In a physical battle between the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions, the field saw its fair share of players going down. The cart was in use more than once, especially after a hard collision between Trey McBride and Lions safety Brian Branch. Injuries and bruises piled up for both teams, but that’s the style the Cardinals are known for. Unfortunately, they struggled to open up running lanes, particularly for James Conner. Despite their reputation for running the ball effectively, the Cardinals found it tough to get their ground game going. Even head coach Jonathan Gannon admitted he was surprised, simply saying, “Yeah, I am,” when asked about the difficulties on the ground.
This loss feels eerily similar to the recent defeat in Buffalo. With time and less emotion, this setback may look better in hindsight. Both the Bills and the Lions appear to be strong contenders in their conferences, and though close losses can pile up, there’s potential for growth as the season progresses. One positive takeaway is the defense, which seems to be outperforming preseason expectations. Offensively, Gannon’s squad likely won’t repeat this kind of performance often.
One key issue going forward is the situation at right tackle. Jonah Williams, currently sidelined, won’t return until Week 6 against Green Bay. Kelvin Beachum’s hamstring injury was severe enough to keep him off the field, and Jackson Barton filled in admirably before suffering a late toe injury. Aiden Hutchinson recorded his only sack of the game when lined up against Paris Johnson Jr. Barton, reflecting on his performance, said, “I just knew every play, I needed to make it my best rep.” Gannon also praised Barton’s resilience, adding, “He battled in there. He didn’t want to come out of the game when I went out when he was down. He’s a true pro.” Whether Barton’s toe injury will keep him out remains a concern, leaving veteran Charlie Heck, fourth on the depth chart, to finish the game.
Meanwhile, Kyler Murray wasn’t pleased with his first interception of the season. On the opening drive of the second half, with the score 20-10 and the Cardinals facing a second-and-3 at the Detroit 36-yard line, Murray attempted a jump ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. in the end zone. However, the pass was slightly underthrown and intercepted by Kerby Joseph. “Probably not the right time to be doing that, but it is what it is,” Murray acknowledged. “I trust my guys.”
Harrison, targeted a game-high 11 times, ended up with only five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Murray frequently looked his way, but the connection wasn’t as productive as it could have been. In one instance, Terrion Arnold broke up what seemed like a potential touchdown pass right before halftime. The Mack Wilson pick-6 that wasn’t due to an apparent whistle also changed the perception of the game, but the Cardinals still had to stop a critical third-down run for 14 yards when the Lions needed 12. That final Lions touchdown should never have happened, though former Lions receiver Herman Moore tweeted his belief that it should have counted.
Jahmyr Gibbs’ peculiar stat line added some humor to the game. Despite not having an official reception, Gibbs managed a receiving touchdown thanks to a hook-and-lateral play. He finished with 20 receiving yards but recorded zero catches. However, the physical toll of the game was undeniable. Defensive linemen Justin Jones and Khyiris Tonga both left the game with injuries, and yet another right tackle went down, along with tight end Trey McBride, who was checked for a concussion.
In a more positive milestone, Cardinals kicker Matt Prater made the extra point following the team’s first touchdown, marking the 1,800th point of his career. He’s the only active player to reach that milestone. Among those watching the game was Suns guard and Olympic gold medalist Devin Booker, although, with his Michigan roots, Booker leans toward supporting the Lions.
The Cardinals also took a moment to honor the passing of longtime Phoenix Suns play-by-play announcer Al McCoy, who passed away at the age of 91 over the weekend. Cardinals play-by-play man Dave Pasch paid tribute by delivering McCoy’s famous “Shazam!” after Marvin Harrison Jr.’s first touchdown of the game. For many who grew up in Arizona, McCoy’s voice was iconic. Reflecting on this, a longtime Cardinals fan mentioned how McCoy, along with Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, provided the soundtrack of his youth.
Despite falling short offensively, the Cardinals had an impressive start, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for the third consecutive game. The last time they managed such a feat was in 2006, during Denny Green’s final season as head coach. However, the offense ultimately failed to capitalize on its opportunities, a fact wide receiver Michael Wilson acknowledged. “Everything in the game of football matters more,” he said. “It’s magnified. It’s one of the few sports where you train exponentially more than you play games. Every target, every block means more because you’ll only get so many guaranteed opportunities to perform. We just didn’t do a good enough job as an offensive unit to give us a chance to win.”
In the end, it was a hard-fought game, but the Cardinals will need to learn from their mistakes if they want to contend with teams like the Lions and Bills. Time will tell how much these close losses shape the rest of the season.
