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Arizona Cardinals Under-Perform in Loss to Miami, Now Face Elimination

By Griffin Fabits

Dec 11, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch (50) causes Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) to fumble the ball during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch (50) causes Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) to fumble the ball during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals were edged by the Miami Dolphins, 26-23, thanks to Andrew Franks’ 21-yard field goal to secure the win with :01 left on the clock.

The Arizona Cardinals needed a win against the Miami Dolphins in order to keep their postseason hopes alive. Instead, they under-performed behind the efforts of Carson Palmer in a 26-23 loss.

It took the Dolphins practically all four quarters to put the Cardinals away, and finally did so when Andrew Franks broke a 23-23 tie and chipped in a 21-yard field goal with :01 left in the fourth quarter.

The Dolphins, unlike the Cardinals, had business to take care of and they executed it perfectly. Their win today brings them to 8-5 in the AFC East, and 2.5 games behind the New England Patriots for first place. It was a huge day for head coach Adam Gase and his Dolphins. They’re still in the hunt for a playoff spot, while the Cardinals are just about eliminated.

Desperately in need of a win, the Cardinals got off to a poor start when they allowed Kenny Stills to score on a pass from Ryan Tannehill from 28-yards out in the early minutes of the game.

Nearly ninety seconds later, the Cardinals seemingly would go on to tie the game, thanks to J.J. Nelson’s 56-yard dash into the end zone. But, kicker Chandler Catanzaro botched the PAT, and Miami held a slim, one-point lead.

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Catanzaro would finish the day without converting an extra point in two attempts, while also missing a 41-yarder. But of course, he drilled a 56-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was that kind of day for the Cardinals.

After back-and-forth scoring, the Cardinals went into the last fifteen minutes of play trailing 21-9. They used two touchdowns and a two-point conversion to tie the game, but the defense couldn’t stop backup quarterback Matt Moore, who replaced an injured Tannehill in the third quarter. Moore marched down the field and set up Franks for his first career game-winner.

According to reports, the Dolphins believe that Tannehill has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.

Carson Palmer was horrible today, throwing for a season-worst 145 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Cardinals offense was lethargic all day, and ended with four turnovers. In a wet and soggy Hard Rock Stadium, the two teams combined for seven turnovers, five of which came in the first quarter.

So now we are set to face reality. The Cardinals magical run in the second half of the season is nonexistent at this point. Even winning out in their final three games will bring their record to a lame record of 8-7-1. So much for that third-consecutive postseason appearance, huh?

Next: Arizona Cardinals: Where, Oh Where Did the '15 Cards Go?

They’re playing for pride and a draft pick at this point. If they even wanted a fighting chance for a playoff spot, they absolutely needed to win in Miami. But they didn’t.

And now it’s all starting to set in..

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