesday and another five were limited.

Five Miami Dolphins players sat out practice Wednesday and another five were limited, the team announced.

Veterans Terron Armstead and Calais Campbell were among the group that sat out Wednesday, although both were given rest days.The other three were quarterback Tyler Huntley, and cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Storm Duck, who sat out with shoulder, neck, and ankle injuries, respectively.

But the biggest name on the Wednesday report was quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who returned to practice for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 2.

Wednesday participation

DNP

  • OT Terron Armstead (rest)
  • DT Calais Campbell (rest)
  • CB Storm Duck (ankle)
  • QB Tyler Huntley (right shoulder)
  • CB Kader Kohou (neck)

Limited

  • OL Liam Eichenberg (shoulders)
  • S Jevón Holland (hand)
  • LB Emmanuel Ogbah (bicep)
  • QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion)
  • WR Jaylen Waddle (quad)

While Tagovailoa is still in the concussion protocol and on the Dolphins’ injured reserve, it’d be a surprise if he was unavailable to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

The bigger question marks are the Dolphins’ pair of cornerbacks, although the return of 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith would mitigate the blow if Kader and/or Duck are out.

Arizona’s injury report has not yet been released and this post will be updated when it’s available.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jim Harbaugh not happy with officiating late in Chargers’ Week 7 loss to Cardinals

In his press conference after the game on Monday, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was upset on how the game was officiated.

The Chargers’ loss to the Cardinals on Monday was crushing. It dropped the AFC West squad to 3-3, and these kinds of games are crucial to the playoff picture later in the season.

Late in the Week 7 contest, a few questionable officiating calls contributed to the outcome. After the loss, head coach Jim Harbaugh was clearly upset with how the game was officiated.

“I saw what I saw, but I have no comment about it,” Harbaugh said about Cam Hart’s unnecessary roughness penalty.

The penalty helped Arizona march down the field for a game-winning field goal as time expired. That wasn’t the only controversial call late in the game, either.

On Los Angeles’ final drive, wide receiver Simi Fehoko was held up on a ball that landed in the endzone. After initially throwing a flag, the referees deemed the throw uncatchable and, therefore, picked up the flag.

“They [the refs] were doing the uncatchable sign. We had a double move on, he got grabbed. I’ll let them explain how they officiated that play,” Harbaugh said.

The picked-up flag forced the Chargers to settle for their fifth field goal of the game. A touchdown would have forced the Cardinals to go down the field and score a touchdown as well.

Despite the poor officiating, the Chargers acknowledged their lack of details throughout the contest. It was a game that slipped through their hands for many reasons, but the officiating was frustrating throughout.

NFL standings: 49ers back out of playoff picture after Week 7 action

The 49ers are in a bad spot when it comes to the playoff hunt.

What a difference a week makes.

The San Francisco 49ers were riding high after a Week 6 road win over the Seattle Seahawks that launched them from the No. 14 seed in the NFC to the No. 4 seed thanks to their new lead in the NFC West.

Then came Week 7.

In Week 7 not only did the 49ers lose, they were the only NFC West team that didn’t win. Instead of sitting atop the division and holding onto a playoff spot, San Francisco now finds itself in survival mode just trying to get back into the playoff picture.

Seattle leads the NFC West at 4-3. The Arizona Cardinals are in second place at 3-4 thanks to their head-to-head tiebreaker over the 3-4 49ers.

It’s imperative to note there are still 11 weeks of football to go and the NFC West doesn’t have a dominant force the 49ers can’t overcome. However, there are a slew of teams ahead of San Francisco that are just playing better football through seven weeks.

The No. 1 seed Detroit Lions have hit their stride, as has virtually the entire NFC North. Minnesota, Green Bay and Chicago hold seed Nos. 5-7 to round out the playoff picture. Washington is the No. 2 seed and looks unstoppable on offense. NFC West leader Seattle is in the No. 3 spot, and the Falcons are the No. 4 seed as the NFC South leaders.

We can scrap thoughts of the No. 1 seed for the 49ers. It feels out of reach even if San Francisco wins out. They just need to start stringing together some wins to get back into the playoff picture to begin with and separating themselves from some of the NFC’s bottom dwellers.

Once they do that we can start to worry about seeding. For now, they just need to get into that conversation.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Chargers PFF grades: Best, worst performers in Week 7 loss to Cardinals

Spotlighting Pro Football Focus’ highest and lowest-graded Chargers players from the loss to the Cardinals.

In Week 7, the Chargers lost on the road to the Cardinals, 17-15.

Along the way, there were some standout performers and others who did not contribute as much.

Here are the best and worst performers from Monday’s contest, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Top 5 Offense

QB Justin Herbert — 89.7

WR Josh Palmer — 80.3

OT Joe Alt — 76.2

TE Will Dissly — 74.6

OL Zion Johnson — 71.6

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Khalil Mack — 92.1

LB Denzel Perryman — 76.4

DT Poona Ford — 72.2

S Derwin James — 72.0

DT Otito Ogbonnia — 70.3

Bottom 5 Offense

TE Eric Tomlinson — 45.8

WR Ladd McConkey — 47.9

FB Scott Matlock — 48.3

WR Jalen Reagor — 56.0

OL Trey Pipkins — 56.2

Bottom 5 Defense

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu — 29.0

LB Junior Colson — 29.2

S Alohi Gilman — 35.7

EDGE Bud Dupree — 43.1

CB Cam Hart — 44.3