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Cardinals don’t travel to New England very often. When they do – heck, when they travel anywhere – Larry Fitzgerald is there.
Not this time. Not when you’re on the COVID reserve list, where Fitz ended up this week.
“In my mind, Larry is invincible,” said tackle DJ Humphries. “When I heard it was Fitz it was definitely a bigger surprise. I can’t think of the last time, I don’t know the last time – I don’t know if anyone can, some of you (the media) have been a lot longer than I have – we got into a plane and Larry was not on the plane with us. “
The last time Fitzgerald didn’t play in a game was in 2014, when he missed back-to-back trips to Seattle and Atlanta with a knee injury. Both of those games were losses (although to be fair the Cards were also without starting quarterback Carson Palmer at this point in the season following Palmer’s ACL tear.)
But, even if that was before Humphries was a card, he was right in the scenario that Fitz was (probably) on these trips. (Fitzgerald has always traveled even though he’s injured, if I remember correctly; I admit I don’t have the manifests to check.) Fitz has only missed six games in his 17-year career. Four of those games were road games (the other two were in 2006, A Lifetime Ago.)
Fitz probably doesn’t have the best memories of visiting New England anyway. In 2008, he landed a 78-yard touchdown in the snow, the only thing of note in the infamous 47-7 loss before the Super Bowl run. In 2012, the Cardinals took the thwarted victory, but Bill Belichick’s defense put down Fitz so he could only make one strike for 4 yards.
Fitzgerald is obviously not the same player he was in 2008 or 2012. He is the third receiving option in most games behind D-Hop and Christian Kirk (although he had his best game of the season in Seattle the last game, with eight catches for 62 yards.) But that doesn’t mean missing Fitz doesn’t miss a big chunk. He’s the guy who gives you a big first. It is the wise veteran who has done a good job of leadership even as his role has diminished. His optimism for this team and the season shone through until Wednesday, in his last media conversation. Then came the Thanksgiving morning news.
Maybe a road trip without Fitz was for 2020. But it stings anyway.
– Does Andy Isabella have a bigger role? Technically, he’s the one hiding behind Fitz on the Depths Map, but Kliff Kingsbury seemed less definitive when asked about Isabella’s role and exactly how the maps will work after losing Fitz. Running back Chase Edmonds and tight end Dan Arnold – who started off as a wide receiver – are also candidates to help in such a role. Still, it would be nice to see Isabella shake things up.
– You need all of Kyler Murray in this one. Run and throw. I think he’s playing. I don’t know about a lot of races.
– The Cardinals have seen Cam Newton a few times, but it’s been a minute. Thanks to Newton’s injuries, the last time the Cards saw him was in the 2016 regular season, when the Panthers beat the Cards at State Farm Stadium. Newton is 2-0 against the Cards in the playoffs, including the 2015 NFC Championship game. But that was a long time ago. Newton is not the same player and he certainly doesn’t have the weapons around him at the moment. You think they’ll be using a man’s 6-foot-6 tank in the racing game, and the cards have to hope their injury-riddled defensive line holds up.
– Newton holds the NFL record for one-season rushing touchdowns for a QB with the 14 he had as a rookie in 2011. Murray was heading for that mark when he hit 10 in nine games, well that he was kicked out last week and now you’re wondering a little bit about his race with the shoulder problem.
– In the 2019 draft, as the Cardinals’ second-round pick approached, there were plenty of complaints for Arizona state receiver N’Keal Harry. Instead, the Patriots caught him with the final pick of the first round (and the cards took CB Byron Murphy Jr. and I’m pretty sure they would have gone with Murphy even if Harry was still on the board.) got off to a bumpy start with the Patriots, dealing with injuries and learning about the NFL game. In eight games this season, Harry has 24 catches for just 213 yards – less than an impact one might think for a team hungry for wide receivers.
– Interestingly, Harry and Murphy are good friends, having prepared close to each other here in the Valley, with Harry at Chandler High School and Murphy at Scottsdale Saguaro. The two were actually teammates at the start of their high school careers at Tempe Marcos de Niza before each transfer. It would be fun if Murphy ended up covering Harry up every now and then.
– Speaking of cover: DeAndre Hopkins v Stephon Gilmore, reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, also fun to watch.
– One of the pylons in the Hail Murray end area – autographed by Kyler Murray and D-Hop – arrived at the Hall of Fame.
– The weather shouldn’t be a factor. It’s supposed to be sunny and in the 50s, actually a little warmer than what the cards have dealt in Seattle.
– Bill Belichick will be a factor. I’m fascinated to see how Belichick approaches this match – and how Kliff Kingsbury goes against his former coach and sometimes mentor. You know this means a lot to Kingsbury. Again, this means a lot to the Cardinals. The Patriots aren’t a great team this season and the Cards want to keep breathing in the NFC West race.
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