Arizona Cardinals

With 4 Games Left, Cardinals Receivers Need to Step Up

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

foxsports

The Cardinals receivers need to be a factor in this late season playoff push

The 2015 Arizona Cardinals receiving core was one of the best in the league, and a key part in the Cardinals reaching the NFC Championship last season. Unfortunately, this season the receiving core hasn’t lived up to the hype besides star receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Unlike 2015, Many teams have figured out how to slow the deep threats down, and the Cardinals have not been catching the ball. With 4 games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals Receivers need to step it up.

Two big reasons the Cardinals receivers haven’t been what we are accustomed too, is John Brown’s injuries, and Michael Floyd’s dropped passes. In 2015, Brown and Floyd combined for 1,852 yards and 13 touchdowns, This season they are combined for 827 yards and 5 touchdowns. Leading Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and seemingly Carson Palmer’s only reliable option, has 880 yards and 5 touchdowns . Fitzgerald also has more receptions then every active Receiver on the Cardinals roster combined.

Sadly, Brown has been suffering pain in his leg from sickle cell trait, and also missed a chunk of training camp. He has been limited in playing time most of the season, and Bruce Arians has said he will be limited in this Sundays match up against the Dolphins. Floyd on the other hand, has remained healthy, but his biggest issue is dropping the football. Floyd has shown promise, such as in Week 10 when he caught 5 passes for 101 yards against the 49ers. Most recently, against the Redskins he had a nice touchdown catch in traffic.

Last week, in a game the Cardinals needed to stay alive, it looked like Arizona took a time machine back to 2015. Palmer threw for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, and none of them were to Fitzgerald. It was Michael Floyd who caught a touchdown in traffic, and it was J.J Nelson on a deep 42 yard touchdown pass that sealed the win. That is what the Cardinals have been missing all year. The sad part, is the receiving core might have shown up a little late this season. If the Arizona Cardinals are to make a late playoff push, hey are going to need their Receivers more than ever.