The propulsion of this year’s season is quite a bit different than what was planned. No team in any league has a blueprint that begins with a 2-5-0 record. Which isn’t so bad when the entity is the NHL, NBA, MLS, or Major League Baseball. They play so many games that a bad start can be overcome.
But the NFL has a 17-game schedule. A bad record in the first half usually means watching the playoffs on a big screen featuring Rotel nachos, homemade potato salad, and grilled chicken wings from the backyard.
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What has been most aggravating for Cardinals fans is the fact that every single game the lead was basically given up in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. All five of their losses were by a grand total of 13 points. That is collectively, not per game.
A five-game skid is not fun in any sport at any level. When players are paid handsomely to participate yet lose repeatedly, it stings. Fans are not being paid millions to buy hats and jackets, purchase expensive game tickets, and pay for premium parking, book hotel rooms that were $179 on Tuesday and $480 on gameday weekend. Plus, the food is usually pretty good at the stadium, but at a cost.
Arizona is now coming off its bye week. A few extra days off during this span should help.
Here at ROTB, we have some relevant questions:
- What did the coaches come up with to end their losing streak?
- Will Kyler Murray be the starting quarterback once he is fully healed?
- With all the money spent this year on defense, how is that panning out?
- Because the starting running backs are all hurt, will OC Drew Petzing devise a plan to utilize the pass more?
- What is the plan to get the ball to TE Trey McBride and WR Marv Harrison more?
- We are halfway into the third year of the 3-year plan of Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort. Why isn’t the effort any better?
That final question is a bingo. The multiyear effort to rebuild the roster led by the GM and the head coach appears to have crackled and sputtered. Realistically, is this team any better than that 4-13-0 roster in 2022 when both Gannon and Ossenfort were brought in to fix the franchise?
On a Zoom media call, Gannon stated:
“I would say we have had adversity hit us since I’ve been here, and we are in it now, right?” There’s only one way to kind of flip the narrative, which I feel really confident with how we’re going to do that. We’re going to put our best foot forward, put all the energy and effort into flipping it, and then let the chips fall.”
Losing is one thing. Having the game in hand and then getting beaten is another animal. The 2025 Cardinals are masters of having the game in hand and then losing the game.
In essence, it has been a lurid dream of a five-game stretch. One that none of us as Cardinals fans signed up for. This was supposed to be the banner year after going through back-to-back four-win seasons and then 8-9-0 last year. Four wins, eight triumphs, then the payoff for 11 or 12 victories and a playoff berth.
That is how a three-year plan is supposed to work. You tough it out before the payoff. Yet, the only payoff this year is the coffers of local hotels and the secondary ticket companies, which gauge prices.
It’s just the midway point, and already, Cardinal season ticket holders are all over social media trying to sell their remaining games and recoup some of their investment.
The major question involves Murray. He inked a monster $230 million deal in 2022 that keeps him in Arizona until 2028. He isn’t playing like a mega-paid quarterback, and so far, nobody is calling Ossenfort with trade offers. The Cardinals are stuck with him.
Even if the team makes a change and keeps backup QB Jacoby Brissett as their starter, the franchise remains on the hook for Murray’s big paydays. So far, Gannon has stated that Murray will resume his post once he is cleared to play.
Gannon addressed that:
“We’ll see how it goes. Keeps trending.”
The defense has been a roller coaster. The issue is that the offense isn’t able to move the ball and finish drives, which keeps the defense on the field longer. In the fourth quarter, they are spent and play like they are worn down and ready to hit the showers instead.
Gannon realizes that the defense failing at the end of so many contests is an issue:
“We’re all trying to find solutions together because you have to keep points off the board there.”
Ossenfort gave his full attention to the defensive side of the ball during the off-season. He spent great money on bringing in DE Josh Sweat from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. He signed key free agents such as defensive tackles Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson. He used six of seven draft picks on defensive players, highlighted by DT Walter Nolen in Round 1, CB Will Johnson in the second round, and DE Jordan Burch in Round 3.
And now that the 3-year plan is in jeopardy, Gannon’s name has popped up on several media “Hot Seat” projection articles.
So, what is Gannon’s opinion going forward?
“You have to stay fully committed to what we’re doing. Do it a little bit better, but continue to have high football character. Not skip steps, stick to your process, do everything a little bit better, and punch your way out.”
Is this the direction of the Cardinals franchise?
Unkept projections, overpaid players, poor performance, inconsistent play, limited accountability, predictable play-calling, and bad schemes?
And, “Do it a little bit better?”
