In 1975, the Cardinals had an offensive line that can argue it was the best of all-time. Certainly, they could be in the argument. The quintet of left tackle Roger Finnie, left guard Bob Young, center Tom Banks, right guard Conrad Dobler and right tackle and future Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf sent three to the Pro Bowl that year (Banks, Dobler, Dierdorf -- and Young was also a Pro Bowler a couple of times later.)
The Cardinals allowed just eight sacks all season, which was 14 games in those days. And since one was on kicker Jim Bakken -- don't know the circumstances on that one, to be honest -- that is even more spectacular for the pass protection.
That year was the last time the Cardinals went three games without allowing a sack. Until now.
The Cardinals have gone three straight games without a sack, and that's with having to use reserves on both positions on the right side of the line. The group has done it differently than 1975 -- Jim Hart, as a moving QB, was certainly no Kyler Murray -- but the result has been the same.
"You can't really talk about zero sacks without mentioning Kyler," center Hjalte Froholdt said. (Froholdt had the line of the week when he was talking about opposing players being frustrated when they think they are about to sack Murray and he Houdinis his way out of danger: "I assume it's pretty shi**y for them, but we love it."
There have been other contributors. Emari Demercado had a couple of blitz pickups that underscore why he plays, and with Kyler Murray, he's made the right decisions when to throw the ball. Even if it is just to throw it away.
"Sometimes incompletions are the biggest plays of games," offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said.
The O-line will be getting some reinforcements at some point. Starting right tackle Jonah Williams, who has been out since the final play of the the first game, is returning to practice and will be back on the roster soon.
The streak will end at some point. The Cardinals will give up a sack. But it's a good stat to have, regardless of how the Cardinals got there.
"I know there are a couple of plays that I know we need to clean up on protection and we are lucky to have the guy we have back there," Froholdt said. "(It's) awesome, little pat of the shoulder, and then we move on to next week."
