Cardinals’ Red Zone Woes Becoming Sticking Point For Inconsistent Offense

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Mike LaFleur walks the sidelines as they play the Denver Broncos at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 25, 2026.Through the first five weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the Arizona Cardinals were middle-of-the-pack in Red Zone touchdown percentage. In 18 trips from weeks 1-5, Arizona found the end zone on 61% percent of their Red Zone drives — 11 touchdowns.But over the past two weeks, that efficiency has plummeted. An offense that already struggled with consistency of both execution and scoring output has been one of the league’s worst over the past two games. It’s costing the Cardinals necessary points in games that have shifted from close contests to blowouts.Cardinals struggling with Red Zone offenseArizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) escapes the pocket away from Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Oct. 25, 2026.The Cardinals were held without a touchdown in Week 6’s win over the Los Angeles Rams. They put six points on the board only once during Sunday’s 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos, despite five more drives pushing inside Denver’s 20 yard line.On the final drive of Sunday’s game, facing a 14-point deficit with under two minutes to go, the Cardinals found themselves at the goal line. They ran seven plays — two of which were nullified due to defensive penalties; Arizona lost four yards despite receiving seven tries.Between Week 6 and 7, Arizona reached the Red Zone 10 times. They have scored only one touchdown in those 10 attempts — a 10% touchdown rate that is only undercut by the 0-6 Los Angeles Chargers, who have scored zero times in three opportunities.The Cardinals have not had as many issues moving the ball — though they have not done so as consistently had hoped. They’ve made 27 total trips to the Red Zone this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL. But after two unproductive games, Arizona’s 44% Red Zone touchdown rate is dead last in football.Head coach Mike LaFleur took responsibility for that, though he said a massive overhaul of Arizona’s Red Zone approach is not necessary.“I don’t think it’s a total blow-up,” LaFleur said. “These guys have been driving the ball at an incredible rate. … So clearly, I got to have better scheme. I got to call better plays. And then we got to go execute it and give them the clarity to to do so.”“Anytime we’re down there, anytime we have the ball, I just want to score. I don’t care how it gets done. I just want to score. We get down there. You feel very confident that you’re going to finish the job.”The Cardinals have been able to produce yardage, to a degree. They have the 18th-most total yards in football (2,197) and rank 22nd in yards per game (313.9). But points are what matter, obviously, and much of the offense’s volume yardage has come with the score already out of reach.Scoring is what has eluded the Cardinals for much of the season.Arizona is putting up 20.3 points per game, which ranks 26th in football. Even considering the lack of Red Zone success in recent games, Arizona was only three spots better and a tick over 21 points per game following Week 5.Moving the ball is important. It’s worthy of credit to see LaFleur’s offense put together lengthy drive after lengthy drive, despite the struggles of a banged-up offensive line, a modest run game and mostly-subpar QB play from Jacoby Brissett. But the Cardinals have only managed to squeeze two wins off the back of their defense this season — a defense that was expected to be a weakness. Nick Rallis’ group has been exactly that, but it’s also been the primary reason Cardinals fans aren’t staring at an 0-7 start to 2026. The offense did enough in those games, but did not stand out.“We lucked out the week before because our defense played incredible. We hit six kicks. But you can’t do that every week. Obviously, we know that,” LaFleur said. “And it’s like, guys, we’re down there. It’s not like we’re not moving the football, but we have to finish. And again, I’ll look in the mirror first and say it starts with me.”As has been a common theme, the Cardinals are not looking to make major changes in this regard. Brissett will remain the starter. Personnel likely won’t change to a high degree. Play calling changes probably aren’t coming either.But Arizona’s offense isn’t getting the job done, and it’s already contributing to lopsided losses.