Cardinals lose defender Mathieu for rest of NFL title run

Arizona suffered a major setback in its Super Bowl quest Monday when Cardinals coach Bruce Arians announced safety Tyrann Mathieu will miss the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury.

Mathieu suffered a torn right knee ligament Sunday after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter of a victory over Philadelphia. Mathieu made five interceptions and 89 tackles this season for the Cardinals.

Mathieu, nicknamed "Honey Badger," tore a left knee ligament in December of 2013 during his rookie season.

His versatility, from handling defensive back or linebacker duties to stopping rushers near the line of scrimmage, has made him one of the league's most challenging defenders.

But now the Cardinals are undone for the second year in a row by a torn knee ligament, last season losing quarterback Carson Palmer to the same issue and losing in the first round of the playoffs.

At 12-2, the Cardinals have won eight games in a row to clinch the NFC West division title and are two games ahead of Green Bay with two to play for a first-round bye behind undefeated Carolina in the National Conference.

Green Bay and the Cardinals meet next Sunday at Arizona.
Source: AFP