Arizona Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury: ‘There’s nowhere to go but up’

TEMPE — Outcoached. Outgained. Outplayed. Outexecuted.

There was nothing Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury could hang his hat on when looking back at the film from the team’s 44-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

As he put it Monday, “there’s nowhere to go but up at this point after a performance like that.”

The only thing it did show was the need to focus back in on the details from top to bottom. And it all starts with practice.

“You treat every rep like a game,” Kingsbury said. “I think that’s the biggest deal. Intensity has to pick up across the board. Thought we had a really good practice then obviously Thursday had some injuries and had some stuff happen. Just collectively, though, the little things at practice each and every rep has to get better.

“You got to play fast and get your work in during the week to expect to come out and play well on Sunday. I think collectively know we that we got to be better in that department and I expect it to be better this week.”

In addition to the entire team zeroing back in, getting some key pieces back on both sides of the ball would benefit Arizona greatly as it tries to move past yet another terrible showing at home.

That, however, remains to be seen.

Defensive lineman J.J. Watt (calf), offensive lineman Justin Pugh (neck) and wide receiver Rondale Moore (hamstring) all enter the week day-to-day, with the wideout’s status among the most murkiest. Wednesday will be a big day just to see where all of them stand.

“I’m not sure, that’s another guy that Wednesday we’ll see how he feels,” Kingsbury said when asked if Moore would practice this week. Hopefully he can do something, but we got to get him out there.

“A guy like him that does that much running, we got to be really smart with him,” the head coach added.

As for cornerback Marco Wilson, Kingsbury said he is “doing better” after suffering what looked like a leg injury in the loss. The plan is for him to get some work in Tuesday to see where he’s at.

Get ready for another telling week of practice for the Cardinals.

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