TEMPE – The Arizona Cardinals are in a funk.
Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers marks the fifth straight game the Cardinals have lost by one possession, falling by a combined 13 points over that span. The first three losses in the skid all came on walk-off field goals.
Despite the multiple collapses and the recent high-visibility, heated exchange with running back Emari Demercado that cast a negative light on the organization, Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon tried to remain optimistic.
He believes his team can turn things around despite the grim circumstances surrounding the last five weeks and with the season seemingly slipping away after a 2-0 start.
“We have had adversity hit us since I’ve been here, and we are in it now, and there’s only one way to flip the narrative, which I feel really confident of how we’re going to do it,” Gannon said.
Fans have grown increasingly frustrated with a team that keeps losing games in which it seems to control. The Cardinals have lost three consecutive games while leading by seven or more points going into the fourth quarter, an NFL record according to the FOX Sports broadcast.
“I do think it’s a good little time to reset here and really focus on some controllables moving forward, as it relates to everybody playing a little bit better,” Gannon said.
The Cardinals are expected to have quarterback Kyler Murray, who missed the last two games with a foot injury, back in the lineup after the bye week. However, the harsh reality is that the results have been the same whether Murray or backup Jacoby Brissett is under center.
Murray struggled to lead the Arizona offense through the first five games, finding the end zone just seven times, including six touchdown passes and one rushing score. He was intercepted three times during that span.
Murray has not passed for more than 220 yards in a game this season, and his lack of connection with standout wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a frequent topic of discussion from fans and media.
Meanwhile, Brissett has a 97.7 quarterback rating, throwing for 599 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the two games he has played in place of Murray, who went down with the foot injury in week five against the Tennessee Titans.
“That’s the reason why we signed Jacoby,” Gannon said. “We felt really good about him giving us a chance to win if he had to go in and play, and I think he’s done that.”
Arizona already made more NFL history, becoming the first team to lose three consecutive games on a game-winning score as time expired.
Now the Cardinals find themselves in the cellar of the ultracompetitive NFC West Division. Every other team in the division has a 5-2 record.
After the bye, the Cardinals face the Dallas Cowboys (3-3-1) on “Monday Night Football” in Dallas, then visit NFC West rival Seattle before returning home to host the San Francisco 49ers.
The turning point against the Packers came with 5:58 left on the clock and the Cardinals clinging to a 23-20 lead, needing only a yard to convert on fourth down. Instead, Brissett was stuffed on a quarterback sneak.
“I liked the call there, we’ve been pretty good on those,” Gannon said. “It’s a yard. It’s unfortunate they made a good play.”
Green Bay took over on downs and marched all the way to the Cardinals’ 1-yard line, where Packers running back Josh Jacobs ran it in for a touchdown, giving Green Bay a 27-23 lead with less than two minutes to go.
Arizona was able to drive to Green Bay’s 27-yard line, but failed to convert in a fourth-down-and-10 situation, sealing the victory for the Packers.
There were reasons for Gannon’s optimism, despite another painful loss. Tight end Trey McBride continued to show why he’s considered a premier player in the league, hauling in 10 passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns against a stingy Packers defense.
Jonathan Gannon still optimistic despite another late-game Cardinals collapse
McBride now has four touchdowns this season, double his total last season when he was named to the Pro Bowl.
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