Sarah: Forty-two to thirty-eight. The Cardinals dropped a wild one in Green Bay, and if you blinked, you missed about six touchdowns. But before we break down everything that happened, Tom, tell me that wasn't the most entertaining preseason game you've ever seen.
Tom: It was a shootout, no doubt. But for a preseason finale, the Cardinals' defense gave up 42 points, and that's a concern. Still, the offense showed some real juice.
Sarah: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network. I'm Sarah, alongside Tom, and this is your Arizona Cardinals reaction show. On today's episode, we're breaking down the final score, the offensive explosion, and what it means for the roster battles heading into the regular season.
Tom: We'll also get into the defensive struggles, the special teams gaffe, and the big picture for this team as they get ready for Week 1. Stick with us.
Sarah: Alright Tom, let's start with the offense. Kedon Slovis went 21 of 35 for 223 yards, a touchdown, and two picks. But the real story was Evan Hull on the ground. Sixteen carries, 107 yards, two touchdowns. That's the kind of night he needed.
Tom: Hull was fantastic. He showed vision, burst, and that 47-yard touchdown run was a thing of beauty. But I want to talk about Simi Fehoko. Five catches, 94 yards, two touchdowns. He was the best player on the field for either team.
Sarah: That 41-yard touchdown pass from Gardner Minshew II to Fehoko was a laser. And then he added another one later. The guy is making a strong case for a roster spot, wouldn't you say?
Tom: Absolutely. Fehoko has been doing this all preseason. He's physical, he's fast, and he's reliable. With the injuries at receiver, he's becoming a lock. But I still have questions about the quarterback situation. Slovis had two interceptions, and that's not going to cut it if he wants to stick around.
Sarah: We talked yesterday about the quarterback room. Brissett is the starter, Minshew is the backup, and Beck is the project. But Slovis was out there fighting for a spot. He showed some flashes, but those picks hurt.
Tom: He forced a couple of throws, tried to do too much. But the offensive line gave him time, and the run game was working. I think the offense as a whole is trending in the right direction, but the turnovers are a red flag.
Sarah: Well, let's look at the good stuff. Evan Hull's 47-yard touchdown run. That was a thing of beauty. And then Fehoko's first score from Minshew. We've got to give the offense credit for putting up 38 points in a preseason game.
Tom: They did. And they did it against a Packers defense that was playing their starters early. That's encouraging. But the two interceptions and the missed opportunities in the red zone are things they'll need to clean up.
Sarah: We said before the game that the defense would force two turnovers. They didn't. But the offense more than held up its end of the bargain. We'll get to the defense in a second, but first, let's talk about the special teams disaster.
Tom: That 81-yard punt return by Will Sheppard was a killer. It swung the momentum and put the Packers back in control. Special teams has been a weakness all preseason, and that's concerning heading into the season.
Sarah: We'll get into that more in segment two. But for now, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we'll break down the defense and the key roster battles that this game decided. Stick with us.
Sarah: Welcome back. Tom, the defense gave up 42 points. That's not good, no matter how you slice it. But there were some individual performances that stood out. BJ Ojulari had 1.5 sacks, and Elijah Jones led the team with five tackles.
Tom: Ojulari continues to impress. He's a disruptive force off the edge. But the secondary got picked apart. Kyle McCord threw for 226 yards and four touchdowns, and J. Michael Sturdivant had 112 receiving yards. That's a problem.
Sarah: We predicted the defense would force two turnovers, including a pick-six. They didn't get any turnovers at all. That's a big miss. But is it fair to judge a defense that's missing so many starters?
Tom: Somewhat, but you still want to see the backups execute. They didn't. They gave up big plays, missed tackles, and didn't create any takeaways. That's a concern, especially with the injury report as long as it is.
Sarah: Speaking of injuries, James Conner is questionable, Trey Benson is on IR, and now Xavier Weaver is on IR too. The running back room is thin. That makes Evan Hull's performance even more important.
Tom: Hull might have played himself into a bigger role. And we can't forget about Corey Kiner. He scored a touchdown earlier in the preseason, but didn't do much tonight. Still, the depth at running back is a question mark.
Sarah: Let's talk about the receiver battle. Fehoko had a monster game. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the clear number one, but who's behind him? Kendrick Bourne, Devin Duvernay, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette are all in the mix.
Tom: Fehoko is making a strong case for the number two or three spot. He's been consistent all preseason. And with Smith-Marsette questionable, Fehoko's stock is rising. But the offensive line is another battle to watch.
Sarah: Paris Johnson Jr. is locked in at tackle, but the guard spots are up for grabs. Isaiah Adams, Jon Gaines II, and Hayden Conner all got reps. Who do you think wins those jobs?
Tom: I think Adams and Gaines have the edge, but it's close. The coaching staff will have some tough decisions to make when they trim the roster. But the biggest concern has to be the special teams unit after that punt return.
Sarah: It's not just the return. The coverage units have been shaky all preseason. That's something the special teams coordinator needs to fix before Week 1. Otherwise, they'll be giving up big plays all season.
Tom: Exactly. And with the defense struggling, special teams can't be a liability. They need to be a strength. But right now, it's a weakness. That's a double-edged sword.
Sarah: Alright, Tom, we're going to take our final break in a moment. But before we do, let's talk about what's next for this team. The regular season is right around the corner, and there are a lot of questions that still need answers.
Tom: Definitely. Stick with us, because when we come back, we're going to look ahead to Week 1 and what the Cardinals need to do to get off to a good start.
Sarah: Welcome back. Tom, the preseason is officially over. The Cardinals finished 1-3. Now the real games begin. What's the biggest takeaway from this game as they head into the regular season?
Tom: The offense has playmakers. Fehoko, Hull, and even Slovis showed they can move the ball. But the defense and special teams are big concerns. If they don't improve, it's going to be a long season.
Sarah: We're still waiting on the next opponent, but the Cardinals have to be ready for whoever it is. They need to get healthy. James Conner, Trey Benson, and so many others are banged up. That's a huge factor.
Tom: The running back depth is a concern, but Evan Hull showed he can carry the load. And the quarterback situation seems settled with Brissett as the starter. But the defense needs to find a way to create turnovers.
Sarah: We made a prediction before this game that the defense would force two turnovers. They didn't. But we also predicted Minshew would throw two touchdowns, and he had one. So we were half right.
Tom: I think the biggest thing to watch is how the coaching staff handles the roster cuts. There are some tough decisions ahead, especially at receiver and along the offensive line. But I'm cautiously optimistic about the offense.
Sarah: I think we can all agree that the Cardinals are going to be a fun team to watch this season. They'll score points, but they'll give up points too. It's going to be a rollercoaster.
Tom: That's the truth. But for now, let's take a moment to appreciate Simi Fehoko. That was a performance. Two touchdowns, and he made a strong case for a bigger role.
Sarah: Alright, that's our show for today. We want to hear from you, Cardinals fans. Who stood out to you tonight? What are your biggest concerns? Let us know on social media.
Tom: Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. And share it with your fellow Cardinals fans. We appreciate every one of you.
Sarah: Until next time, this is Sarah, and that was Tom. Stay safe, and go Cardinals!