NFL Roundtable: Can Cardinals change course after latest collapse?

Each week we sit down with TwinSpires columnists Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Scott Shapiro to discuss the latest news from around the NFL. Today they weigh in on the league's COVID crisis, the reeling Cardinals, and the Coach of the Year race.

COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the league during Week 15. Is the NFL doing enough to protect its players and personnel?

Ashley: In light of last week’s major COVID-19 outbreak across the league, the NFL has begun to reinstate some key guidelines from 2020, such as mandatory mask-wearing inside team facilities. However, to avoid reshuffling the schedule, as was necessary in Week 15, I think the NFL should listen to the request of the players’ union and implement daily testing. The NBA and NHL are temporarily requiring daily testing, regardless of vaccination status, due to the surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant, and the NFL should follow suit. With the playoffs set to kick off on Jan. 15, the league needs to enforce stricter guidelines to preserve the integrity of the game and prevent teams from having to play shorthanded as they fight for playoff seeding in the final stretch of the season.

James: I'm not the right person to answer the question. Keeping track of COVID-19 developments is essential for wagering and entertainment purposes, but it’s strictly from a personnel perspective – I want to know whether Chicago will be forced to replace both starting offensive tackles this week due to virus protocols. I’m not keeping tabs on what the NFL is doing to protect its players, coaches and staff.

Scott: I lack the medical knowledge to have a strong opinion on this topic with so many differing thoughts on COVID-19 in its current state. However, what is clear to me is that the NFL cares more about making money than the well-being of its players. If the league is largely vaccinated (which is what has been reported), then the chances of things going terribly wrong with the current protocols is somewhat limited. Regardless though, the fact that they had to modify the protocols to accommodate the Week 15 slate says a lot.

Arizona has lost two straight after getting thoroughly outplayed by Detroit on Sunday. What worries you most about the Cardinals?

Ashley: DeAndre Hopkins’ injury issues have certainly hurt the Cardinals offense and made life tougher for Kyler Murray, who has struggled with turnovers over his past five games. But the greatest concern from an inexcusable loss to Detroit on Sunday was Arizona’s run defense. Craig Reynolds, the Lions’ third-string running back, gashed the Cardinals for 112 yards and helped Detroit chew up a ton of clock to win the game, 30-12. That defensive performance doesn’t bode well for Arizona’s next matchup against Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who just ran for 170 yards against the Patriots. Sunday’s loss to a 2-11-1 Lions team came at the worst possible time, as the Cardinals’ three remaining regular-season games are against two playoff-caliber teams in Indianapolis and Dallas, and a tough division rival in Seattle.

James: Arizona is dealing with numerous injuries, but none is more significant than Kyler Murray. His health appears to have compromised their chances two years in a row. A shoulder injury derailed his season last year, and an ankle injury cost Murray three games this year. He’s not been sharp since returning, losing two straight, and we’ll see whether Murray can return to top form down the stretch.

Scott: The play of Kyler Murray since returning from injury last Monday night against the Rams is what is most worrisome about the Cardinals. Before being sidelined with a sprained left ankle, the first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft was in the discussion for league MVP. That is no longer the case after two subpar performances, including an awful effort in Arizona’s loss as heavy favorites in Detroit. Murray needs to play far better for the Cardinals to be competitive come playoff time. 

There’s no shortage of quality candidates for the NFL’s Coach of the Year Award this season. Who is your personal pick?

Ashley: The award should go to Bill Belichick, who has quickly transformed the Patriots into a Super Bowl contender just two years after longtime quarterback Tom Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Behind the league’s No. 1 scoring defense and a rookie quarterback, Belichick has his team in position to win the top seed in the AFC, after New England entered the season as a huge longshot to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Belichick’s game-plan against Buffalo on Monday Night Football, in which the Patriots ran the ball 46 times for 222 yards, was a masterclass in coaching. New England’s defense can compete against anyone, and Mac Jones has the upside to lead his team to victory in the postseason, so long as Belichick doesn’t ask him to do too much on offense.

James: Bill Belichick rates the edge. After starting 2-4, New England has the opportunity to secure the top spot in the AFC in the final weeks. Matt LaFleur, who has the highest winning percentage ever for a coach through his first 40 games, is also in the mix, leading Green Bay through a slew of injuries to the NFL’s best record. I’ll also mention Brian Flores and Kyle Shanahan, who are orchestrating remarkable late-season turnarounds for Miami and San Francisco, respectively.

Scott: There are definitely a lot of quality candidates for the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year, but Bill Belichick is my personal pick. The all-time great has the Patriots in the lead in the AFC East race with just three games to play when their preseason odds to win the division were +350, and most experts predicted they would finish barely above .500. Belichick has had many great seasons as head coach in Foxborough, but this is no doubt one of the best.