The Cardinals have talked often about finding their consistency on offense, something they have achieved during their current four-game winning streak. But one thing that has stayed spot on for the duration of the season, regardless of how the rest of the game has played out: when the Cardinals get close to the goal line, they score a touchdown.
As they ready themselves for their seven-game playoff push, the Cardinals are 16-for-16 in situations where they attain a first-and-goal situation. The stat, which wasn't tracked until 2000, is the longest the team has had. Only the 2020 Buccaneers (22-for-22) and the 2018 Panthers (18-for-18) began a season with more consecutive goal-to-go TDs.
The Cardinals, of course, still have a chance to extend that streak.
| Opponent | Down | Yard line | TD Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 1st-n-G | 3 | Conner run |
| Bills | 3rd-n-G | 5 | Kyler pass Wilson |
| Rams | 2nd-n-G | 5 | Conner run |
| Rams | 2nd-n-G | 7 | Conner fumble/McBride recovery |
| Lions | 1st-n-G | 10 | Kyler pass Harrison |
| Commanders | 1st-n-G | 6 | Conner run |
| 49ers | 1st-n-G | 2 | Kyler pass Higgins |
| Packers | 1st-n-G | 18 | Kyler pass Wilson |
| Chargers | 2nd-n-G | 5 | Kyler pass Dortch |
| Dolphins | 3rd-n-G | 6 | Kyler pass Wilson |
| Dolphins | 3rd-n-G | 2 | Conner run |
| Bears | 1st-n-G | 2 | McBride run |
| Bears | 3rd-n-G | 1 | Benson run |
| Jets | 2nd-n-G | 1 | Conner run |
| Jets | 3rd-n-G | 1 | Kyler run |
| Jets | 1st-n-G | 9 | Kyler pass Harrison |
Of course, when you have a battering ram like James Conner, finishing off drives that close to the goal line is a little easier. Conner has five touchdown runs in those circumstances (and gets an assist on a sixth, if you so choose to see it that way, when his fumble was recovered in the end zone by tight end Trey McBride.)
Kyler Murray's abilities also have helped, with three of his seven TD passes on goal-to-go coming when he has improvised.
The Cardinals would like to have more chances to boost that overall raw number. Going into the Cardinals' bye weekend, 21 teams had more goal-to-goal opportunities than Arizona's 16; Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and San Francisco all had 38. That goes back to the consistency the Cardinals sought much of the first six weeks of the season.
But when it comes to execution, a team should feel unstoppable if they achieve a goal-to-go in a game. The Cardinals have the stat to back it up.
