Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians seems to know something about third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley that the rest of us are missing.
Even though Lindley is going into Saturday’s game against Carolina carrying the lowest career passer rating (50.3) in 30 years, Arians still backs him (via NFL.com).
There’s a true belief we’re going to win the game. There’s no doubt about it. When you get experience in big games, and those were two big games, it affects how you play. And I think he’s more than ready now to play extremely well.
Claiming that Lindley has grown “light years” in the last two weeks, he indicates a playoff game isn’t too big for him.
Given no other choice at quarterback with Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton injured and rookie Logan Thomas eons away from actually seeing the field, the team has to rely on Lindley to lead it to victory against a hungry Carolina Panthers’ team. This remains a tall task. Over the last six games of the regular season, the Cardinals’ have only scored 73 points.
Scoring against a suddenly strong Panthers’ defense, who have only allowed an average of 10.8 points a game during the last month, will be a tall order.
Photo: Sports Illustrated