Arizona Cardinals (3-4) – Los Angeles Chargers (3-3): 17-15
One team won this Monday by gaining 181 yards on the ground and being slightly more efficient than the other. Except this time, it was the Chargers who took the role of the victim. The Cardinals used the usual Los Angeles ingredients to snatch the victory at the last second.
Trailing by one point (14-15) when they recovered the ball with a little less than two minutes to play, the Arizona players progressed thanks to a penalty for brutality and a 33-yard run from James Conner. Enough to put Chad Ryland in position for the winning kick from 32 yards (17-15).
In addition to their inability to run and stop the running game, the Chargers pay for their lack of efficiency on the opposing field. They only reached the red zone once and did not score a single touchdown. They had to settle for five field goals from Cameron Dicker. Far too little.
The Chargers too clumsy
If the Cardinals have nothing to be ashamed of, they can still thank the Chargers who, from the start, did not seem to want to get their hands on the game. From the first possession, a deflected pass from Kyler Murray (14/26, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) is intercepted by lineman Teair Tait… immediately dispossessed of the ball by James Conner (19 races, 101 yards). A few moments later, on their first offensive ball, the Los Angeles players alternated again between hot and cold. Justin Herbert (27/39, 349 yards) finds Jaelen Reagor on 41 yards, but the receiver drops the ball just in front of the end zone! Touchback…
In the middle of this festival of clumsiness, it is Murray who finds the fault with a pass for Greg Dortch. And Arizona leads 7 to 6 at the break.
The Cardinals on a roll
Upon returning from the locker room, a pattern is put in place: the Chargers live on the foot of their kicker, while the Cardinals make a few shots. The best is a 44-yard run by Kyler Murray for a touchdown! Arizona takes a little breath (14-9), but Cameron Dicker scores twice to put Los Angeles back in front (14-15) with 1mn54.
A penalty and a big run from Conner ended up being enough to put Ryland in position to win, and the kicker didn't shake. The Cardinals have a third victory, with courage, but with a little help from the far too ineffective Chargers. Herbert and his attack have gained yards (395), the quarterback seems more comfortable as the weeks go by, but now we have to conclude.
