Looking a little too much like 2019 again

No signs of opening-week performance in evidence

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ron Rivera stood at the 27-yard line, his arms folded as he stoically watched the Arizona Cardinals pad their victory.

Deep in their own territory, the Cardinals ran a reverse on a fourth-and-1, with their backup at quarterback no less, and converted. The play was a statement of sorts, a why-not call by a team sitting on a 20-point lead — in the third quarter.

Yet Rivera watched, his arms still folded, as his assistants stood nearby, barking out instructions that often seemed to go unheeded.

There was little Rivera could say as the Washington Football Team, only a week removed from its thrilling comeback victory to open the season, turned in a disastrous offensive showing to fail its first road test and lose 30-15 at Arizona.

Passes were wildly off target for much of the game, defensive coverages were busted, the offensive line was often a sieve, a punt return was fumbled and many of the same self-inflicted wounds that derailed Washington’s recent seasons resurfaced.

Washington’s inattention to the details Rivera stressed throughout training camp were only magnified by the ease with which Kyler Murray, the reigning rookie of the year, picked apart its defense. The dual-threat quarterback finished 26 of 38 in passing and totaled 353 scrimmage yards with three touchdowns, two of which were rushing scores.

Washington’s second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins struggled to replicate any similar production for much of the first half. The team had seven negative plays in that span, for a total of16 in their first six quarters of play to that point in the season, though Haskins finished 19 of 33 for 223 yards and a touchdown pass.

And to his credit, Haskins didn’t throw a single interception in his fourth consecutive game.

After Washington opened with a three-and-out — again — Arizona responded with a 10-play, 48-yard drive capped by a touchdown pass from Murray to veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins ran a post route into the middle of the end zone, past Fabian Moreau and behind Landon Collins, who lifted his arms in frustration over the coverage breakdown.

Collins redeemed himself with an interception on Arizona’s subsequent possession. But unlike Week 1, when Washington’s defensive takeaways led to points, the offense came up empty.

In striking distance at Arizona’s 9yard line, Haskins was strip-sacked by Cardinals defensive end Jordan Phillips as he pulled back to throw, and Arizona recovered the fumble.

Washington’s defense tried once more to give its offense a chance, with a sack on Murray and a forced three-and-out, but Steven Sims Jr. fumbled a punt return and the Cardinals were suddenly back in position to score.

Arizona would extend its lead with a pair of field goals in the second quarter, while Washington oddly decided to settle for a field goal after marching all the way back to Arizona’s 6-yard line.

Washington’s starting right guard Brandon Scherff went down with a knee injury in the final minute of the first half. Scherff was helped to the locker room with a trainer and was ruled out for the rest of the game.