It was ugly. It was forgettable. It was a team effort.
Three big takeaways from the Arizona Cardinals' embarrassing 33-18 loss at the previously winless Buffalo Bills on Sunday, as the Cards fall to 1-2 on the season:
1. Palmer gets exposed
Through the Cardinals' first two games, Carson Palmer had the fifth-best passer rating in the NFL. But that stat was misleading, as the 36-year old quarterback was inconsistent in both games and was fortunate to not have thrown at least a couple interceptions.
Well, reality caught up to Carson on Sunday, and against an average Buffalo defense, no less. Palmer began the game completing just one of his first nine passes, and he threw all four of his interceptions in the game's final seven minutes.
Is Palmer still smarting from last season's NFC Championship Game defeat, or does he simply have some mechanical issues to work out? In the last two road games that have counted (Carolina and Buffalo), Palmer has thrown eight interceptions and been sacked seven times.
We'll learn more about Palmer and his psyche next Sunday when the defensive-minded Los Angeles Rams come to Glendale.
2. Bills destroy Cards on the ground
The Cardinals were among the NFL's best teams in defending the run last season, and they picked up where they left off through two games this year. But on Sunday, Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy and quarterback Tyrod Taylor did pretty much whatever they wanted against the Cards.
Led by McCoy's 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns and Taylor's 79 yards and a score, Buffalo racked up a ridiculous 211 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns for the game. In a game full of head-scratching statistics, this one is perhaps the most surprising of all.
Rams running back Todd Gurley has to be excited about what he saw in Buffalo on Sunday.
3. Two silver linings
If you're a Cards fan, you can appreciate two incredible plays from Sunday: this awesome interception by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson, and this 60-yard field goal by second-year pro Chandler Catanzaro, the longest in the history of the Bills' stadium.
Sorry, Birdgang: This will have to tide you over until next week.
ARE YOU KIDDING, @RealPeterson21?!
??????? #BeRedSeeRed #AZvsBUF https://t.co/UoDuHhLSyi
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2016
Chandler Catanzaro drills 60-yard field goal pic.twitter.com/PtZtPFRLa1
— The Sports Daily (@SportsDailyBlog) September 25, 2016
