TEMPE – The Arizona Cardinals can do something they haven’t almost three years to the date in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins:
Win back-to-back games.
Dating back to October 2021, the Cardinals have not been able to string together consecutive victories. The chances at achieving the feat have been few and far between given Arizona’s struggles the past three seasons.
But against a Dolphins squad that’s struggled seven weeks in, the prospects look as good as ever for the Cardinals to finally start stacking successful performances under head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Or is it all just fool’s gold?
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At a glance, Miami is sitting at 2-5 and has been dreadful offensively behind a league-worst 11.7 points per game. The Dolphins are averaging just 179.5 yards through the air and have put up 20 points just once this season.
A meteoric reason for that has been the absence of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has been sidelined since Week 3 due to a concussion.
Now cleared from concussion protocol, Tagovailoa’s return in Week 8 provides Miami with an immediate boost on the one side of the ball its need it most.
Leading the league in passing yards with 4,624 to go along with 29 touchdowns to 14 interceptions on 69.3% throwing just a year ago, Tagovailoa was a main figurehead in an offense concocted by head coach Mike McDaniel that ended up pacing the NFL.
“(He’s a) really good processor, very accurate,” Gannon said Wednesday. “Ball comes out of his hand extremely fast, on time and accurate.
“He knows where to go with the ball. You can’t confuse him. He does a really good job. He’s a premium player.”
And if there’s anyone that benefits more from Tagovailoa’s return, it’s star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The reigning receiving leader has been pedestrian at best with Tagovailoa sidelined, catching 14 balls (24 targets) for 140 yards and no touchdowns across the past four games.
With Tagovailoa back in the mix, Hill returns into the 13-touchdown, 1,799-yard tier he reached last year.
For a Cardinals defense down even more starters with Dennis Gardeck (torn ACL), Sean Murphy-Bunting (neck) and Roy Lopez (ankle) sidelined, it’s going to take a village to keep Tagovailoa and Hill in check for four quarters.
Arizona Cardinals CB Max Melton, LB Owen Pappoe and OL Kelvin Beachum were all participating during the open portion of practice on Friday. pic.twitter.com/pt7FyEGNmn
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 25, 2024
One name to watch as Arizona works on limiting the pair is rookie Max Melton. With Murphy-Bunting out, the second-round pick is expected to see even more playing time alongside Starling Thomas V and Garrett Williams.
Sometimes, though, a good defense is a methodical offense.
It’s ultimately up to Arizona’s defenders to keep Miami’s offense at bay. That’s not to say the Cardinals offense can’t lend a hand in the time-of-possession battle.
Limit the amount of time the football is in Tagovailoa’s hands, limit the amount of chances he gets to beat you.
And the best way to do that offensively just so happens to be a primary weak point for the Miami defense.
While the Dolphins are tops in the league allowing 154.5 yards per game, the run defense has been beaten up behind nine touchdowns allowed. That’s tied for the third most in the NFL.
That should have James Conner and Arizona’s top 10 run offense salivating at the mouth.
Despite continued offensive line shuffling due to injury, Conner went to town on the Los Angeles Chargers last week to the tune of 101 yards on 19 carries. He also caught a pair of passes, one of which that set up the Cardinals up for the win late, for 51 yards.
That kind of performance — plus an end zone trip or two — must show up in Miami.
Getting a similar showing from quarterback Kyler Murray, who ripped off 64 yards and a score on six rushing attempts last week, wouldn’t hurt, either.