Arizona Cardinals Start Slow, Lose to Buffalo Bills

It was 1971 the last time the Arizona Cardinals won a game in Buffalo (Orchard Park) against the Bills, and that will not be changing for at least another year as the Arizona Cardinals lost to the Buffalo Bills 33-18.

In a game that showed all the warts the Arizona Cardinals have, the Buffalo Bills shut down the Arizona Cardinals passing game and their defense was again out schemed, this time by a first time offensive coordinator, as the Cardinals come limping back to the desert with a 1-2 record.

Carson Palmer and the offense, specifically the passing game, look completely out of sorts.

Larry Fitzgerald looks like the only consistent threat at the wide receiver position, while the running game finally took off today, as David Johnson carried the ball 19 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 28 yards, but the Cardinals offense looked overwhelmed and overmatched against a Bills defense that has not been good through the first two games.

Palmer threw his first four interceptions of the season and no touchdowns, snapping a streak of seven regular season games.

The defense was bad for the Arizona Cardinals, especially against the run, but they also made some plays and gave the offense short fields to work with early in the game, then late in the game that could not be capitalized on.

In between though, the Bills offense was able to make plays against an over aggressive and undisciplined Arizona Cardinals defense.

LeSean McCoy ran the ball 17 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns while Tyrod Taylor rushed the ball seven times for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Through the airs, with limited assets, the Cardinals shut down the Bills, allowing only 119 yards passing and intercepting Taylor once. They also sacked Taylor four times today, one each for Markus Golden and Chandler Jones, with Kevin Minter and Tony Jefferson each chipping in one as well.

Another issue was the Cardinals special teams, with Drew Butler still nursing an ankle injury, Chandler Catanzaro was moved to punting and struggled, but even worse, Kameron Canaday continues to struggle snapping the ball.

He has had two bad field goal snaps in three games, and the Arizona Cardinals come home, looking for answers and likely some special teams help.