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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Throughout much of the current season, the Arizona Cardinals appeared to be headed toward a playoff berth.
Back in early November, they topped the NFC West with a promising 6-4 record. However, their aspirations quickly dwindled as they faced a dire situation with four losses in five games, culminating in a heart-wrenching 36-30 overtime setback against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.
This defeat effectively knocked the Cardinals (7-8) out of playoff contention for the third consecutive year.
The team’s difficulties escalated significantly following the injury to left tackle Paris Johnson earlier in the week.
During the game, right tackle Jonah Williams was sidelined in the first half, and star running back James Conner, who had amassed 166 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in just 2.5 quarters, succumbed to a knee injury. Additionally, linebacker Baron Browning (neck) and safety Joey Blunt (ribs) also exited early due to injuries.
Mistakes compounded the team’s troubles as well. The Cardinals recorded two turnovers—one a botched snap and another an ill-advised interception thrown by Kyler Murray in the fourth quarter. They also accrued 11 penalties totaling 82 yards, which intensified their 17-point deficit in the first half and contributed to a 10-point deficit by the fourth quarter.
Three penalties during the Panthers’ scoring drives kept them alive, while two other infractions halted Cardinals’ offensive momentum.
“We simply didn’t play well,” acknowledged tight end Trey McBride. “What stands out to me is the number of penalties. We didn’t execute cleanly, and we let ourselves down. Against a team like that, it’s tough to dig out of a 17-point hole.”
Despite their struggles, the Cardinals rallied to force overtime, highlighted by a remarkable 20-yard touchdown run from Murray, coupled with two crucial defensive plays and a 58-yard field goal by Chad Ryland as time expired during regulation.
However, the team couldn’t build on this momentum, faltering in the overtime period. Arizona’s single possession resulted in a loss of six yards and ended in a punt due to an illegal motion penalty. This gave the Panthers excellent field position, which they exploited effectively, scoring the game-winning touchdown with a 21-yard run from Chuba Hubbard after breaking through two tackles.
“We need to put in the effort and make it through the next week,” said Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, acknowledging the frustration of his team. “I understand they are feeling low, and that’s valid. Ultimately, we haven’t done enough to succeed, and I take responsibility for that.”
Gannon emphasized that the issues affecting the season were a collective effort, stating, “Everyone was involved in how this season turned out.”
This deterioration was not abrupt but rather a gradual decline for the Cardinals.
Their offensive difficulties emerged prominently during a 16-6 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks on November 26. Subsequently, the Cardinals blew a late lead in a 23-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings thanks to a late touchdown from Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones. Following this, another disappointing performance against the Seahawks sealed their fate once more.
Even after securing a win against New England last week, salvaging a playoff run seemed unlikely. The deficit was perhaps insurmountable, even had they managed to overcome the struggling Panthers (4-11).
“It’s disheartening. We believed we were close to achieving our goals,” remarked linebacker Kyzir White. “Coming here and not succeeding is certainly frustrating and painful.”
Defensive lineman L.J. Collier expressed the tough reality that the players faced given their dedication throughout the season.
“It’s a painful feeling knowing how hard everyone has worked this year,” Collier noted. “After overcoming so much adversity, falling short is a hard pill to swallow, especially with teammates you care about.”
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