This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
What a terrible game. I had the Cardinals -6.5 (last-second switch while writing the article), and DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Zach Ertz going, so I was already sour, and then it ends on a pick where A.J. Green doesn't even turn around. (Actually, I only found that out later, as I was watching the 40-minute edited version, and it just looked like Kyler Murray zipped it right to Rasul Douglas for no reason.)
- Murray, despite 8.3 YPA, looked shaky. He was indecisive, didn't do a good job escaping the rush and missed a wide open Christian Kirk on a downfield throw.
- The running backs didn't see a lot of touches, but they scored all three touchdowns. This offense spreads the ball around, especially with Hopkins playing hurt most of the year. James Conner (5-22-2) now has eight rushing TDs, second in the league, and two fewer than Derrick Henry.
- A.J. Green is like Larry Fitzgerald at the end of the line -- he can still catch the ball, but there's no explosion or upside when he does. The Cardinals really missed Hopkins, who played only a few snaps.
- Ertz made a couple key catches. He still looks like the player he was a couple years ago and is probably usable most weeks.
- Aaron Rodgers averaged 5.0 yards per passing attempt, but seemed in control for most of the game, despite missing Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard.
- AJ Dillon (16-78-0) played like Derrick Henry. He would not go down on first or second contact and bulldozed his way to a key fourth-down conversion.
- Aaron Jones (15-59-1, 11-7-51-0) was less efficient than Dillon, but also brute-forced his way into some first downs and his TD.
- Randall Cobb (5-3-15-2) had 16.5 fantasy points on 15 receiving yards.
- Maybe the Thursday night short rest was to blame, but what a clunker in a game between 7-0 and 6-1 teams.
