Cardinals won't blame it on the rain, cold for how they perform against Bears

The Cardinals had their first experience playing in cool fall weather conditions in the 40s this season when they won at Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 21.

Arizona is returning from their bye last week looking to make a splash for their 10th win against the Chicago Bears (4-7) at what's expected to be a wet Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Windy City's forecast reads a 48 degree-high and low of 30, blustery 17 mile per hour gusts, and 82% chance of rain, per Weather.com.

The theory of NFL teams getting domed-field advantage playing in their enclosed stadiums or retractable roofs over opposing teams who don't have covered stadiums is an age-old argument.

The Cardinals have the luxury of State Farm Stadium's warmth, short grass, and a retractable roof. Playing there doesn't hinder their passing, running or possibly exacerbate their injuries as cold and precipitation might do in an open stadium.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph "absolutely" believes stopping the Bears eighth-ranked run game, led by David Montgomery, will be more important, and potentially tougher, in the rain.

"Every game is different, obviously. But this team is a run-first team," Joseph said. "They're a top 10-running offense, so that's gotta be part of our plan to get the run stopped, and obviously if the weather is nasty and wet, that's where they should go with it. But that's always a part of our plan to take away what they do best."

For special teams, Arizona kicker Matt Prater said in October that depending on the time of year, Soldier Field's possibly long grass, cold temperature, high winds and rain or snow "makes it tough" for his field goal attempts.

But all is fair in playing in good or bad weather to the Cardinals, and they won't blame it on the rain for how they fare against the Bears.

"You play in this league long enough, you're gonna have some cold weather games, regardless if you play in Arizona your whole career, obviously. But Chicago's a great environment. It's a great place to play. It's a great stadium," Ertz said. "If it's wet and rainy, it's just gonna be one of those days and you just got to find a way to win.

"You can't make excuses for the weather because when you look on the field at end of the day, no one's gonna care if it's raining or not. Everyone's gonna see if you played well or you played poorly. Don't make it bigger than what it is and just roll."

Ertz ready for McCoy possibly again vs. Bears

Ertz feels fully acclimated to the offense since he was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 15, and is looking forward to Kyler Murray's and DeAndre Hopkins' return.

Murray and Hopkins could be game-time decisions for the fourth consecutive game as they're still nursing ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively.

"Those two guys are one of the real reasons I wanted to play here," Ertz said. "We got two games together, one and a half with D-Hop, so I'm excited for when they come back."

Ertz has been catching passes from backup quarterback Colt McCoy through the Cardinals' past three games, in which McCoy went 2-1 as their starter.

He said it doesn't matter if McCoy replaces Murray, if Hopkins is out again, or whoever replaces the inactives players, as long as they do their job well.

"In this league, we have high expectations for whoever steps on the field," Ertz said. "Ultimately, it speaks more about the culture they've created and that expectation of who's on the field, if you're the first guy or the fourth guy. I won a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback."

Ertz referred to Nick Foles, who led the Eagles to win the Super Bowl in 2019 when Foles replaced a then-injured Carson Wentz.

Joseph compares Kingsbury's Oklahoma speculation to birthdays

Vance Joseph understands that football is a business more than a sport.

That's why Joseph wasn't surprised when Kingsbury's name popped up in the news about Oklahoma's new head coach search on Sunday.

Joseph has been through this before he was hired as Denver Broncos head coach in 2017, and knows Kingsbury's stock is piping hot.

He likened college football's time of year when the coaching carousel begins to people's birthdays.

"It's that time of the year. College football's pretty much done with their season. We've got a month and a half and that's part of the season. Every year that's gonna happen, right? It's like a birthday,” Joseph said. “It’s almost time for changes to be made and that’s part of the business and everyone understands that part. It’s good and bad for some people. I’ve been on both sides of that thing."

Injury report

Cardinals left guard Justin Pugh (calf) and safety James Wiggins (knee) did not participate in practice on Thursday. Murray and Hopkins were limited.

The Bears had seven players not participate in their practice. That includes defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (ribs), WRs Marquise Goodwin (foot/ribs) and Allen Robinson II (hamstring), TE Jimmy Graham (rest), defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (ankle), LB Roquan Smith (hamstring), and running back Damien Williams (calf). QB Justin Fields (ribs) and TE Cole Kmet (groin) were limited, and S Tashaun Gipson Jr. (chest) practiced in full.

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals won't blame it on the rain, cold how they play against Bears