The Cardinals defense wasn’t ruing David Johnson for fumbling the opening kickoff in Sunday’s loss to the Rams. It was hoping to bail him out.
It’s been a common theme to see the defense step up in short-field situations under coach Bruce Arians. Against Chicago in Week 2, twice the Bears started drives inside the Arizona 25, and twice the Cardinals held them to field goals.
The first two plays worked as planned against the Rams -- they had a third-and-5 after starting their drive at the Arizona
17 -- but that’s when the defense buckled.