The Arizona Cardinals look to have established a new beachhead. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cardinals used a game plan less reliant on quarterback Kyler Murray and more on the weapons around him. The result was a 24-10 win against the Steelers in a game plagued by two rain delays. A nice win, but what the Arizona Cardinals need to accomplish with four games left is not complicated.
What The Arizona Cardinals Need to Accomplish with Four Games Left
Now, with a Week 15 game against San Francisco, it becomes a game serving as a measuring stick. Specifically, it is an opportunity to see where Murray is, and if he is capable of not being the offensive centerpiece game in and game out. Further, the Cardinals will be evaluating whether he is the right quarterback for future Arizona teams.
It isn’t a foregone conclusion Murray will remain with Arizona, but this is a significant four games for him. Granted San Francisco and two road games that follow at Chicago and Philadelphia won’t likely have the Cardinals as the favorites. But beating the Bears is not illogical, and they could easily topple the 6-7 Seahawks in the season finale.
The Cardinals will need big games this weekend and the next three from tight end Trey McBride. Receiver Marquise Brown and running back James Conner also need a big game. Arizona has been sound defensively, but constantly needing to pitch a shutout or keep the offense close won’t do. Against Pittsburgh, Arizona showed it could score when needed.
McBride continues to show he might be a solid tight end, but rookie Michael Wilson needs to get back on the field. According to head coach Jonathan Gannon, Wilson is a likely “go” for Arizona, saying “he should be out there this week in some capacity…He’s doing good.”
What Kyler Murray Needs to Accomplish
Murray remains more of a work in progress. He is under the hot white lights of a media who are wowed one minute then confounded the next. Still, Gannon remains optimistic for the balance of the season beyond the game with the 49ers. “I think he’ll tell you that operationally (we have to) make sure we’re doing a good job in and out of the huddle, getting guys situated, getting us in the right checks and calls, and then playing at a high level, which he’s done.”
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is excited to see QB Kyler Murray’s continued improvement vs. a tough 49ers defense:
“I think he’ll tell you that operationally (we have to) make sure we’re doing a good job in and out of the huddle, getting guys situated, getting us… pic.twitter.com/aBRgghKq74
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) December 11, 2023
With San Francisco, it may be the one game where being “in the game” is a victory. Clearly, an upset of a team primed for a Super Bowl run would set the league and media on fire. Murray and Co. having a solid game would assuage a crowd looking for a big win. The Cardinals have little to worry about on defense in the grander scheme of things. But a carbon copy effort like what happened in Pittsburgh would send the crowd home happy. It would also give General Manager Monti Ossenfort something more to think about.
Main Photo: Rob Schumacher – USA Today Sports
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