The Arizona Cardinals took a rough 34-13 hit from the Dallas Cowboys, and while some folks might have tried to cheer on Isaiah Oliver for a late-game interception, the real story for the DB was a brutal 70-yard gaffe that led straight to a Dallas score. This wasn’t just a bad play; it was a moment that perfectly summed up a tough defensive outing where some players popped, and others, well, they just couldn’t get out of their own way.
Oliver’s Interception Rollercoaster and DB Woes
Let’s talk about Oliver, because his night was a real head-scratcher. He pulled down an interception in the fourth quarter when the Cardinals were already trailing 27-13. You’d think, “Nice play!” But hold up. Earlier in the game, he let a receiver run free when Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III moved left, resulting in a crushing 70-yard completion to Camden Brown, who just about walked to the 1-yard line. Oliver did chase him down to prevent an immediate score, sure, but that play immediately set up a 1-yard touchdown run, pushing Dallas to a 21-3 lead in the second quarter. So, the “celebrated” pick? It came long after the damage was done by his own mistake. He did have two solo tackles and a pass defensed, plus a team-high 19 special teams snaps. Elsewhere in the secondary, Wydett Williams Jr. chipped in with five tackles and a solo stop on a pass reception, while Kalen King had four tackles, but he and Williams were both being evaluated for concussions after the game. Not exactly ideal. Kitan Crawford added three solo tackles and Kei’Trel Clark had two, but the overall picture here feels a bit messy.
Linebacker Fire and DL Grinders
It wasn’t all doom and gloom on defense, though. Linebacker Eku Leota was out there opening eyes all summer, and Saturday he backed it up with a sack, five tackles (four solo, two for loss), and a quarterback hit. Coach Mike LaFleur said Leota’s performance was “the most productive he was through the three preseason games.” That’s a real bright spot in what was otherwise a tough night. Inside linebacker Owen Pappoe absolutely balled out, leading the team with nine tackles (three solo) and even adding a solo special teams stop. Karson Sharar, another inside linebacker, had three tackles and delivered a big hit on the game’s opening kickoff return. On the defensive line, Damonic Williams led the group with three tackles, two of them solo, but he might still be headed for the practice squad. Darius Robinson only saw seven snaps, with Coach LaFleur explaining they “needed to get a little bit more time with him in real football.” Robinson managed one solo tackle in his limited run.
So, what’s the takeaway from this tough outing for the Cardinals? Coach LaFleur is clearly going to be all over that tape, especially after these early “preseason games.” They’ve got to sort out who’s ready for prime time and who needs more work, because that Cowboys game showed some real cracks and some serious bright spots like Leota. The evaluation continues for the Cardinals as they keep pushing forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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