The Cardinals have dug themselves a hole on their way to a 4-0 start to the season.
The Dolphins hold a 13-0 lead over Arizona thanks to a strong effort on both sides of the ball in the first half. They upped their lead to 10 just after the two-minute warning when they decided to go for it on fourth down from the one-yard line and the decision paid off with a touchdown plunge by fullback Jorvorskie Lane. The score came at the end of an eight-play, 95-yard drive highlighted by a 57-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill to Brian Hartline.
That duo has connected six times for 110 yards already on the afternoon, part of a strong half for Tannehill against a defense that’s been tough to pick apart in the first three weeks of the season. Davone Bess has also found openings in the Cardinals pass defense that Miami has been able to exploit on their way to the halftime lead.
While the offense has been effective, the defense has been overwhelming. Cameron Wake has sacked Kevin Kolb three times as right tackle Bobby Massie has looked more like a turnstile than a pass blocker to this point. Sean Smith picked Kolb off just after Lane’s touchdown to set up Dan Carpenter’s second field goal of the day. The Cardinals have mustered just 68 yards on offense, a total that isn’t going to cut it without their defense playing up to the level they set during the three straight wins to open up the season.