Tag: NFL. Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals whose stock rose and fell in preseason opener

These players either helped or hurt their cases to make the final roster.

The Arizona Cardinals got their first action of the preseason Friday night and many young players got their first extended action since entering the NFL, as there was no preseason in 2020.

The Cardinals defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-16 at State Farm Stadium Friday night, thanks to two Matt Prater field goals in the final two minutes, including a 47-yard kick as time expired.

But the preseason is more about individual performances than the team results, especially for those players battling for a spot on the final 53-man roster.

Below are some players whose stock rose and fell based on their performance Friday night.

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Cardinals hopeful Larry Fitzgerald, others will come off COVID list this week

Fitzgerald, Trent Sherfield and Deionte Thompson all are on the COVID-19 reserve currently.

The Arizona Cardinals were missing three players on Sunday when they played and lost to the New England Patriots because they are currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald tested positive for the virus, while receivers and special teams ace Trent Sherfield and safety Deionte Thompson also were placed on the list last week.

That might be the only game they miss.

“Talking with (Head Athletic Trainer) Tom Reed, we’re hopeful that all three guys will be available for Sunday, but that remains to be seen,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury told media members Monday afternoon. “(Fitzgerald) is doing well, I know that. So, we’re going to go through those protocols, and hopefully, we have those guys for the game this weekend.”

Arizona missed Sherfield’s presence on special teams. A big punt return and a big kick return led directly to 10 of New England’s 20 points and were a major reason why the Pats were able to win despite the fact that Arizona outdid them in almost every important statistic.

Fitzgerald’s absence was noted, too. Getting everyone back on the active roster should give the Cardinals a better shot of beating the Los Angeles Rams this weekend.

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NFC West recap: Seahawks take control of division after Rams, Cardinals falter

The Seahawks now have sole possession of first place in the West after beating the Eagles and seeing both the Cardinals and Rams lose in Week 12.

The NFC West again has a new leader. After Week 12, the Seattle Seahawks are in control of the division. They hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams and a two-game lead over the Arizona Cardinals, both of whom lost their games over the weekend.

Here are the current standings:

  1. Seattle Seahawks, 8-3
  2. Los Angeles Rams, 7-4
  3. Arizona Cardinals, 6-5
  4. San Francisco 49ers, 5-6

What happened in Week 12?


Loss to Seahawks drops Cardinals 3 spots in new power rankings

The Cardinals are 14th, while the Seahawks and the Rams are both in the top 10.

The Arizona Cardinals held the NFC West lead after Week 10 and their miraculous last-second win over the Buffalo Bills. One week later, after losing to the Seattle Seahawks, they are now third in the division and find themselves falling in new power rankings.

After climbing to No. 11 last week, Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield dropped them three spots to No. 14 overall. 

The trademark application might be in process, but the Arizona Cardinals could not count on a “Hail Murray” for the second-straight week.

Given a chance to perhaps take the lead in the NFC West on Thursday night, the Cardinals lost 28-21 to the Seattle Seahawks. They had a chance on their final offensive possession to perhaps tie the game – or even take the lead with a bold two-point conversion – but quarterback Kyler Murray was sacked on their final offensive play by Carlos Dunlap, ending the drive.

Murray completed 29 of 42 passes for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns on Thursday, but the rushing game was almost non-existent for the Cardinals. Kenyan Drake led the team with 11 carries for 29 yards and a score. That is something to watch going forward.

Also something to watch is how Arizona fares over the next few weeks. A trip to New England and a home date against the Los Angeles Rams await. This two-game stretch could go a long way toward determining how their season ends up.

The Cardinals did not look good against the Seahawks and lost 115 yards in penalties. Even still, they had a shot to tie the game in their final drive. Were it not for a mindless penalty by cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the Cardinals likely force overtime and if J.R. Sweezy doesn’t get called for holding in the end zone, giving Seattle a safety, they are in position for a game-winning field goal.

Seattle climbed four spots this week, going from 13th to ninth. The L.A. Rams moved up to No. 6 from No. 8.

The San Francisco 49ers rank 16th, while the Cardinals’ Week 12 opponent, the New England Patriots, fell seven spots from 17th to 24th.

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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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OL Alan Faneca, Steelers great and former Cardinal, passed over for Hall of Fame

Faneca was a stud for the Steelers and Jets but finished his career with the Cardinals.

The NFL announced its five new modern-era members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Former Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James made it.

One who has been a semifinalist multiple times, has not.

Guard Alan Faneca, who played his final NFL season in 2010 with the Arizona Cardinals, did not make the cut again and saw another guard — Steve Hutchinson — get the call to the Hall.

He was a finalist for the fifth time.

Cardinals fans got to see him when he was just a shell of himself, but he was perhaps the best guard of his era.

Hutchinson made it this year and he was basically his NFC counterpart.

He played from 1998-2007 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and then 2008-2009 for the New York Jets and one final season for the Cardinals. From 2001-2009, he was a Pro Bowler every year and a first-team All-Pro six times.

He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade team for the 2000s.

The fact he has been a finalist so many times means he will eventually get in. However, with each passing year, it frustrates fans.

He deserves to be in Canton. Perhaps with Hutchinson getting in, he will be next.

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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 Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 256

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Ep. 255

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