Bickley: Same old Cardinals find a new way to lose

Football fans in the Valley are lost in a maze of emotions. Many ASU fans are in meltdown mode, already dreading the annual Territorial Cup. It’s even more complicated for Cardinals fans.

Consider:

The Cardinals played a thrilling football game on Sunday, a 36-24 loss to the Giants that featured a horrible ending. It wasn’t a must-win game. But with the Lions, Rams, Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, Rams (again) and the Chiefs on the coming itinerary, it might’ve been the last win opportunity for a while.

After two great series to start the game, Jacoby Brissett was once again a piñata in the pocket. He made a handful of exquisite throws, but also a handful of very poor decisions. And with two chances to win the game, Brissett came up woefully short.

The first opportunity started at his own three-yard line and ended with a terrible no-call against Trey McBride. The second ended on the Giants’ four-yard line, a drive aided by a terrible call against the Giants. In other words, the football gods leveled the playing field for Brissett to produce heroics and fireworks, giving him four plays to win the game.

Down to one play, Brissett threw a pick-six, confirming all the worst fears. The Cardinals’ starting quarterback is both underrated and underappreciated in the Valley. But he is not the next veteran/savior to fall in our laps. He is not the next Kurt Warner or Carson Palmer. He does not have the star power to win a game that hangs in the balance.

Next, Marvin Harrison Jr., who caught a touchdown pass on a great throw from Brissett early in the game. He immediately put a finger to his lips, making the shhhhhhh gesture. Maybe it was meant for Giants fans in MetLife Stadium. Maybe it was meant to silence his legion of critics. Either way, it was a wonderful moment full of hope and renewal.

Until Harrison Jr. butchered a perfect pass from Brissett near the end of the game near the goal line, one that could’ve won the game much earlier.

Next, head coach Mike LaFleur, who was incredibly impressive for most of Sunday afternoon. His play calling abilities sliced and diced the Giants early in the game. Even more impressive, he seemed fully in control of his brain and his emotions in the agonizing final minute of play, when the clock was ticking and the Cardinals head coach was dialing up plays on the fly.

But after playing clean football for the first 22 minutes, the Cardinals finished with another seven penalties for 55 yards. And you can’t help but wonder why Jeremiyah Love wasn’t on the field at the end of the game.

Finally, the defense, which has now allowed more than 30 points in three consecutive games. Budda Baker brought the hammer. Josh Sweat played a very loud game, looking like his dominant self. Except the performance came after an unsettling pre-game report from Adam Schefter that Sweat wants a new contract and is one of five players most likely to be traded. In other words, the chaos will continue just as the schedule becomes a gauntlet, along with all the barstool and water-cooler howls for a new quarterback to replace Brissett.

Instead of winning their second road game under LaFleur in three tries, the Cardinals lost in the most Cardinal-like way. With one play to win the game, they executed a play that produced a 12-point margin of defeat. And the trudge continues.

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