Bickley: Cardinals won't apologize for ugly win over Colts

INDIANAPOLIS – The Cardinals might be delusional. They might be destined to inflict severe disappointment on their audience. But in the postgame glow of their first victory of 2017, they weren’t about to apologize for anything.

Not for a 16-13 overtime win over the lowly Colts. Not for an offense scrambling for an identity. Not for the angst they are causing Valley fans who spent most of Sunday afternoon hovering around the panic button.

“May not have been the prettiest win,” kicker Phil Dawson said. “But it’s kind of like your high school prom date. Doesn’t matter if she’s pretty, as long as you’ve got one.”

This is their prerogative. Winning a road game in the NFL means never having to say you’re sorry. The first win of the season is always a rite of passage. And the Cardinals have successfully avoided the interrogation that would’ve accompanied an 0-2 start, along with the statistics that make the postseason a near impossibility.

But there are strange things happening here. Head coach Bruce Arians has apparently forgotten Carson Palmer’s name, continuously blaming the team’s struggles on “the quarterback.” His criticism seems heavy-handed and reckless for a guy who played pretty well on Sunday, with the exception of one dreadful interception.

The offensive line looks to be the real culprit, not the quarterback who possibly saved the season by converting a third-and-20, and following up with a touchdown bomb on the very next play.

Palmer didn’t want to respond to Arians’ ongoing criticism, but it appeared he felt a little wounded, maybe a little underappreciated.

“I’m always trying to play better,” Palmer said. “I’m always looking to play better and improve.”

There are obvious concerns. The Cardinals are the oldest team in the NFL, by average age and the amount of players over 30. There are times when they look old and stale, when all that experience isn't a good thing. Oh, and they nearly lost to another backup quarterback from New England making his first NFL start.

Their unimpressive start to the season guarantees that many ticket holders will sell their seats and part of their soul for the home opener on "Monday Night Football" against the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, the addition of Dawson was supposed to give the team a rock-solid placekicker. Instead, he’s missed two field goals in two weeks. He admitted the pressure of not being Chandler Catanzaro actually rattled the veteran.

“Since I became a Cardinal, I had to hear about last year almost daily,” Dawson said. “That builds up. To be around that so much and hear it so much, it’s hard not to get caught up in it.”

But here’s the good news:

The Cardinals received a sensational performance from J.J. Nelson on Sunday, who emerged as the No. 2 receiver this team sorely needs. Rarely will you find a guy who can make hard catches seem so easy or easy catches seem so hard.

They learned that Chris Johnson still has vision and plenty of speed. And if they can get the line to block and protect, there is much room for growth.

“I don’t know why (some people) thought I didn’t have a burst,” Johnson said. “I know the type of player I am. I know how to prepare. I’m a 10-year vet. I know how to get myself ready for the season and a game. It just felt nice to go out there, make a few plays and help the team win.”

The Cardinals defense is doing fine. Patrick Peterson said the last three series of the game set a new standard for the unit, and represented the kind of defense that “can put us in the groove.” And it means everything that the Honey Badger came alive at the perfect time.

After eight quarters of underwhelming football, Tyrann Mathieu’s overtime interception saved his team from potential embarrassment. It gave Dawson a much-needed shot at redemption. It gave our NFL franchise a much-needed victory and shot of confidence.

Mathieu has been brazen, cocky and not one to shy away from outrageous goals. He was somewhat reserved after his huge contribution in overtime, when he read the first play from scrimmage and jumped the route with perfection. He obviously doesn’t feel good enough about himself to crow at the moment, but he did deliver a wonderful anecdote.

Turns out, Mathieu intercepted Jacoby Brissett when the quarterback was making his first career start at Florida. And he did the same on Sunday, when Brissett was making his first NFL start, after the Colts acquired him in a trade with the Patriots.

“He said, ‘Damn, bro, every time I start, why you have to pick me off?’ ” Mathieu said.

Mathieu’s response?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know why you threw it at me.”

As he spoke, you could hear laughter in all corners of the locker room. You can only imagine the difference had they lost, how the sound of crickets would’ve defined the game and the season.

“A great team effort,” Mathieu said. “Anytime you get a win on the road, I think it says a lot about the team.”

Yes, it’s a diminished victory full of question marks and red flags. It won’t keep Cowboys fans from attempting a hostile takeover in Glendale. But it might have saved the season. And for now, that’s good enough.

Key play: Third-and-20 conversion spurs Cardinals to victory over Colts

2nd half: Cardinals adjust attitude, play better defense

Star watch: Cardinals stars earn mixed grades

Report card: Offense, defense earn passing grades

Reach Bickley at dan.bickley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8253. Follow him on twitter.com/dan.bickley. Listen to “Bickley and Marotta” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on 98.7 Arizona’s Sports Station.