It’s just one game. But in 60 minutes of riveting yet losing football, the Cardinals saw all their ghosts. They witnessed the sum of their fears.

During a 34-28 loss to the Bills on Sunday, the Cardinals learned:

Their defense may be underfunded and short on playmakers for the second straight season. They allowed 31 points in the final 33 minutes. They couldn’t pressure the quarterback without blitzing. They allowed four touchdowns in the five-possession period.

The Cardinals appear to have very good linebackers and excellent safeties. But GM Monti Ossenfort went on a spending spree for cornerbacks and pass rushers, even though the team reportedly still has $26.1 million in salary cap space. If he’s on a tight budget, shame on the owner. But if Ossenfort couldn’t keep his team from holding a 14-point lead, he has to own the failure.

The Cardinals learned that their franchise quarterback can be an unstoppable force, especially at the helm of a ball-control offense. But there were no late-game heroics from Kyler Murray on Sunday. There was no connection with Marvin Harrison Jr., who was targeted just three times.

It was a curious debut for the prized rookie, who was considered so valuable that he had only one token series in the preseason. A wide-open Harrison Jr. dropped his first real attempt to catch a football. After that, he disappeared from the game plan. And when he broke free of coverage on the final drive, waving at Murray on his way to the end zone, a struggling quarterback never saw him. He never looked in his direction.

Lack of consistency or rhythm didn’t seem to be a problem in the first half. After having bubble-wrapped most of their players during the preseason, the Cardinals were fresh and dominant in the first 27 minutes, scoring in the first three possessions of a game for the first time since 2006.

Meanwhile, the home team was struggling with key errors, false start penalties, and clock management issues. The infamous Bills Mafia was growing restless and angry. The difference between the discipline and readiness of the two teams could not have been greater, and the game looked set to be another stunning triumph for Jonathan Gannon’s team.

But as the stakes were raised and the Cardinals’ defense collapsed, the offense was unable to rise to the challenge. An injury to Jonah Williams exposed the team’s lack of depth on the offensive line, and Murray felt a dramatic increase in pressure. Drew Petzing’s play calls ranged from the odd to the inexplicable for much of the second half.

Ultimately, the Cardinals learned that there are no more moral victories in the pit. In 2023, Valley sports fans would have been left speechless with this accomplishment: a close loss and a slugfest away from home against a quality team and a great quarterback.

Today is just another big loss. Today there is more anger than pride. And although the journey has only just begun, it is very clear that the honeymoon is over. As it should be.

Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6-10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

Follow @danbickley