Cardinals’ Sloppy Performance Raises Red Flags
The Arizona Cardinals’ 34-13 blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday was a wake-up call for the team. Quarterback Kyler Murray’s fumble at the 18-yard line with 5:43 left in the game was just one of many mistakes that plagued the Cardinals.
A Game to Forget
Arizona’s performance was marred by inefficiency on offense, a plethora of penalties, and uncharacteristic turnovers. Murray described the game as “sloppy” with miscommunications. “We play like that, we won’t beat anybody,” he said. “We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot against a good team.”
Gannon’s Disappointment
Coach Jonathan Gannon, who was hired in February 2023, had high hopes for his team after their critical division win against the San Francisco 49ers the previous week. However, the Cardinals’ performance at Lambeau Field was a far cry from what Gannon expected. The 21-point loss was the fourth largest margin of his tenure.
Offense Stalls
The Cardinals didn’t score on their opening offensive drive for the first time this season, and things only got worse from there. They struggled on third down, going 4-for-10, and were unable to capitalize on their red zone opportunities. The running game also failed to get going, with Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, and James Conner finishing with 26, 25, and 24 rushing yards, respectively.
Injuries Take a Toll
The loss of rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. to a concussion in the second quarter was a significant blow to the Cardinals’ offense. Despite this, Demercado remained optimistic, saying, “We just gotta keep operating… Everybody’s just gotta step up and make plays.”
Murray’s Take
Quarterback Kyler Murray completed 22 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown, but even he acknowledged that the team’s mistakes were uncharacteristic. “That’s uncharacteristic… Since J.G. [Gannon]’s been here, I haven’t felt like we’ve played a game like that where we’ve made bonehead mistake after bonehead mistake and haven’t taken care of the ball.”
Fixing the Issues
After the game, the message from Arizona’s locker room was clear: they need to execute better. Murray believes that fixing their mistakes can help turn field goals into touchdowns. They’ll look to implement these changes against the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 7.
Penalties Prove Costly
The Cardinals’ 13 penalties, including six presnap penalties, were a major concern for Gannon. “Those are non-negotiables for us… So, uncharacteristic of us. That’s why we gotta look at why those things happened and do a better job there because bang, bang plays happen.”
With their next game just around the corner, the Cardinals will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to bounce back from this disappointing loss.
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