Bruce Arians thinks the Cardinals are losing because of some players’ ‘selfishness’

After last season, when the Arizona Cardinals finished 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship, this year’s 4-6-1 start is a disappointment. Head coach Bruce Arians is frustrated, and he blamed Sunday’s 38-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on the “selfishness instead of selflessness that has crept in” on defense.

The Cardinals allowed 385 offensive yards and five touchdowns to the Falcons, and to Arians, that was unacceptable. Arizona got burned for several big plays, including two explosive touchdowns on nearly identical screen passes to wide receiver Taylor Gabriel.

Arians said that defensive players were trying to do too much against the Falcons, and it cost them.

“I thought defensively, we had some guys get out of their lane again and try to do too much — tried to get on the stat sheet instead of just doing their job,” Arians said.

It’s not, Arians said, a lack of intensity. He said that practices and preparation have been solid, and that defensive players are just trying to do too much to slow down opponents, and it’s leading to lapses.

Arians is disappointed that the veterans haven’t stepped up to get the defense back on track.

“We’ve been talking about it for four weeks and the veterans obviously haven’t done anything about it,” Arians said. “Maybe young guys will step up and make the opportunity they need.”

There’s only one stat that matters, according to Arians, and that’s wins and losses.

“And right now, we’re not making the critical plays to win games, and it’s got to be corrected soon,” Arians said.

The Cardinals came into Week 12 against the Falcons as the top-ranked defense in the league, but they certainly didn’t play like it. The Cardinals are currently second in the NFC West with a record of 4-6-1, and with just five games remaining in the regular season, Arizona has limited time to turn things around.