National Football League

The Cardinals' playoff hopes rest with the defense

Published Dec. 5, 2014 4:06 p.m. ET

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- We can critique quarterback Drew Stanton's performance over the past three weeks. We can assign percentages of blame for the rushing attack's season-long inadequacies to the running backs and the interior of the offensive line. We can even question some of the play calling the past couple of weeks because Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has done so.

But here is the bottom line: If the Cardinals hope to hold onto the No. 1 seed in the NFC, a home game in the first round of the playoffs, or even a playoff berth, the defense must provide the grip. 

Arizona's offense never was elite this season, but without starting quarterback Carson Palmer (ACL, IR) for the rest of the year, and without running back Andre Ellington (hip pointer) and right guard Paul Fanaika (ankle sprain) for at least this week, the offense won't ride to the rescue.

"We look at every week like the game is on our shoulders anyway," safety Rashad Johnson said of Sunday's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs. "This game will be no different." 

It may be unfair to expect the defense to carry the weight when, until recently, it had suffered the lion's share of personnel losses -- the latest hit being Tyrann Mathieu, who will miss at least two weeks with a thumb fracture.

But the unit welcomes back edge-setter Matt Shaughnessy this week and it has already proven that it has the depth to sustain such losses. Until last week, it played at an elite level. Then it allowed 142 rushing yards, 500 total yards and 29 points to the 4-7 Atlanta Falcons.

"A bad day at the office," defensive coordinator Todd Bowles said. "Any time you lose you're embarrassed, but we didn't play well. We had energy, we just didn't play smart and we didn't coach smart."

Of particular concern for the Cardinals is the run defense the past three weeks. After flirting with the top ranking all season, Arizona slipped to No. 6 because it has allowed 364 combined yards to Seattle, Atlanta and Detroit.

CHIEFS (7-5) at CARDINALS (9-3)

When: 2:05 p.m. Sunday
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
TV: CBS (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Evan Washburn) 

INJURY REPORT

Cardinals: S Tyrann Mathieu (thumb), RB Andre Ellington (hip pointer), RG Paul Fanaika (ankle sprain) and DT Ed Stinson (toe/groin) are out. LT Jared Veldheer (ankle sprain), WR Larry Fitzgerald (MCL sprain) and LB Larry Foote (foot) are questionable. LB Lorenzo Alexander (knee) and LB Kenny Demens (hamstring) are probable.

Chiefs: DE Andre Bailey (concussion) and WR Junior Hemingway (concussion) are out. G Mike McGlynn (quad), WR Donnie Avery (groin), TE Anthony Fasano (knee), LB Tamba Hali (knee), RB Jamaal Charles (knee), P Dustin Colquitt (right calf), CB Jamell Fleming (hamstring), LB Dee Ford (quad), LB James-Michael Johnson (back/knee), LB Josh Mauga (back), LB Joe Mays (knee), CB Chris Owens (knee) and CB Sean Smith (groin) are probable.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

To be blunt, perhaps the playoffs. The Cardinals already lost two straight and they play extremely tough road games at St. Louis (short week) and San Francisco, sandwiched around a home game against the surging Seattle Seahawks the next three weeks. With a loss and a Seattle win on Sunday, the Cardinals could drop from the No. 1 seed to the No. 5 seed in the NFC with only tiebreakers keeping them ahead of Dallas and Detroit (if the Lions beat Tampa Bay).

OUTLOOK

The Chiefs struggle to score points, averaging 19.25 in their last four road games. That's good news for the Cardinals, who have the same issues of late. With a defensive rebound from last week's debacle in Atlanta, the Cardinals can quiet the local nerves for a week.

PREDICTION

Arizona 17, Kansas City 16

Kansas City boasts the NFL's seventh-ranked rushing attack at 129.1 yards per game and the Chiefs average 4.6 yards a carry (tied for fifth). Running back Jamaal Charles is ninth in the NFL in rushing yards (807) despite being limited by injuries earlier this season. Charles averages five yards a carry.

"They've got arguably the best running back in the game," Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell said. "We have to get our hands on him and take him down. We just have to execute our game plan and come out with some fire; make sure we get this W."

There is external concern that all those injuries along the defensive front are finally taking their toll on the Cardinals. There is also concern that opposing offenses are discovering some weaknesses in the defense. 

But inside the Cardinals locker room, there is no shortage of confidence in their ability to regain their swagger.

"We still believe in each other. We just have to make sure we correct our mistakes," nose tackle Dan Williams said. "These last two losses were mishaps. They're not a sign of the new Cardinals. We have to get back to our identity this week and we are anxious to get back out there."

While coach Bruce Arians said the Cardinals want to remove the bad taste from their mouths of that loss in Atlanta, the defense has already moved on. 

"Y'all want to talk about last week but I don't really read yesterday's newspaper," linebacker Larry Foote said. "This week, we want to play our best game. I know this week, we're going to be ready to play against the Chiefs."

Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles: Kansas City's offense is predicated on getting Charles going. He is ninth in the NFL in rushing yards (807) despite far fewer carries than the players around him due to injuries earlier in the season. Charles averages five yards per carry, which is tied for the second-best average among the league's top 20 running backs. The Cardinals run defense has been porous the past three weeks, allowing 364 combined yards to Seattle, Atlanta and Detroit.

The Cardinals secondary: Kansas City has not thrown a TD pass to a wide receiver this season. The Chiefs have just 29 pass plays of 20 or more yards (28th in the NFL) and no plays of 40 or more yards (last in the NFL). The Chiefs like to throw a lot of screens and QB Alex Smith gets rid of the ball quickly, but as safety Rashad Johnson noted, Kansas City's deep threat, Donnie Avery, is mostly healthy and the Chiefs took a deep shot early in the game against Denver last week. The Cardinals' secondary can't get caught napping by continually creeping too close to the line of scrimmage. 

Cardinals running backs: The Chiefs run defense has been poor, but the same was true of Atlanta last week and it didn't matter for the Cardinals' anemic run game. With running back Andre Ellington out, Marion Grice still mastering the offense and Michael Bush released on Friday, how much can the Cards realistically expect from their rushing attack? Stepfan Taylor will get the start but Grice could still see the most touches. The Cardinals also elevated Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad.

QUICK FACTS 

-- Arizona did not allow a sack last week against the Falcons. It marked the fourth time in 12 games this season the Cards have not allowed a sack. Prior to this season, the Cardinals had allowed at least one sack in 51 straight games dating to 2010. 

-- The Cardinals are 15-4 against teams outside the NFC West in coach Bruce Arians' tenure, including a perfect 9-0 mark at home in that span. 

-- Chiefs RB Anthony Sherman played 28 games for the Cardinals from 2011-12. He was a fifth-round pick in 2011.

NFL CHEERLEADERS: WEEK 13 >>

-- Chiefs DB Jamell Fleming played 15 games for in 2012. He was a third round pick. 

-- Cardinals S Tony Jefferson played with Fleming and Chiefs OL Donald Stephenson at Oklahoma from 2010-11. 

-- Chiefs coach Andy Reid was the offensive line coach at Northern Arizona in 1986. 

-- Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles (2012) and LBs coach Mike Caldwell (2008-12) were assistants under Reid when he was the Eagles coach.

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