The ageless one, Calais Campbell, got another sack Sunday in Cincinnati, giving the national TV broadcast the chance to talk again whether the defensive lineman might retire when his 18th season comes to a close in another week.
(For the record, Campbell hasn’t closed the door on continuing to play, but the decision isn’t going to made one way or the other until a couple of months after that last game.)
But he also wasn’t where he was supposed to be on Chase Brown’s six-yard touchdown run, “one play that will haunt me,” Campbell said after the lopsided loss. “It was probably the worst play of the season for me.
“I gotta wear that, and that’s heartbreaking for me.”
The season hasn’t been anything like Campbell envisioned when he returned to the Cardinals. Then again, there isn’t anyone who works at 8701 S. Hardy that envisioned much of this.
To that end, Campbell’s biggest play of the day served as a reminder of sorts. His sack – bringing him to 6½ this season – came with the Cardinals down just 13-7 in the first half. It forced a punt, but Campbell said it could’ve (should’ve?) been more.
“I wish I could’ve gotten the ball out,” Campbell said. “It was there for me, I just missed it. I’ve missed some sacks trying to get the ball, so I wanted to secure the sack. I left some plays out there too, there were a couple of opportunities early on, and for this team, you have to make the plays early on to get momentum on your side. You miss them, it comes back to bite you.”
The Bengals punted, but the Cardinals couldn’t get going and ended up punting it back – and then allowed the Bengals a 60-yard field-goal drive. The Cards couldn’t get close after that.
Meanwhile, Campbell will play game No. 278 next week, one shy of Bruce Smith for second-most all-time for a defensive lineman, and four short of Jim Marshall’s NFL record of 282.
— Marvin Harrison Jr.’s snaps were again limited as the Cardinals manage his heel issue. He wasn’t targeted for the first time until late in the first half, a contested ball that was broken up. That turned out to be his only target, and it was only the second time in his career he was held without a catch. He also didn’t have a reception in Green Bay as a rookie after suffering a concussion early in the game.