The Arizona Cardinals came up just short once again on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Cardinals went to overtime at State Farm Stadium before losing their sixth one-possession game of the season.
Arizona has been so close in so many games this season, but hasn’t been able to put all the pieces together consistently.
What Went Wrong In the Cardinals’ Loss To the Jaguars?
Each week, there seems to be something new that goes wrong for the Cardinals, and something from the existing week that doesn’t get any better.
That trend continued on Sunday against the Jaguars as the Cardinals tied the game with a field goal to send it to overtime, but then lost on a game-winning field goal. What went wrong for the Cardinals?
1) The Offensive Line
The Cardinals’ offensive line has struggled all year long, but it put up its best performance of the season last week. Arizona’s big guys did not replicate it this week.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was sacked six times for the second time this season.
Last week, Brissett was sacked zero times, but the Cardinals have allowed at least five sacks in four of the last five games.
Arizona’s offensive line is ranked No. 22 in the NFL, according to PFSN’s Team OL Impact, and it gives up the sixth-most sacks in the league.
The Cardinals held the San Francisco 49ers without a sack last week, but they ranked last in the NFL in sack percentage, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact. The Jaguars rank second-last in that same category, but it was a much different story this week.
The Cardinals’ offensive line is dealing with multiple injuries, but that unit needs to improve if the Cardinals want to get back in the win column.
2) The Run Game
The Cardinals’ offense ranks No. 20 in the NFL, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact. However, Arizona’s rushing attempts rank 27th, and its rushing yards rank 24th.
The Cardinals’ inability to get the run game going, or to really try to get the run game going, has left all the pressure on the quarterback’s shoulders to make the Arizona offense go.
Against the Jaguars on Sunday, the Cardinals had 20 carries for 55 yards – that’s 2.75 yards per carry.
The most efficient Cardinal was pass-catching back Michael Carter, who averaged 5.6 yards on five carries.
Last week against the 49ers, Arizona had 14 carries for 36 yards, and the Cardinals had 22 carries for 74 yards, outside of one 55-yard carry, the week prior.
The Cardinals trailed immediately in both of those games, but the inability to get a run game going is holding this offense back.
3) Walter Nolen III injury
The Cardinals’ rookie has only played in four games, but he’s already made a name for himself. In a season that’s been forgotten about, Nolen gives Arizona fans a reason to watch the Cardinals each Sunday.
The rookie defensive lineman demonstrated on Sunday another reason why he’s a building block for Arizona’s future. However, he didn’t finish the game, and that leaves room for worry.
Nolen injured his knee during rookie training camp and missed the first eight weeks of the season. The 16th-overall pick made his debut against the Dallas Cowboys and showed out in prime time.
However, in the next game against the Seahawks, Nolen left with an injury. He was a limited practice participant the following week and was active against the 49ers.
Nolen played the entirety of the game and didn’t show up on the Cardinals’ injury report by the end of this week. But, he could finish Sunday’s game, leaving with another knee injury.
Arizona will have more information in the next couple of days, but the rookie’s health is paramount for the building blocks of the Cardinals’ future.
