Tag: Cardinals vs. Colts

PODCAST: Does it matter how the Cardinals clinched a playoff berth?

Check out the latest edition of the show breaking down all that is going on with the Arizona Cardinals. It’s the best hour of Cardinals talk on the Web.

The Arizona Cardinals have clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs and the latest edition of the podcast talks about it. With Seth Cox away for the holidays, Revenge of the Birds podcast host Blake Murphy joined me on the show to talk about all that has been going on with the Cardinals.

We recorded the show on Tuesday night after the news of the passing of John Madden, so we began the show reminiscing about Madden from each of our perspectives. I, many years old than Blake, still remember his broadcaster days.

After that, we talk about how the Cardinals made the playoffs and whether it mattered. Did they back in? We break down the loss to the Colts, discuss what has to change in the final two games of the regular season, go over how the Cardinals can still win the division and then preview their Week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

A big thanks to Blake for stepping in. Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Here are the timestamps for our different topics of the show.

(1:00) Intros and remembering John Madden

(6:54) Does it matter how the Cardinals made the postseason?

(18:32) What happened against the Colts?

(34:47) What do the Cardinals need to change in the final two games of the regular season?

(41:55) How can the Cardinals still win the NFC West?

(48:00) Cardinals-Cowboys preview and predictions

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Cardinals’ Week 16 defensive snap counts and observations

Check out how the Cardinals divided up their 70 defensive snaps.

The defense for the Arizona Cardinals played 70 snaps against the Indianapolis Colts. Three never left the field.

Let’s look at the defensive snap counts for each player in each position group.

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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Cardinals’ Week 16 offensive snap counts and observations

The Cardinals had 65 offensive snaps on Saturday, Check out how the playing time was split up.

The Arizona Cardinals lost to the Indianapolis Colts 22-16 on Saturday. They played 65 snaps on offense.

Below, we go over the individual snap counts for each player in each position group.

Check out the numbers below.

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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Colts 22, Cardinals 16: Takeaways, observations from Christmas night loss

A look back and some takeaways from the Cardinals’ 22-16 loss on Christmas night.

The Arizona Cardinals lost their third game in a row Saturday night, a 22-16 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts. They fell to 10-5, failed to clinch a playoff spot on their own and now are 3-4 in their home stadium.

It was not at all what was hoped by the team and fans, as the Colts entered the game incredibly shorthanded.

But what happened, happened.

Below are some takeaways and observations from the evening.

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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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WATCH: Cardinals’ fake punt return sets up TD pass vs. Colts

The Cardinals use a little trickery to set up their first touchdown of the second half against the Colts.

Fake punts are fairly rare. What is even rarer is a fake punt return, which the Arizona Cardinals executed perfectly.

The Indianapolis Colts were forced to punt on their first possession of the second half in Week 16 and Cardinals returner Christian Kirk drifted far to his left, making it look like he was going to field the punt there.

The punt went to the other side of the field. Cornerback Byron Murphy, who was part of the coverage team, fielded the punt and returned it 48 yards to the Colts 42.

Three plays later, the Cardinals took a 13-12 lead on a 24-yard touchdown catch by Antoine Wesley, the first of his NFL career. Check out the return above and the touchdown below.

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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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Mistakes, injuries mar 1st half of Cardinals-Colts

The Cardinals trailed 12-6 at the half after a mistake-filled first half.

The Arizona Cardinals trailed the Indianapolis Colts 12-6 at halftime. They made a lot of mistakes and there were mistakes made by the officials.

However, a banged-up Colts team held only a six-point halftime lead.

This is what the Cardinals did to themselves:

  • They gave up a 43-yard run on the Colts’ first offensive play.
  • They missed a field goal.
  • They missed an extra point.
  • They turned the ball over on downs.
  • They were flagged seven times in the first half. Two were false starts by Josh Jones that stalled drives. Two were consecutive offsides penalties that extended a Colts drive. A fifth was an illegal contact penalty that negated a strip-sack by Chandler Jones that the Cardinals recovered for a turnover. A sixth was intentional grounding in the end zone by Kyler Murray for a safety after the snap was fumbled.
  • They wasted a challenge.

