It was a Homecoming Day of sorts for the Cardinals
Wow, what a fabulous three-phase performance from the Cardinals in their wire-to-wire 29-9 victory over the Bears in the sun and rain at State Farm Stadium on what felt like a Homecoming Day.
Beast Mode Offense:
The Cardinals are leading the NFC West after 9 weeks and have wins over both the 49ers and the Rams.
Arizona’s defense created its most pressure in a game this season on the way to 6 sacks, and James Conner forced 8 missed tackles to add to his league leading total pic.twitter.com/MoVKTtlFio
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) November 4, 2024
Touchdown views brought to you by @mcbtrey pic.twitter.com/F1XUebnqXe
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 3, 2024
.@AZCardinals rookie RB Trey Benson takes the carry in for his first career NFL TD!
: #CHIvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/W9HRN9YnfN— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
What a flipping run pic.twitter.com/DR4DmRN5wQ
— Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) November 3, 2024
Trey McBride gets in on the hurdle action!
: #CHIvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/evK72WgafT— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Bear Traps:
Xavier Thomas with a CLUTCH SACK pic.twitter.com/1GrV612Lq0
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) November 3, 2024
tiger on the prowl @ClemsonFB x @atxlete pic.twitter.com/13pgKZIzc5
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 3, 2024
COWBOY COLLINS ON 4TH DOWN@ZavenCollins pic.twitter.com/255pZfngv0
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 3, 2024
Make that 3 straight games with a sack for @Dstills55 pic.twitter.com/RuWCBC9hzF
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 3, 2024
Click here to see the Cardinals’ safety:
HIGHLIGHT: Cardinals Score Two-Points Off Safety After Bears Penalty In End Zone (azcardinals.com)
Budda Baker#BirdGang pic.twitter.com/Dk6cfEA4MP
— NFL Pictures That Go Hard (@HardNFLpic) November 4, 2024
we’re soarinnn, flyinnn pic.twitter.com/Or1FaxASV0
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 4, 2024
Stellar Special Teams:
Click here to see Greg Dortch’s 27-yard punt return to set up Cardinals’ first TD:
Click here to see Chad Ryland’s 55-yard field goal:
HIGHLIGHT: Chad Ryland Connects On 55-Yard Field Goal (azcardinals.com)
Joey Blount. University of Virginia. pic.twitter.com/nrkF4Oo69U
— Jake Malasek (@jakemalasek) November 3, 2024
Our coaching staff is putting in the work to get the details right https://t.co/nIucJy5Prq
— Joanna Cards Fan (@cardsfanjoanna) November 4, 2024
NFC West Updated Standings:
The NFC West pic.twitter.com/fg3XFJ7W8t
— PFF (@PFF) November 4, 2024
The @AZCardinals now sit alone at the top of the NFC West standings pic.twitter.com/kLa4ieL4Qc
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 4, 2024
Homecoming Day:
Former Cardinal and future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt: a man of the people. pic.twitter.com/epqEjanPR7
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 3, 2024
“I texted him that he needs to come to more games.”
Arizona Cardinals OLB @ZavenCollins on former teammate @JJWatt being at the win over the Bears. @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/NvTIqOGUDd
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) November 4, 2024
Former #AZCardinals LB Markus Golden hanging out with some fans outside of the Madden Cruiser before the Bears-Cardinals game this afternoon in Glendale. @markusgolden @azfamily pic.twitter.com/fyfy9cfcb2
— Julia Lopez (@JuliaLopez3) November 3, 2024
Met the legendary Roy Green #81! ##birdgang pic.twitter.com/wZoyeTBomo
— Suz (@SuzRedSea) November 3, 2024
Win streak continues and the Fam keeps growing! #birdgang pic.twitter.com/4Hm0ElkGw4
— Suz (@SuzRedSea) November 4, 2024
Key Stats:
The Cardinals’ defense which coming into the game was last in the NFL in 3rd down conversion percentage and just about last in the league in sacks:
- Bears: 3-14 in 3rd down conversions
- Cardinals: 6 sacks for -45 yards.
Just as the Cardinals 28-27 win in Miami was a breakthrough for the Cardinals passing offense, the Cardinals 29-9 home win over the Bears was a breakthrough for the Cardinals’ defense, because to date, we have not seen Nick Rallis dial up this many blitz calls and be so consistently committed to playing sticky man coverage.
Think about this: the Cardinals’ defense had twice as many sacks than the Bears had 3rd down conversions.
Imagine what this potential defensive kind of bildungsroman, combined with the Cardinals’ beast mode attack on offense and their nifty precision on special teams —- if consistently sustained —- can mean to their chances in the NFC West.
More thoughts on tomorrow’s Red Rain Podcast: “Beast Mode O, Bear Trap D and Big-Play STs’ pave the way for Arizona’s 29-9 win over Chicago”