Cardinals’ Loss to Lions: Important Lessons for the Team

The Arizona Cardinals just got back to harsh reality as they struggled versus the Detroit Lions recently. Having started pretty well in the season, this loss sent them back to 1-2. Fans expected a better outing, especially since the Lions did not exactly have their best day either. Let’s break down what we learned from this game, including all key player performances and factors contributing to the loss.

Challenges For Kyler Murray

Quarterback Kyler Murray played badly last game. He struggled to get going, failed in his throws, and threw two interceptions that countered Arizona’s offense, and even almost lost the game on one play. So what happens if he continues playing so poorly? Possibly big issues.

Kyler Murray came in with so much hype but didn’t live up to that against a stout Lions defense. He completed 21 of 34 for 207 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. This was a rare off game for Murray, who has been playing like an MVP in the first few weeks of the season. The Lions kept him off-balance all game, which made him less effective. While he rushed for 45 yards, it was not enough to spark the offense. Thus, it only proved the point that when Murray is off, everyone on the team suffers.

Offensively, the Cardinals were choppy and inefficient. They could not maintain many drives and went three-and-outs more times than one could count; which, of course, harmed their chances to score. But what was more intriguing was their decision to abandon the run game completely and rely heavily on Murray’s arm. This strategy failed since the team could only score 13 points in a poorly sustained game. Some of the chances that the team came close to missing were frustrating, especially if you consider that the team has scored 28 and 41 points in previous games. At times, the offense could not perform when duty was called.

 Defense Surprises

The loss notwithstanding, the Cardinals’ defense did far better than thought. Although the Lions’ offense was penetrating for them, they still made the game competitive. Being 1-2 is disappointing, especially when you think of the fact that they came close to becoming 3-0. This record, however, does not describe a season of failure but how close they are still to rebuilding. They played tough games against great opponents and did well, which bodes well. Losing to the Lions is frustrating, but the Cardinals have proven that they can give any team a good fight.

This is a game the Cardinals should learn from. They must learn to better leverage the mistakes that their opponents are making and then execute their plays more efficiently. They must find a delicate balance between running and passing plays as the season unfolds. If they take things positively from this game, then that only augurs well for them. Coach Jonathan Gannon is helping the team grow and learn to be better. That is something very telling about the future.

Conclusion

Looking forward, the Cardinals have a very bright future. They need to learn from the mistake that happened in this game against the Lions and rectify the same. With a mix of young talent and experienced players, they can be a great contestant in the remaining games. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, but if they play with the kind of intensity that they played on defense, they will be able to win more games.

To put it bluntly, losing to the Lions was one hard pill for the Arizona Cardinals to swallow. Kyler Murray had some issues, and the offense just could not seem to get into a rhythm. But then came the defense, which unexpectedly played well, giving the rebuilding team hope. Being 1-2 isn’t the end of the world. With the right adjustments, the Cardinals have a good chance to get better and surprise teams in the coming weeks. Fans should hold high their expectations as the season goes along.

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