The Arizona Cardinals blew a 21-point second-half lead on Sunday, falling to 0-2 with a 31-28 defeat to the New York Giants. They now enter an extremely tough stretch of their season winless and appearing not to have a chance at winning a game for a while.
As for the game on Sunday, what can we take away from the loss?
We discuss it below.
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After looking absolutely incompetent offensively in Week 1, the Cardinals built a 20-point lead in the first half and moved the ball well. They ran the ball well. Joshua Dobbs was competent.
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Even missing four defensive starters (Budda Baker, Josh Woods, L.J. Collier and Leki Fotu), the defense picked up where it left off last week against the Commanders. They had three first-half sacks and a takeaway. They held the Giants to only 81 first-half yards.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs (9) walks off the field after their 31-28 loss to the New York Giants at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.
Partially, the Giants woke up and began to make plays. But the Cardinals just could not sustain what they were doing. All they needed was one side of the ball to step up and make plays on one more series. Neither did.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs (9) runs in for a touchdown against the New York Giants at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.
Dobbs followed his abysmal play with a very solid performance. He was 21-for-31 for 228 yards and a touchdown. He was not sacked and did not turn the ball over. He missed a couple of throws, but maybe he isn’t as bad as some of us thought.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) during the pregame warm-up before playing the New York Giants at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.
Gardeck, who had two sacks in Week 1. added another in Week 2.
He added two tackles for loss as well.
