It’s just one game. But in 60 minutes of gripping yet losing football, the Cardinals saw all their dark sides. They witnessed the sum of their fears.
During a 34-28 loss to the Bills on Sunday, the Cardinals learned:
Their defense may be underfunded and short of playmakers for the second straight game. They allowed 31 points in the final 33 minutes. They couldn’t pressure the quarterback without blitzing. They allowed four touchdowns in five possessions.
The Cardinals appear to have very good linebackers and excellent safeties. But general manager Monti Ossenfort has gone on a bargain hunt to find cornerbacks and pass rushers, even though the team reportedly has $26.1 million in salary cap space left. If he’s on a tight budget, the owner should be ashamed of himself. But if Ossenfort didn’t let his team hold onto a 14-point lead, he’ll have to pay the price for the failure.
The Cardinals have learned that their franchise quarterback can be an unstoppable force, especially at the head of an offense that emphasizes ball control. But Sunday, there were no heroics from Kyler Murray in the final stages of the game. There was no connection with Marvin Harrison Jr., who was targeted just three times.
It was a strange debut for the prized rookie who was considered so valuable that he played a token series in the preseason. A completely free Harrison Jr. dropped his first real attempt to catch a football. Then he disappeared from the game plan. And when he broke free of coverage on the final drive and waved to Murray on his way to the end zone, a charging quarterback didn’t even see him. He didn’t even look in his direction.
A lack of cohesion or rhythm didn’t seem to be an issue in the first half. After wrapping most of their players in bubble wrap during the preseason, the Cardinals were fresh and dominant through the first 27 minutes, scoring a point on their first three possessions of a game for the first time since 2006.
Meanwhile, the home team struggled with crucial errors, false start penalties and timing issues. The notorious Bills Mafia became restless and angry. The difference between the discipline and commitment of the two teams could not have been greater and the game turned into another overwhelming triumph for Jonathan Gannon’s team.
But as the stakes got higher and the Cardinals’ defense slacked, the offense was not up to the challenge. An injury to Jonah Williams exposed the lack of depth on the team’s offensive line, and Murray felt a dramatic increase in pressure. Drew Petzing’s plays ranged from odd to inexplicable throughout most of the second half.
Finally, the Cardinals learned that there are no moral victories anymore. In 2023, Valley sports fans would have cheered loudly for this accomplishment – a close loss and a tough battle on the road against a top-notch team and a great quarterback.
Today, it is just another great loss. Today, there is more anger than pride. And although the journey is only just beginning, it is clear that the honeymoon is over. And so it is.
Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6-10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.
