Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 2, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Mark Barron (26) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Rams won 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals did make some improvements Sunday but not enough to right the ship

The Arizona Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday 17-13.  The Cardinals did outgain the Rams on offense.  Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said after the game that the mental errors the team had been making were not present on Sunday.

That being said, too many turnovers and mistakes once again cost the Cardinals a chance at a victory.  Before too long they will be too many to overcome.  The season is now a quarter of the way over.

At 1-3 the Cardinals now face a two-game hole in the NFC West.  They can’t afford to allow it get any deeper as they now prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.

The Cardinals also have injuries to deal with.  That is never a good thing but those are things that can not be controlled.  What can be controlled are the things included in this week’s good, bad, and ugly.

The game was not nearly as ugly as last Sunday in Buffalo but it still wasn’t pretty.  The game also ended in another loss.  There are still a number of issues that need to be worked on.

Oct 2, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Rams won 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The good

Per usual, the good comes first.  There were a couple of really good things that happened for the Cardinals on Sunday.

First, receiver John Brown.  Welcome back Smokey.  He had 10 receptions for 144 yards.  He was making a lot of timely and important catches.  He was targeted 16 times on Sunday.

Then there is running back David Johnson.  He did man’s work again.  He carried the ball 17 times for 83 yards.  He also caught four passes for 41 yards.  He ran hard.  He did fumble the ball but it was on a really great play by Rams defensive tackle Dominique Easley.  He punched the ball out with Johnson having both hands on the ball.

Before he went out with injury, running back Chris Johnson ran well.  He carried the ball six times for 34 yards.

The defense held Rams running back Todd Gurley to just 33 yards on 19 carries.  He was not a factor.  The Cardinals did a good job preparing for him.  This was a definite improvement over their effort against him last season.

Oct 2, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Rams won 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The bad

Patrick Peterson did make a nice play to knock down a potential touchdown pass to Rams tight end Brian Quick.  However his holding penalty negated a third down stop earlier that in the end resulted in a Quick 65-yard touchdown reception afterwards.

Backup quarterback Drew Stanton once again failed in his audition to replace Carson Palmer someday.  He came in for the injured Palmer in the fourth quarter.  He went just 4-11 for 34 yards and two interceptions.  He actually threw three interceptions but one was ruled caught out of bounds.

The Cardinals are likely going to need to go with Stanton on Thursday night.  He is not the post-Palmer answer once he retires.  Stanton played well in 2014 but did not look good in preseason and did not look good in relief today trying to rally for a comeback.

Receiver Michael Floyd did catch a touchdown but he dropped passes early once again that were very catchable.  He needs to show consistency.  The Cardinals need to be able to rely on more than just Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown.

Oct 2, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) recovers a fumble as defensive end Ed Stinson (91), Los Angeles Rams tight end Lance Kendricks (88) and offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) defend during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The ugly

Turnovers.  The Cardinals went the first two weeks of the season without any.  They were a plus-seven on the turnover margin.  Then they turned the ball over five times last week and five times on Sunday against the Rams.  They only had two takeaways in those two games.

They are now a minus-one this season after going minus-eight over the last two games.  That will not win any games no matter who you are.  It is amazing despite the turnovers they still had a shot at the end on Sunday.

The other ugly part of the loss to the Rams on Sunday were the injuries.  The Cardinals seemed to be dropping left and right.  While tight end Darren Fells appears as if he will be fine for this week at the 49ers, the jury is out on quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Chris Johnson, and safety Tyvon Branch.  More to come on those players this week.

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