The Arizona Cardinals are staring down a rough 1-2-0 record right now, and get this: one of those L’s? It was a good old-fashioned beatdown by *our* Seattle Seahawks! They also dropped one to the 49ers, but honestly, that Seahawks win just hits different. Now, they’re heading into MetLife Stadium this weekend to face the 2-1-0 New York Giants, who’ve only beaten the Cowboys and Titans,teams that didn’t even sniff the playoffs last year. The Cardinals are at a real crossroads, needing this win desperately to hit 2-2-0 instead of sliding to 1-3-0 before a brutal stretch against the Lions, Rams, and Broncos.
Protect Brissett or It’s Game Over
Look, the Cardinals’ offensive line has been doing a decent job protecting Jacoby Brissett, only allowing four sacks all season, which puts them seventh in the league. That’s a huge deal because their run game is stuck in neutral, meaning the passing game is literally all they’ve got going right now, averaging 303 yards a game! They’ve *got* to keep that clean pocket for Brissett to keep slinging it. We’re talking about getting Trey McBride more targets, especially in the red zone. The dude is second in the league in receptions with 26 and third in targets with 34! Michael Wilson is right there with 31 targets too, but someone needs to figure out how to get Kendrick Bourne more involved and what in the name of the 12s is up with Marv Harrison. Their overall O-line is ranked 21st, and while pass blocking is okay, the run blocking for three of their five guys is just plain horrible. Only Paris Johnson is playing at a Pro Bowl level. Good news for them, the Giants’ pass defense is ranked 17th and is vulnerable. They’re struggling to generate pressure, and they just lost their edge rusher Brian Burns to a season-ending ACL tear. So, yeah, give Brissett time, and they might actually move the ball.
Avoid the Danger Zone
As much as Brissett needs to sling it, he also needs to be smart. The Cardinals’ passing attack, fueled by McBride and Wilson, is averaging 303 yards per game, but there’s a huge warning sign flashing bright red. Brissett absolutely has to avoid throwing into safety Jevon Holland’s area. The article cuts off before it explains why, but we all know what happens when you challenge a good safety: turnovers. And with their season on the line against a Giants team that, while not world-beaters, still has a better record, they can’t afford to give away possessions.
This game isn’t just another notch in the win-loss column for the Cardinals; it’s everything. A 2-2-0 record going into that gauntlet of Lions, Rams, and Broncos? That’s a fighting chance. A 1-3-0 record? That’s a death sentence for their early season hopes. They’ve already seen what a playoff-caliber team like *our* Seahawks can do to them. Now, it’s about whether they can apply those lessons and pull out a much-needed win against the Giants. Let’s see if they can actually get it done.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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