‘Awful’ field angers Cards, Lions players

The Cardinals survived the conditions in Green Bay, only to return home to an open roof and rough sledding. The Detroit Lions got an ugly 17-3 win on Sunday, and it came on an ugly field.

“That was actually very surprising,” running back David Johnson said. “We didn’t even think about it being that slippery. Right after I slipped, I had to change my cleats. I think it threw a lot of guys off how slippery it was, but that’s no excuse. In the NFL, we have equipment for that, and I was glad I was able to change.”

Johnson swapped his shoes for bigger ones, with longer spikes. He wasn’t alone. A number of players switched their cleats mid-game.

“The field was awful,” Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson said. “I don’t understand how we got an indoor (stadium) and the field is terrible. The field was awful. It’s not an every play thing, we just had to adjust to it by getting longer (cleat) studs.”

Both head coaches were asked about the field conditions. Steve Wilks and Matt Patricia were each quick to point out that it didn’t matter, since both teams were on equal footing.

But Detroit got tripped up a little more, with a number of players leaving to be evaluated for injuries. In all, eight Lions players left the game and did not return.

Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche also left the game with a knee injury, but Wilks said he anticipates that Nkemdiche will be fine.

The field is typically replaced ahead of the Fiesta Bowl, so there were already plans to swap it out ahead of Sunday’s slippery contest. The field will be removed on Monday and resod completely by the end of the week. It will be fresh for the Cardinals’ final home game of the season: A week 16 bout with the Rams.

Darius slays Cardinals

There’s a lot to be said for experience and Lions cornerback Darius Slay, a sixyear veteran, got the best of Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen late in the third quarter on what turned out to be the biggest play of Sunday’s game.

Slay waited coyly while covering Cardinals rookie receiver Trent Sherfield as Rosen dropped back to pass on a third-and-14 play from the Detroit 44. He then jumped the route as Sherfield broke for the sideline, picked off the pass, and returned the interceptions 67 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 Detroit lead.

“I baited it. I knew it was coming,” Slay said. “I knew it before the play ever happened. The only thing I was concerned about was if I was going to score with it. I knew it was coming and I just made a play on it. It felt freaking awesome. I loved it.”

Rosen said he will learn from the experience.

“He just made a real good play,” he said of Slay. “He’s a veteran. That’s maybe why I’ll go away from him next time.”

Barksdale gets first start with new team

Going into the game, the Cardinals knew they would have their ninth different starting offensive line no matter what. It still ended up being a little different than initially projected.

Earlier in the week, Wilks had anticipated starting Will Holden at right tackle. Holden was a 2017 draft pick who started five games for the Cardinals last season. He was released by the team after the preseason and resigned in late November.

On Sunday, Wilks went with eightyear veteran Joe Barksdale, whom they signed on Wednesday.

Peterson returns to returns

With Christian Kirk out for the season, the Cardinals had to make adjustments on offense and special teams.

Cornerback Patrick Peterson stepped up on punt returns, a role he’s held in the past. On five returns, Peterson gained 26 yards.

Peterson has gotten reps as a puntreturn specialist every year except 2014.

His first season was also his best: His four career punt-return touchdowns all came his rookie year.