Once pass-happy Cardinals turn to running game

Palmer’s 9.2 yards per completion against NY marked the first time this season Palmer has been held under 10 yards per completion, but it didn’t make a difference in the outcome or in Arizona’s overall offensive success.

The big-play passing offense that propelled them to a 13-3 record a year ago is giving way to a ground game centered on dynamic running back David Johnson.

Just to be clear, I know that Marshall didn’t score once all game, and that’s all you can really ask for in a win. He’s a heck of a player and I always say, “You’ve got to feed the monster” because when you put the ball in his hands, good things are going to happen. He doesn’t know how many people he blocked on the play.

In his one drive, Smith managed to start off nicely with a few completions and a first down.

First up is a Sunday night home game against the Seahawks, who at 5-1 are two games up on the Cardinals.

So while the Cardinals are not in great shape by any means, they are still in the running, and with 10 games left in the regular season still have a chance to be special. One shoved it down the Jets’ throat.

The decision proved costly for NY (albeit not as costly as any of its offensive play-calling), as Palmer dissected the man coverage throughout the night and got the ball out of his hands quickly.

Floyd has the distinction of appearing in both the Good and Bad sections. And the last two weeks, the Cardinals have done exactly that.

“We’ve always wanted to run it”, Arians said after practice Wednesday.

Bowles acknowledged that his coaching staff will remain unchanged for now. “Better focus for 60 minutes”.

“Last night, offensively, we overcame a couple of those. It’s always what they give us”.

Skrine was trying to play physical coverage, but that proved impossible with how the game was being officiated. The Browns said the 25-year-old Poyer, in his fourth season with the team, will return to Cleveland.

“They’re not finished, but they don’t look bright, that’s for sure”, Bowles said.

All wins count the same, and the Cardinals could not get above.500 without reaching the mark first.

The Jets can change quarterbacks if they want, and actually a strong argument can be made to do so. There is so much football left and there are so many big games coming up, starting next week, next Sunday night. “But we really haven’t changed our philosophy at all”. That’s Coach Arians’ motto. You’ve got to take your shots. Smith hasn’t done well and motivation isn’t enough, while Petty hasn’t impressed anyone off the camera, and the same can be said for Hackenberg, who wasn’t very good in college over the last two seasons. The hotter his engine got Monday night, the more the Jets committed to stopping him, which led to more short passes for the Cardinals.

Next up is a Seattle defense that’s one of the NFL’s best, especially against the run. He has been absolutely dominant this season, and against the Jets touted D-line, DJ had the game of his career.

Through the first six games, Fitzpatrick has now thrown a league-leading 11 interceptions, compared to just five touchdowns. Later in the game, the team obviously instructed him to play off instead and he gave up three consecutive identical plays where the receiver stopped and caught a back shoulder throw. “We’ve just got to figure it out, and we’ve got to figure it out fast”. I thought we had our intermediate game extremely well tonight.

“Just continue to pound the rock”, he said.