Arizona Cardinals week 12 Pro Football Focus stats

The Arizona Cardinals have been one of the most infuriating teams this season. From the barrage of injuries, to the inconsistent offensive and defensive play, the Cardinals should be in a better place.

(I skipped the special teams for a reason)

We sit in the final week of November, set to take on the final month of the season. At 5-6, the team is not mathematically eliminated from the Playoff the race. However, sitting in the 12th seed they need a lot of help. A win against the AFC’s 5th seed team, and the leagues number one defense, gets this team on the right path however.

Each week we partner with PFF to get some of their more advanced statistics, like pressures, passes defensed, and hurries.

Offensive Statistics:

• LT Jared Veldheer had his best game of the season on Sunday. Veldheer did not allow a single pressure on 43 pass snaps. He earned a season-high 85.5 overall grade.
• Matched up with CB Jalen Ramsey for most of the day, WR Larry Fitzgerald struggled against the Jaguars. Fitzgerald only caught three of eight targets for 12 yards. When Ramsey shadowed him, Fitzgerald caught two of four targets for negative four yards.
• QB Blaine Gabbert performed well when the Jaguars did not blitz. Gabbert completed 19 of 30 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and a 106.0 passer rating when he was not blitzed. When blitzed, Gabbert completed three of eight passes for 33 yards, one interception, and a 10.9 passer rating.
• Despite one drop, TE Ricky Seals-Jones shined again. Seals-Jones caught four of six passes for 72 yards, one touchdown, and a 147.2 passer rating. He finished the game with an 81.7 overall grade.
• Arizona's offensive line had arguably its best day in pass protection against the Jaguars strong pass rush. QB Blaine Gabbert was only pressured on 21% of his dropbacks, which is 13% lower than the league average. The offensive line allowed five total pressures and no sacks on 43 pass plays.

Defensive Statistics:

• Edge Chandler Jones had a great day rushing the passer. Jones recorded two sacks and four total pressures, all when lined up on the right side. He received an 84.8 pass rush grade.
• CB Tyrann Mathieu had his best game of the season against Jacksonville. Mathieu graded with an 84.1 overall grade. He pressured the quarterback on both his pass rushes. He was great in coverage too as he only allowed two of four passes to be completed for two yards, an interception, and a 16.7 passer rating.
• Veteran DE Frostee Rucker had a great performance stuffing the run on Sunday. Rucker earned an 84.0 run defense grade and recorded 4 stops. His 4 run stops were tied for the most by any interior defensive lineman this week.
• S Budda Baker followed up last week's breakout performance with more stellar play. He was only targeted three times, but only allowed two catches for 16 yards. Baker also recorded two pressures on three pass rushes.
• LB Josh Bynes did an excellent job in coverage subbing for the injured Deone Bucannon. Bynes surrendered two catches for ten yards on five targets on Sunday. He added six tackles and two runs stops to his totals.

Blaine Gabbert will remain the teams starting Quarterback going forward. He’s shown enough to warrant more time in that role, but is he the teams Quarterback of the Future? That’s still a question that has to be answered.

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