FROM THE BRINK
After rough start for offense, Cardinals nab an OT victory
“We never say we’re sorry for winning,” coach Bruce Arians said. “We can play a hell of a lot better, I hope.” Over the next few months ● we’ll find out if what happened with just a little more than eight minutes remaining in the game against the Colts is when the season pivoted for the Cardinals, or if it was just an example of why it pays to not shut the television off when things look hopeless. At the end of it ● all, the Cardinals emerged with a 16-13 victory in overtime, a 1-1 record and hope.
INDIANAPOLIS – All offseason, the Cardinals vowed to start this season more successfully than last, but by noon on the second Sunday of the season, that goal seemed laughable.
The Cardinals trailed the Colts 13-3 and had just lost 10 yards on two plays to face third down and 20 at their 18 with just a little more than eight minutes remaining in the game.
At that point, quarterback Carson Palmer had completed less than half his passes and been sacked four times.
Over the next few months we’ll find out if what happened in the
hour that followed is when the season pivoted for the Cardinals, or if it was just an example of why it pays to not shut the television off when things look hopeless for your team.
At the end of it all, the Cardinals emerged with a 16-13 victory in overtime, a 1-1 record and hope for the season.
“We never say we’re sorry for winning,” coach Bruce Arians said. “We can play a hell of a lot better, I hope.”
After the Colts scored on their opening possession, the Cardinals defense played well the rest of the game. The offense, however, stunk like Phoenix garbage cans in July.
Until the 8:14 mark of the fourth quarter.
That’s when Palmer found receiver Jaron Brown 22 yards downfield on that third and 20. Colts outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard was called for roughing the passer, so the one play netted the Cardinals 37 yards.
There aren’t many plays for third and 20 on a coach’s call sheet, and Brown viewed his job as a simple one. “Gain 20 yards,” he said smiling. On the next play, Palmer saw receiver J.J. Nelson run a post pattern and split the Colts’ safeties. The ball was on target and Nelson made the touchdown catch in traffic. Suddenly, the Cardinals trailed by only three, and the mood at Lucas Oil Stadium turned somber.
The Cardinals made a bunch of important plays after that point, but the game turned on those completions to Brown and Nelson.
“Not an ideal situation to be in, obviously,” Palmer said, “especially the way they were playing us. They (the Colts defense) were sitting back a lot, sitting at the first-down yard marker at lot. That’s Jaron making a great play.”
Nelson’s touchdown was his sixth in his past seven games and his second this season. The Cardinals are desperate for the production, giving receiver John Brown’s lingering health problems.
“He’s one of those guys, the lights come on and he’s right where you need him to be,” Palmer said.
Teammates have to see Nelson there, because he’s never going to announce his location. Nelson, a fifth-round pick in 2015, doesn’t say much, even after teammates such as Larry Fitzgerald tease him about not speaking up.
“They get on me every day about not talking,” Nelson said. “I let my play do the talking, for the most part. I’ve been that way since I was little.”
Fitzgerald played a secondary role on Sunday, while Nelson finished with 120 yards and Jaron Brown gained 73. After the game, Fitzgerald happily described his teammates’ catches and personalities.
Nelson, Fitzgerald said, “has never been given a chance. They said he was too small to go to college. They said he was too small to play in the National Football League, so he’s always had to overcome obstacles.”
Nelson weighs only 160 pounds and his legs are as thin as coffee stirrers, so believing he was too small to play in the NFL wasn’t a stretch.
“If you were ever to train with him to see how fast and how explosive he is or watch him play basketball,” Fitzgerald said. “He can do windmill dunks. He’s an unbelievable athlete. Don’t take him lightly.”
Despite Nelson’s performance, the Cardinals offense has sputtered through two games. Five starters, including running back David Johnson, missed the Colts game with injuries. And while Palmer was better than he was a week ago, he was not sharp.
The Cardinals’ hope is that the final minutes of Sunday’s game will be a launch point. Starting with that pass to Brown, Palmer completed four of five passes for 126 yards, helping the Cardinals add a tying field goal.
The defense stopped the Colts time and again, which allowed the Cardinals to survive Phil Dawson missing a 42yard field goal at the end of regulation.
The Colts won the toss before overtime, and on the first play, safety Tyrann Mathieu stepped in front of receiver Kamar Aiken to intercept a pass from Jacoby Brissett.
“I think he took it out of my hands,” linebacker Karlos Dansby said. “I felt the ball hit my hands and I just saw a blur just run by and I was like, ‘oh, s--t.’ There was Ty running with the ball.”
After three plays, Dawson made the 30-yard field goal to win the game.
The Cardinals have a lot of problems to solve before they play Dallas on Monday night. But they are 1-1 and weren’t inclined to dwell on how fortunate they are not to be 0-2.
“We can’t even think about that,” Dansby said. “We’re 1-1 and going to Monday night. We’re looking forward to this, it’s going to be a great one.”