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    • The Cardinal’s offense faces questions after a loss for the commanders
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    The Cardinal’s offense faces questions after a loss for the commanders

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    Jonathan Gannon could barely bring himself to move. He flinched only to cross and uncross his arms. His feet remained on the grass next to the 40-yard line, his gaze straight ahead. With each play, his face grew a shade darker, closer to the challenge flag in his right pocket.

    This was Gannon’s vantage point as he watched the Cardinals open the second half with consecutive holding penalties, a drop and a sack. They started the journey with their hopes hanging by a thread, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They ended the day with the day completely ending in disaster, the point of return disappearing in a nightmare of 42-14.

    “Everyone,” Gannon said, “is frustrated at that point.”

    MCMANAMAN: Loss for commanders is the beginning of the end

    It was a frustration that permeated the locker room after the game, and not just because of the score. For the Cardinals, this was an inexplicable achievement.

    Look at their previous two losses. In week 1 they lost because of their defense. That was the expectation this season, given the way in which general manager Monti Ossenfort has distributed his resources. In Week 3, the offense struggled, but that was understandable against the strong Lions defense.

    The recovery should take place this week. The Commanders’ offense had impressed early in the season behind Jayden Daniels, but their defense remained lacking in both talent and results. Through three weeks, they had allowed 256 yards per game (second worst), 7.7 yards per pass attempt (second worst) and 5.1 yards per carry (third worst). Based on total points, only the Panthers and Rams had been less determined.

    MOORE: Jayden Daniels vs. Kyler Murray: The differences are clear

    The Cardinals’ plan was to lean on the run, force Washington’s defense to respect their ground game, and then find holes in a zone-heavy defense. They got the first play, with James Conner averaging 5.8 yards per carry. The second part never arrived. Murray finished with 142 passing yards, his fewest in a full game since Dec. 5, 2021.

    When the passing attack struggled against Buffalo, the Cardinals pointed out how the Bills’ Marvin Harrison Jr. plays, gave him defensive backs and changed the game plan. On Sunday they just looked inside.

    “Player execution,” Harrison said. “That’s what it comes down to. Eleven-on-11, as a player you have to win one-on-one.

    For all the offense’s struggles, Murray was rarely the clear culprit. According to Next Gen Stats, he finished above his expected completion percentage for the third week in a row. And although he was sacked four times, he performed well under pressure, completing three of four passes for 39 yards. He didn’t turn the ball over and now has just one interception in four games.

    That’s all the good. It’s not the full picture, either, nor does it wash away the lack of explosiveness against an exploitable defense — a funk that Murray is also a part of, but that spreads to the offensive line, to the wide receivers and to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

    The Cardinals failed to make a play of more than 22 yards, but their offensive dysfunction is best summed up by a play that only required them to make one. Facing the Commanders 35 late in the first half, they nearly failed to get a play-off, with multiple receivers seemingly confused about the call coming out of the huddle.

    When it finally did happen, the play was designed to beat man coverage, with two receivers running a switch concept on the right side and Elijah Higgins running a stick route on the left side. The only problem: Washington disguised its coverage of men, but fell into the zone.

    In the pocket, Murray looked at an open Michael Wilson but didn’t pull the trigger. He then worked to a covered Higgins, hesitated again and was hammered on a game-changing sack.

    “We were a little confused, so we rushed,” Murray said. “It’s just poor execution on our part and we have to be better.”

    During the autopsy of the cardinals, the word execution came up repeatedly. This also applied to references to a lack of rhythm. The Cardinals consistently failed to extend drives on third down, even in short-yardage situations.

    Excluding garbage time, they had four plays where they had to gain one yard to keep a drive alive: two third downs and two fourth downs. Despite the success of his attack on the ground, Petzing called for three of them to be passed on. The first attempt was successful, as Murray found Harrison in the back corner of the end zone. The other two failed. Meanwhile, the only time they ran the ball, Conner picked up an easy first down.

    Afterwards, Gannon became angry when asked about those decisions. He described them as the ‘best piece’, without offering further explanation.

    It was a response similar to last week’s, when the Cardinals used Emari Demercado on a third-and-2 run up the middle instead of Conner, who is four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. Gannon’s response when asked about the personnel decision: “Third back.”

    A week later, Conner – who regularly plays third downs – saw both of Arizona’s third down carries in the first half while the game was still competitive.

    Given the Cardinals’ offensive funk, these are the little moments they need to win, even if Gannon is cagey when addressing them. Because on Sunday the answers – on the field and on the podium – were insufficient.

    And the reality now is this: Over the past two weeks, Gannon’s team has scored just 27 points. That’s the fewest in a two-game stretch with a healthy Murray since his rookie season.

    “This competition is very humbling,” Gannon said. “And we are humiliated today.”

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