Cardinals show proof of concept for how system can work in win over Patriots

GLENDALE — The Cardinals regained a chunk of their credibility. Kyler Murray earned one of the biggest reprieves of his career. After losing a must-win game in Week 14, our NFL team responded with a spirited performance in a can’t-lose contest Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

And lose, they didn’t.

But what exactly did they prove in a 30-17 victory over the hapless Patriots?

They proved their brand of football works under the right conditions. If they are successful running the ball; if they play hard-nosed, opportunistic defense; if they protect the football and limit their mental errors, they are good enough to beat bad teams and occasionally blow out their most dysfunctional opponents.

They proved Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis can rally a defense. After their second loss to the Seahawks, both men questioned the defensive intensity at the point of attack. On Sunday, the Cardinals’ defense repelled a potential New England rally with a gutsy goal-line stand, refusing to budge at the point of attack.

The Cardinals have now beaten two of the top three rookie quarterbacks selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. They throttled Caleb Williams and the Bears. They were cooked by Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. On Sunday, they had no problems with the dual-threat potential of Drake Maye until it was too late to matter.

But the biggest issue in Arizona is not opposing quarterbacks. It’s the incumbent quarterback, and no matter what positives you glean from the team’s seventh victory, you cannot unsee another unsettling decision from the Cardinals quarterback.

After that dramatic goal-line stand from the defense, Murray took control in the shadows of his end zone while nursing a 16-3 lead. And under serious pressure, he once again glitched, throwing the football up for grabs. It was intercepted.

Patriots called for roughing the passer. Wipes away a Kyler Murray interception. pic.twitter.com/csj5WTYAjj

— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 15, 2024

It was another inexplicable decision in a month full of inexplicable decisions. It could’ve changed the course of the afternoon, maybe even the outcome.

Instead, the Patriots were flagged for a dubious roughing the passer penalty, and the glitch was stricken from the record. But the non-play was more will continue to play on the minds of Cardinals fans in the aftermath of this victory.

To be fair, Murray fared better on Sunday than he did against the Seahawks and throughout a stretch of five interceptions in three games.

But for much of the game, Arizona’s only touchdown was nearly a touchback. It was scored by offensive lineman Jonah Williams, who sagely commandeered a loose ball in the end zone at the last possible second.

It all matters because there is a prevailing belief that Murray will undoubtedly return as QB1 in 2025 regardless of how the current season concludes. This is a sticky issue for a fan base losing patience with their franchise quarterback while digesting a hefty increase in ticket prices.

Granting Murray a seventh season makes financial sense. The salary cap implications of cutting Murray ease up dramatically after 2024, and it would not be like the Cardinals to absorb sunken costs while spending for a quality replacement like Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins.

But there’s an ongoing problem in Arizona. On the good days, Murray has also proven that he is capable of virtuoso performances, capable of beating any given team on any given Sunday. On the bad days, he makes you wonder if we’re all just wasting time.

On Sunday, the Cardinals and their polarizing quarterback did just enough to stay in the playoff hunt and keep the faith. Theirs and ours.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

Follow @danbickley