The numbers, here late in the

Carolina Panthers updates

3, 2015.(Photo: Bob Donnan/USA Gary Zimmerman Broncos Jersey TODAY Sports)

Isn't that way we'll all think about this season? If Andre Ellington hadn't been lost for the year . if Carson Palmer hadn't torn his ACL . if Drew Stanton hadn't hurt his knee. The Cardinals lost five for their final seven games and it's not an excuse to say injuries were the main factor. Arizona was hit harder at the critical positions than any team in the league.

Give Bruce Arians a Karl Mecklenburg Jersey lot of credit for cobbling together some hope after Palmer and Stanton Authentic Karl Mecklenburg Jersey went down, but Arizona had the impossible task of trying to win a playoff game on the road with a third string quarterback and Ryan Lindley wasn't up to the task. The one criticism you can make of Arians is that he didn't go out and find some veteran quarterback when Stanton went down. Instead he relied on Lindley and the result wasn't pretty.

The numbers from Saturday's game probably don't matter, but here they are and boy are they ugly: Arizona had 77 total yards, the fewest in a playoff game in NFL history. Lindley was 16 of 28 for 81 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Carolina rushed for 188 yards, the third straight week Arizona has been gashed by an opponents' running game.

Hard to see it end like this but Authentic Gary Zimmerman Jersey in the end, the Cardinals ran out of Next Men Up.

ANOTHER CHANCE, ANOTHER INTERCEPTION

The Cardinals had one final chance after a Carolina Tom Jackson Jersey muffed punt but Ryan Lindley threw his second interception when he threw into tight coverage trying to hit Larry Fitzgerald, who just might have played the Tom Jackson Broncos Jersey final game of his brilliant Arizona career. Game, match, season.

DID THE SEASON END THERE?

So much for all the improvement Ryan Lindley made last week. On the first play after the fumble, Lindley threw a terrible interception to Luke Kuechly, and Carolina took over. Hard to imagine the Cardinals recovering from that play. The bottom line: This is what happens when a third string quarterback is on the road in a playoff game.

AND THERE'S THE BREAK

Just said the Cardinals' defense needed to force a turnover and create a short field, and Sam Acho did just that, knocking the ball out of Cam Newton's hand. Rashad Johnson picked up the fumble and ran to Carolina's 8 yard line. Suddenly, Arizona has a pulse. Now, why Carolina is taking a deep drop there instead of throwing a quick pass is a heck of a question.

END OF THREE

Well, that was an interesting way to end the third quarter. Carolina took itself out of field goal range with a succession of penalties but it still leads 27 14 heading into the final 15 minutes.

Some how, Arizona's defense needs to come up with a turnover and give the offense a short field because unless something drastically changes, Arizona isn't good enough to drive down field for two touchdowns. As ESPN's Mike Tirico just pointed out, the Cardinals haven't had a first down since midway through the second quarter. Also, Arizona had minus 3 yards in the third quarter.

Not that azcardinals aren to blame. gave up 39 yd screen pass for TD, fumbled KO, Defensive breakdowns 27 14 end of 3. Instead, the Cardinals have taken few shots down field and their offense has been MIA.

The numbers, here late in the third quarter, are almost impossible to believe: Arizona has 62 total yards and are averaging 1.8 yards per play. Lindley is 10 of 19 for 43 yards. Time to take some chances and hope for the best.

BIG HILL TO CLIMB

Carolina just made the Cardinals pay for Ginn's turnover with a 1 yard pass from Cam Newton to Mike Tolbert for a 27 14 lead with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

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