The first thing to stand between the Cardinals in Arizona and their first playoff spot since 2015 was rival Los Angeles Rams. And not even a fully healthy Los Angeles Rams team – but one that started a former AAF fullback behind the center. Instead of taking their chances, however, the Cardinals lose for the fifth time in seven games and end a once promising season that leaves the team with more questions than answers.
Sunday’s game presented a win-and-win scenario for both the Rams and the Cardinals, and each group competed with serious injuries. Arizona came into the series without receivers Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and Christian Kirk (COVID-19 list), and the start of QB Kyler Murray suffered a lower leg injury that he suffered late in the 49ers’ loss last week. The Rams, meanwhile, were without starting QB Jared Goff, who broke his right thumb against the Seahawks last week. LA is therefore turning to rugby quarterback John Wolford, who has never appeared in an NFL game before Sunday.
But the Cardinals’ QB advantage quickly disappeared. Murray left the game early in the first quarter after injuring his ankle in the opening series of the game. Arizona is turning to backup Chris Streveler, who previously played in the Canadian Football League and helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. lift the Gray Cup in 2019. Within a span of three minutes, a game with play-off implications was suddenly in the hands of two players who were not even on the NFL rankings last year.
Wolford’s first pass of the day was an interception, setting up the only offensive attack in the entire game: a Streveler pass to Jonathan Ward, who gave the Cardinals an early 7-0 lead.
After that, the game belonged to the defense. Wolford achieved some success by completing 22-of-38 passes for 231 yards and one pick, while adding six runs for 56 yards. But Streveler and the Cardinals offense looked mostly stagnant, completing 11-of-16 passes for 105 yards, one offense and a game-changing 84-yard six scored by Rams corner Troy Hill. The turnover gave Los Angeles a 12-7 lead entering halftime.
The Rams extended their lead to 11 early in the fourth quarter after a few field goals. And although Murray eventually returned and drove the Cardinals inside the red zone, the ride stalled and Mike Nugent’s 37-goal effort to field goals was blocked. It was just as much a struggle as the Kliff Kingsbury team the rest of the afternoon, and their play-off aspirations – which seemed very realistic a few weeks ago – were quietly sniffed out.
This season, Murray has been a favorite candidate to be the league’s breakout player, due to how strong Arizona looked in its last three games of 2019. By the end of the 2020-21 season, however, the Cardinals could say the opposite. . Now the questions surrounding Kingsbury’s team – along with his tenure – are increasing.
Kingsbury’s earnings as NFL head coach were questioned when he was appointed in 2019, largely because of his record as Texas Tech’s coach. He set a career record of 35-40, but is considered for his offensive skill, and boasts strongly driven Air Raid offenses that were helped at one point by Patrick Mahomes. Kingsbury’s first year suggested he was worth the gamble, largely because of Murray’s development. And through the first seven games of the season, when the Cardinals started after a 5-2 run, it stayed true. But the limitations of Arizona’s offense were also clear during that time. And after Week 8 at Cardinals, those restrictions became inhibiting. Arizona has won 3-6 in its last nine games to end the season 8-8.
As if the Cardinals record wasn’t suspicious enough yet, they scored four wins against the humble NFC East and another win against the Jets. The Week 7 overtime win over Arizona against the Seahawks and the Week 10 win over the Bills were impressive, but the club’s game level has declined significantly as a result. The Cardinals entered week 17 in 20th place in Football Outsiders’ offensive DVOA benchmark and 10th in defensive DVOA.
A case needs to be made to allow Kingsbury to continue to grow. As The AthleticsAccording to Ted Nguyen, the 41-year-old immediately re-qualified the Cardinals offense in his first year. Due to the shortened off-season, he did not get the time to build up the momentum as usual. And although his offense last year made the exciting acquisition of superstar DeAndre Hopkins, his unit has no other notable playmakers, and the offensive line has not been consistent yet. However, this is not an excuse for Kingsbury’s game-oriented gaffs, such as the fact that he sets Hopkins up almost exclusively on the left side of his formations and relies too heavily on Murray’s athletics. On Sunday, against the third and 18th of LA’s 48-year line with five minutes left, Kingsbury called a speed option in which a staggering Murray immediately threw the ball to fullback Chase Edmonds, who was swallowed up behind the line for a loss. Then, in a must-win game and with 11 behind, Kingsbury shows the ball away. These kind of confusing mistakes for game management have occurred too often this season.
” Part of it goes through learning how to win, ” Murray told reporters after Sunday’s loss. ‘There are still some reasons why I do not want to bother now. [Missing the playoffs] is an ugly feeling. ”
Regardless, Sunday’s game – and this season – proved that the Cardinals are still one step behind their peers in the NFC West. Playing a rugby quarterback in a must-win game is something only a few teams and coaches are willing to account for in the midfield. But given the start of the season in Arizona, and the relative ease of his schedule in the second half, it probably shouldn’t have gotten into the scenario. This off-season offers a chance for the Cardinals to upgrade their roster and continue to build their offense around Murray. But whether they should stay patient with Kingsbury is a good question. Expectations for the club have been raised. Kingsbury is an important reason why this is the case, but it is also why he will have to act to move forward.