The officials were bad.

  • On the Cardinals’ turnover on downs, they missed an obvious pass interference against Zach Ertz, which would have given the Cardinals a first down.
  • They flagged Wilson for pass interference when he broke up a pass. It wasn’t interference.
  • They gave Carson Wentz a generous spot that gave the Colts a first down.

There were injuries.

  • The Colts, already missing three starting linemen, lost left tackle Eric Fisher (knee) and left guard Chris Reed (back). They lost tight end Jack Doyle (knee, ankle).
  • The Cardinals lost Wilson on the pass interference play. He appeared to hurty his shoulder.

The Cardinals need a much cleaner second half. If they can do that, they might have a win.

 

Cardinals-Colts Christmas Day live scoring updates, highlights and more

Keep up with live updates during the game.

The Arizona Cardinals are ready to take on the Indianapolis Colts Saturday night on national television. The stage is set for them to clinch a playoff spot with a win. The Colts are shorthanded.

But we have seen the Cardinals struggle in prime-time games against shorthanded teams.

How will this game play out? We will find out.

Throughout the game, we will give live scoring updates with highlights, injuries and more.

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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RB Marlon Mack among Colts’ inactives in Week 16

The Colts announce who will not dress for them against the Cardinals.

The Indianapolis Colts had a number of players land on the COVID list. Three more were added Saturday afternoon. As such, their inactive list is short.

The announced the deactivation of these four players:

  • RB Marlon Mack
  • C Ryan Kelly
  • S Andrew Sendejo
  • WR Mike Strachan

Kelly (personal) and Sendejo (concussion) were ruled out on Thursday on the final injury report of the week.

They will also be missing CB Rock Ya-Sin, G Quenton Nelson, G Mark Glowinski, LB Darius Leonard, S Khari Willis and WR Zach Pascal. All were added to the COVID list this week.

Kickoff is 6:15 p.m. Arizona time at State Farm Stadium.

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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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RB James Conner, WR Rondale Moore inactive for Cardinals vs. Colts

Initially expected to play earlier Saturday, Conner now will not dress for the game, meaning a lot of Chase Edmonds in the run game.

The Arizona Cardinals released their list of inactive players for Saturday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colt and there was a bit of a surprise. After it was initially reported that running back James Conner, who missed practice all week with a heel injury, was expected to play, he was listed as one of the players who will not dress for the game.

The Cardinals announced the following players were deactivated:

  • RB James Conner
  • WR Rondale Moore
  • QB Trace McSorley
  • CB Breon Borders
  • DL Zach Kerr
  • DL Jordan Phillips

Phillips was ruled out with a knee injury. Moore (ankle), Conner (heel) and Kerr (ribs) were all questionable for the game.

Max Garcia, who was questionable with a knee injury and only got limited work one day of practice, is active and is likely to start at center.

Moore’s role could be filled by either Andy Isabella or Greg Dortch, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster.

With no Conner, it means a bigger role for Chase Edmonds and possibly some carries for either Jonathan Ward or Eno Benjamin.

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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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Cardinals add WR Greg Dortch, P Ryan Winslow, others to active roster

The Cardinals added four players from the practice squad to the active roster for their game Saturday night against the Colts.

The Arizona Cardinals added four players from the practice squad to the active roster in moves hours before their Week 16 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

They signed receiver Greg Dortch from the practice squad to the active roster, suggesting that Rondale Moore, officially questionable for the game with an ankle injury that kept him out of practice all week, will not be able to play.

They elevated punter Ryan Winslow, defensive lineman Josh Mauro and cornerback Kevin Peterson to the roster. Winslow was a standard elevation, while Mauro and Peterson were COVID-19 replacements. Punter Andy Lee and center Rodney Hudson remain on the COVID list.

Since no offensive linemen were added, it would appear that Max Garcia will at least be active and could start at center. They only have eight linemen on the active roster and need eight active for the game.

With Mauro’s elevation, it suggests that Zach Kerr, questionable with a rib injury, will not be able to play. Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips was ruled out with a knee injury.

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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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