‘It’s very frustrating’: Red zone woes holding Cardinals back

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – When time ran out on the Arizona Cardinals’ 26-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Arizona’s struggles in the red zone weren’t the only reason for the Cardinals’ fifth loss of the season.

But their issues inside the 20 were a major factor in why the game got out of hand.

“I think that’s what the game ultimately came down to,” Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs said.

Arizona was 0 of 3 on red zone drives, gaining a total of nine yards. The first two ended with field goals and the third ended when Dobbs threw an interception on Arizona’s only red zone play.

Three trips. Nine meters. Six points. A choice.

“Any time it comes to four-point plays, points are valuable here,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “We need to get back to the lab and make sure we put our guys in position to make plays and all 11 just need to do a better job.”

Touchdowns on all three trips to the red zone could have changed the outcome, but the simulation game could be played until next Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox). However, 15 more points, giving the Cardinals 24 on the day, could have gone a long way in giving Arizona its second win of the season.

“It’s very frustrating,” catcher Marquise Brown said. “Guys deal with it different ways. You just have to stick with it, keep trusting the plan and keep trying.”

While the Cardinals are 1-5, Brown said the Cardinals still have confidence in the plan.

“I feel like our plan is good every week,” he said.

The Cardinals’ first trip to the red zone was set up after recovering a fumble from Rams punt returner Austin Trammell early in the second quarter at the 17-yard line. Dobbs threw to Brown on all three plays. The first two were incomplete passes and the third went for 3 yards.

Late in the second quarter, Arizona headed in the opposite direction.

The Cardinals ran it three times — once to receiver Rondale Moore and twice to Keaontay Ingram, who started in place of the injured James Conner. Ingram had an 8-yard run that pushed the Cardinals inside the 10, but both drives stalled.

Then the third trip to the red zone, which began and ended with the first play of the fourth quarter, resulted in an interception. Dobbs missed a wide-open Moore, instead opting for veteran tight end Zach Ertz. Dobbs threw slightly behind Ertz and was spotted by Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom. The Rams turned that interception into a 12-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a touchdown to go up 23-9 with 8:19 to play.

“They did a good job on the shot, taking away some shots that we made,” Dobbs said. “And then, secondly, I just want to get executed. It starts with me in the red zone because it’s such an important area of ​​the field. You work so hard to get there, man, you can’t pick up.

“So just simple execution, starting with me, making sure we’re in the right play, making good decisions with the football and then that will trickle down to the rest of the team.”

Through six games, the Cardinals have now scored a touchdown on 50 percent of their red zone appearances, which ranks them tied for 20th in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Overall, they score in any form on 81.3% of their red zone drives. However, the Cardinals attack the red zone more through the air than through the ground.

Arizona has a red zone passing percentage of 62.2, which ranks fifth in the NFL, and a red zone passing percentage of 37.8, which ranks 28th.

“I feel like we did pretty well in the red zone,” center Hjalte Froholdt said. “I think we were good in execution and [the Rams] had a good plan and outplayed us today, so hats off to them, hats off to their top seven for winning those matchups. But you have to win head-to-head.”