Despite entering their season finale on Sunday having lost five of their previous six games, the Arizona Cardinals had a chance to double their win total from a year ago.
From the outset, that would have been enough to call this a successful season.
But it can’t be because it wasn’t.
If we’re going to praise mediocrity by our sports teams in this market, we’re not doing our job and neither are franchises such as the Cardinals, who did reach the eight-win mark thanks to a 47-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium.
It should have been so much better, though.
“We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish this year and that stings,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “But I’m proud of them. I really am.
“They fought, they battled, we had a lot of guys in the lineup and roles are changing. To put that kind of effort against the San Francisco 49ers, a well-coached, tough, physical team, I thought that was cool to see.”
The Valley’s NFL entity was on its way to making us believers after winning four games in a row to stand 6-4 entering the off week. The momentum vanished in the blink of an eye as the Cardinals abruptly lost three consecutive games, including twice to the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks, and never recovered.
It wasn’t just a missed opportunity. It was the fumble of all fumbles, something this team has managed to do quite often in the second half of seasons since quarterback Kyler Murray was selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 draft.
It has not all been his fault, of course. He is the guy driving the bus and making all the loot, however, and he’s helped steer this club to the playoffs only once in six years and still doesn’t have a postseason win to show for it.
Murray was efficient, consistent and productive against the 49ers.
He passed for 242 yards and a season-high four touchdowns without an interception, and he wasn’t sacked. You just wish he could have been this good immediately after the 6-4 start. During those first 10 games, Murray had 12 touchdown passes against just three interceptions. During the next six games after that, he had more picks than TDs (8 to 5).
He finishes the season with 21 TD throws against 11 interceptions. That’s not good enough for a franchise QB, even though I’m still convinced he is. He and the Cardinals just haven’t been able to put it all together and get to the next level.
“I wanted to be playing next week and we didn’t reach that. We didn’t reach our goals,” Murray said afterward. “But I know we’re heading in the right direction. I know that.”
It is well past time for the fan base to start feeling restless. Half the supporters I’ve chatted with are already fed up and have told me they are done buying season tickets. The Cardinals are raising their prices, meanwhile, and although I can’t begrudge them for that, most folks look at it like a slap in the face.
While fans from 14 other teams are getting ready for the postseason and wild-card weekend, the Cardinals’ faithful are looking ahead to mock drafts and the start of the free agency-signing period. That has been the accepted annual protocol around here for far too long.
Sunday’s result — win, lose, or draw — was inconsequential. All it really did was help clarify at what spot the Cardinals will be picking in the draft. For the record, they will have the 16th overall pick in the first round come April 24. That is not an ideal spot for a team with a losing record.
When is winning going to start becoming the norm?
Well, I’ll keep saying it: You win through the draft and so far, you have to like Monti Ossenfort’s first two attempts as general manager. Not only has he stocked this team with plenty of draft picks, but most of them look like they are going to be long-term keepers.
They include tackle Paris Johnson Jr., wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, cornerback Garrett Williams and Max Melton, defensive tackle Darius Robinson and edge rusher BJ Ojulari — as soon as he returns from a torn ACL.
With only five draft picks at the moment, Ossenfort has to hit on at least three of them for the Cardinals to take another step forward. Just as important, it’s time for him to convince owner Michael Bidwill to open the vault and start spending some of that $82.9 million the Cardinals presently have in cap space.
It’s the fourth-highest amount in the league and Arizona needs to spend some hefty chunks of it on some real difference-makers in free agency. So far, they’re doing it the right way, but it does take a few years.
The problem in Arizona, however, is that the Cardinals have been making their fans wait for far too long. Assuming they go all in this offseason, a three-year rebuild should be long enough to lift thing franchise off the ground.
But if the Cardinals don’t make the playoffs a year from now — or at least make it come down to the final game of the 2025 season — it might be time to make some changes. And if that happens, like it or not, it’s going to make the wait even that much longer.
That’s why it’s time to win. Or else.
Reach McManaman atbob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B on ESPN 620 (KTAR-AM).
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