Overreactions to Cardinals Week 1 season opener vs. Saints

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GLENDALE – There is plenty of mistakes for the Arizona Cardinals to clean up after its Week 1 season opener vs. the New Orleans Saints. A missed field goal, nine penalties and plenty of other miscues made up the debut of the 2025 Cardinals. However, fans on social media and analyst alike have a growing concern coming out of Week 1 surrounding the integrity of the offensive line.

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In 2024, the offensive line allowed only 30 sacks, which was the fifth-least in the NFL. Former sixth-overall pick tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and top-10 PFF graded center Hjalte Froholdt led the offensive line to be one of the league’s best.

However, after allowing five sacks and on the wrong end of multiple holding and false start penalties against New Orleans, was last year just a fluke for the offensive line?

Is Cardinals’ offensive line worries valid?

Sacks are always on the offensive line. Quarterback Kyler Murray was reportedly under the weather for the season opener and didn’t look the sharpest in the Big Easy. Murray usually is able to use his legs to avoid pressure and extend the play, but struggled on Sunday because of his health issues.

The 28-year-old franchise would try to extend plays outside the pocket, and instead of throwing the ball away, would slide behind the line of scrimmage and count as a sack. Half of the teams sacks were accounted because of Murray’s mistake to slide before the line of scrimmage and not the offensive line.

While the Saints did generate pressure, the numbers look worse than typical because of some mental areas. Regardless, New Orleans edge rusher Cameron Jordan is considered an elite pass rusher and would be a tough coverage for any team. Despite the excuses, the penalties from the offensive line was inexcusable.

Arizona was the least penalized team in 2024, and after one week this year is tied for 20th. The offensive line had multiple unnecessary holding penalties. In the third quarter, the Cardinals were backed up near their endzone and Murray made a stellar play to escape the collapsing pocket and get the first down. However, Froholdt was called for a holding penalty away from the play and was scarily close to in the endzone, which would’ve been a safety and given the ball back to the Saints in a one-score game.

Multiple third and short opportunities became third and long because of false start, notably guard Isaiah Adams in the third quarter, forcing the team to kick a field goal. The offensive line is too good to make silly mistakes like it did in the season opener.

While the glaring mistakes by Arizona’s offensive line are worthy of criticism, the body of work in 2024 grants the unit the benefit of the doubt moving forward. Week 1 is always wonky for teams starting a fresh new season and doesn’t define, who a team will become. For example, New Orleans started 2-0 last year and finished the season 5-12.

The concern for the offensive line is currently an overreaction and overblown, as the first home game this Sunday will be a get right game for the unit moving forward.

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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports