As the football saying goes, building a great teams starts in the trenches. And the Cardinals witnessed first hand what a dominant defensive line and a lackluster one can do for the overall effectiveness of the defense.
Last offseason, the Arizona Cardinals invested heavily in star defensive end J.J. Watt, with a two-year $31 million contract, and he rewarded the team with consistent pass rush that resulted in a hot 7-0 start.
Unfortunately in the Week 7 win over the Houston Texans, Watt tore his labrum, his bicep, and his rotator cuff that forced him to miss the remainder of the regular season.