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Arizona Cardinals: 5 Reasons They’re No Super Bowl Contender

By Ryan Phillips

Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) calls signals against the Detroit Lions during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) calls signals against the Detroit Lions during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) covers Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) covers Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The pass defense is a serious problem

The Cardinals have one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in Patrick Peterson, unfortunately they also have one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses. Through 11 weeks of football, the Cardinals rank 29th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (263.2). While the Cardinals are good at getting pressure on quarterbacks, they have only registered 18 sacks this season, that ranks 24th in the league. Opponents are also completing 62.1 percent of their passes against the Cardinals and average 7.3 yards per attempt, which aren’t great numbers either. Even Peterson has been off at times, as he leads the NFL in penalties with 10 so far this season and has been called for pass interference five times, which is second most in the league.

For a team with the league’s best record in November, those are some pretty bad stats. Can you imagine what a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers would do to a team with those number?

Another knock on the Cardinals is that they haven’t faced many great quarterbacks and have still allowed opponents to throw on them. Arizona faced Philip Rivers in Week 1 and largely contained him and faced Peyton Manning in Week 5 and got blown off the field. Tony Romo was injured and didn’t play in their Week 9 clash with Dallas and he’s really the other other top-level guy the Cardinals have had to line up against.

In the postseason the Cardinals will have to contend with the league’s best and I’m not confident they can shut a top-tier quarterback down. If they did reach the Super Bowl they could have to contend with Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Things could get ugly in that case.

The pass rush and secondary have to get much better or the Cardinals won’t last long in the postseason.

Next: They can't run the ball

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