Instant Reaction: Cardinals Eliminated From Playoffs

The Arizona Cardinals lost a one-score game for the seventh time this season, falling 20-17 to Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. While Arizona once again put forward a solid defensive effort and a late offensive surge, it wasn’t enough to overcome a handful of missed opportunities.

It was a similar story to what Cardinals fans have had to endure week in and week out. But with this loss, Arizona is officially eliminated from playoff contention — with five games remaining.

Arizona’s offensive identity on Sunday was mostly productive, and they were able to get momentum in the run game for the first time all season, but a complete failure to come away with points on multiple key drives sank their chances at just their fourth win of the year.

But it’s tough to come away from this game with takeaways that don’t involve the ultimate failure of the overall season. When the final whistle blew, that keyed the official end of the Cardinals’ season — an outcome no one would have predicted this early pre-season.

Cardinals Eliminated After Disappointing Season

It’s not as if Arizona had been in the midst of the playoff race, by any means. Especially playing in a tough NFC West, there was little expectation the Cardinals could recover from 3-8. But to see their playoff hopes end in such a predictable, similar fashion is tough to stomach.

The Cardinals’ offense only mustered 17 points on the day, but there was plenty of opportunity for them to hold a lead by game’s end. A sturdy, well-sequenced offensive drive in the first quarter traveled 73 yards, but ended with a brutal, ill-advised interception by Jacoby Brissett in the Red Zone on the 11th play.

That would set the tone for the day. After missed opportunities cost them a week ago, the story was the same against Tampa Bay. A 65-yard drive in the third quarter saw Brissett overthrow Marvin Harrison Jr. for a potential touchdown and Chad Ryland miss a 43-yard field goal.

There was productivity all game, but without an ability to cash in. Such has been the rhyming journey of Arizona’s offense under Brissett.

The Cardinals did run the ball generally well for what felt like the first time all year, though they did not lean on the ground game heavily. Arizona ran for five yards per carry, but only managed 95 yards on the day.

TE Trey McBride, with his eight-catch day, set a record for most receptions through a tight end’s first four seasons. He went for 86 yards and a score, leading Arizona’s receiving corp.

Arizona’s defense was solid, with OLB Josh Sweat tying his career-high in sacks (11) with a two-sack game.

But ultimately, as positive as some of the effort was for the Cardinals, it spoke to a consistent theme. No matter how many opportunities Jonathan Gannon and co. are awarded, it seems inevitable that they will find a way to lose each and every game.

It was another game that felt as if Arizona’s coaching staff was outclassed by their opponents. On 3rd & 1, early in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals chose to throw deep into double coverage — a play eerily reminiscent of the play that ended their overtime hopes a week prior.

It felt obvious what was coning in that moment: a generic run play on fourth and one. That plan was obvious to the Buccaneers, as well, and the Cardinals were stuffed short.

Though that drive certainly did not solely sink Arizona’s hopes at a win, it stood out as another example of poor offensive planning, scheming, and execution. The Cardinals are wasting a high level of talent by failing to execute on the field and putting forward poor coaching performances. It’s just been that type of year.

A season that has been brutal from start to finish comes to a disappointing — but not in any way surprising — end.