THE STORY: GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – Kyler Murray was succinct, shaking his head on the “bonehead play after bonehead play” the Cardinals placed on Lambeau Area on Sunday afternoon.
The least penalized staff within the league practically reached its season complete for flags in a single recreation. The TD-score-to-open video games streak got here to a jarring halt, ending on a miscommunication incompletion between Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. that Murray stated was his fault. The protection, seeking to forestall huge performs in opposition to Jordan Love and the Packers, gave up huge performs.
The 34-13 loss was 24-0 earlier than the Cardinals (2-4) might discover their footing, and it could not have been rather more disappointing after an emotional street win the week earlier than.
“That is upsetting,” defensive lineman L.J. Collier stated. “We will win back-to-back video games and we will do issues like that. We now have to execute. We now have to place this (expletive) in movement, truthfully.
“We have got every little thing we want within the constructing. We simply need to play higher.”
The Cardinals had an NFL-low 19 penalties earlier than the sport however dedicated 13 for 100 yards (and had one flag declined and one other worn out from offsetting fouls). Too many got here pre-snap.
It was out of character for a Jonathan Gannon staff, however indicative of a day that was typically performed below darkish clouds and rain.
“We simply did not compete sensible sufficient at this time,” Gannon stated.
That did not embrace the three misplaced fumbles, short-circuiting any hope of a rally. The Cardinals did drive a Love interception by cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, however the offense might solely flip it right into a area objective.
Love threw 4 landing passes for a second straight recreation, and the Packers had seven gamers with no less than one dashing try whereas piling up 179 yards on the bottom. Gannon famous the Cardinals did not do sufficient on the go rush to have an effect on Love, who too typically had a very long time to decide on his goal.
“We have got to return to the drafting board,” linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. stated. “If we wish to be a playoff staff, we have to determine that (expletive) out.”
Whereas the Packers have been working, the Cardinals could not. The deficit did not assist, however the Cardinals totaled 89 yards on the bottom with James Conner notching solely 24 on seven carries earlier than basically sitting out the fourth quarter with the sport out of attain.
Murray accomplished 22-of-32 passes for 214 yards and a landing to Michael Wilson. However his gaudy working common was held down – Murray had 14 yards on seven carries – and the turnovers worn out potential drives.
“We play like that, we cannot beat anyone,” Murray stated.
“There is no such thing as a magic wand to wave. We simply need to execute.”