Cardinals waste strong defensive showing in loss to Vikings

The Arizona Cardinals defense did all it could in Sunday’s 23-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Setting the tone early, the unit kept the Vikings offense at bay throughout most of the matchup behind five sacks, six tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Mack Wilson Sr. and L.J. Collier led the charge with two sacks apiece, while safety Budda Baker was again flying all over the field as Arizona’s heat-seeking missile.

It also saw rookie Darius Robinson make his long-awaited NFL debut.

But for all the good the defense put on tape, Cardinals fans left Sunday’s showing wanting more from an offense that has been anything but consistent in recent weeks.

Much like it was in last Sunday’s loss, the offense just couldn’t get out of its own way, especially early on.

Despite being the least penalized offense in the NFL heading into the Week 13 game, it looked anything but behind nine penalties. Five of those came in the first half alone.

Those miscues played key roles in limiting Arizona’s scoring.

After a gift from the defense in the form of an Aaron Jones fumble, the offense was sitting pretty on Minnesota’s 19-yard line. Then came the penalties. Tight end Tip Reiman logged his second false start of the day on the first play of the drive.

But it was the illegal man downfield penalty on center Hjalte Froholdt and a holding call on rookie Isaiah Adams that really derailed the promising drive.

Instead of finding the end zone for the first time all afternoon, Arizona had to settle for a chip shot field goal by Chad Ryland.

Speaking of Ryland, he continues to search for the consistency he had in recent weeks after missing his second field goal in as many games.

Still, he accounted for 12 of the team’s points before quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. linked up for Arizona’s first touchdown since Week 10.

The end-zone trip didn’t open up the flood gates for the offense, though, with Murray throwing an ugly interception the very next drive.

The Vikings took advantage of the turnover behind a four-yard touchdown catch by tight end Johnny Mundt.

The defense’s early success couldn’t translate when the team needed it most, though.

Following a Ryland field goal to make it 22-16, Arizona’s defense was carved up by quarterback Sam Darnold and Co. behind an eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive capped off by a five-yard Aaron Jones touchdown catch.

Murray’s interception on the final drive of the afternoon marked the final nail in Arizona’s coffin.

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