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5 Takeaways From Arizona Cardinals’ Week 16 Loss

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5 Takeaways From Arizona Cardinals’ Week 16 Loss

Bruce Arians
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The playoffs can’t come quickly enough for the Arizona Cardinals. Where some NFC teams like the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks are making their surge to the postseason, the Cardinals are quite literally limping in. The health of their team is just one issue observed in this week’s takeaways.

5. Darren Fells Is Evolving Into A Secret Weapon

Darren Fells
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

5. Darren Fells Is Evolving Into A Secret Weapon

Darren Fells
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona tight end has typically spent most of the season as a run blocker, but his gradual emergence as a pass catcher is refreshing. Sunday's stats are deceiving, as he only had two catches for 26 yards, but he is starting to look like a more well-rounded athlete with every snap. The Cardinals will need that malleability come playoff time, when their starting quarterback, whoever it may be, will need all the help he can get.

4. The Defense Is Still Excellent

Larry Foote, Russell Wilson
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Defense Is Still Excellent

Larry Foote, Russell Wilson
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In another case of stats not telling the whole story, Arizona’s defense really did come to play. During most of the first half, when the bulk of Arizona’s offense consisted of Seattle penalties, the D kept the game winnable. As Ryan Lindley’s faults became more apparent and field position started to dwindle, the blitz-heavy defense could only do so much. Expect a far more spirited performance from a very proud group next week.

3. What Home-Field Advantage?

Arizona Cardinals
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

3. What Home-Field Advantage?

Arizona Cardinals
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

What should have been a raucous and intimidating atmosphere at the University of Phoenix Stadium felt more like a 50-50 split between Cards and ‘Hawks fans. It wasn’t hard to hear the audible cheers whenever Seattle’s defense came up big. Should the Cardinals make it to the big game and secure the first-ever home Super Bowl in NFL history, don’t be surprised to see legions of Patriots, Broncos or Steelers fans crashing the party.

2. Kurt Warner Made The Right Call

Kurt Warner
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. Kurt Warner Made The Right Call

Kurt Warner
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Of all the hype trains chugging through the NFL this season, no story charged and crashed quite like Kurt Warner’s potential return. Not many people genuinely believed the 43-year-old quarterback’s claims of contemplation, and after Sunday, it appears that he’d be better off staying at home and patiently waiting for a call from Canton. Even a prime Warner would’ve struggled to keep this one close against a Legion of Boom out for blood.

1. If Drew Stanton Is Healthy, He Must Start

Drew Stanton
Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

1. If Drew Stanton Is Healthy, He Must Start

Drew Stanton
Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

Some are already saying that Bruce Arians should rest Stanton next week to prepare for the wild card round. If that’s the mindset inside Cardinals HQ, they might as well turn in their playoff pass tomorrow. Yes, the Seahawks have great odds to clinch the division at home against the Rams, but until that clock hits triple zeroes, Arizona must play for a first-round bye. “Healthy enough” is “good enough.”

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