The Arizona Cardinals walk off the field as losers for the first time this season. Green Bay exposes the Cards’ weakness and exploits it ice-cold. One thing is clear: The loss of J.J. Watt hits the Cardinals hard.

Munich – The white waistcoat has been stained. The previously unbeaten Arizona Cardinals suffered their first loss of the season against the Green Bay Packers.

Kyler Murray and Co. lost 21-24, but had a chance to win the game until the final seconds, when an interception by signal caller Murray ruined the game. While the talk after the game was mostly about the Cards’ offence, the defence in particular left some question marks.

The Packers, in the person of AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones, were able to pinpoint the running game again and again, so that the throwing arm of Aaron Rodgers, in view of 184 yards, had a rather quiet evening. The most important feature of the Cardinals defence, compared to the victorious previous weeks, is the month-long absence of J.J. Watt, who has to undergo shoulder surgery.

His signing before the season was an absolute milestone for the Cardinals on their way to becoming a top team, but at the same time his injury is a clear setback. Watt is a key player who attracts special attention from opponents because of his class. The pass rusher regularly has to deal with two blockers at the same time, but this opens up the chance for his teammates to attack the opposing quarterback a little more easily.

Arizona Cardinals miss multiple tackles

But against the Packers, it was also evident that the Cardinals were unable to set numerous tackles, which is what got the Wisconsin visitors’ running game rolling in the first place. “It wasn’t anything exotic, but we didn’t tackle as well as we wanted to” said linebacker Jordan Hicks after the game.

The Cards’ upcoming opponents will have been watching closely to see how Coach Kliff Kingsbury’s team, without defensive anchor Watt, will crack defensively. The burden of filling the void of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year now rests on the shoulders of Zach Allen, Rashard Lawrence and Leki Fotu.

Light schedule for Cardinals

The big advantage the Cardinals have here is that the game schedule suits them. Of all the teams, they have the third easiest schedule in the weeks leading up to the end of the regular season. If the offense can keep up its output, some defensive weaknesses could become less important.

The key duel in the battle for first place in the NFC West is likely to be the game against the Los Angeles Rams, who also have only one defeat to their name so far. And who knows: Maybe key player Watt will be ready for action again in the playoffs and can make the difference there?

Until then, it’s up to the rest of the Cardinals defence.