Back to the basics: What do we need to see from Cardinals the rest of 2024?

TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals are limping toward the 2024 finish line with two games left.

After building up a wellspring of hope 10 games in, all Arizona gets to look forward to now is some R&R in a couple short weeks with no playoffs in sight for a third straight year.

You can thank Arizona’s 1-4 downturn since the bye for that collapse. The Cardinals had their opportunity to get ahead of schedule but instead flopped down the stretch.

And while this team has nearly doubled its win total from a year prior with two games to play, the way this season is wrapping up has done little to instill any added confidence heading into the offseason.

So, what needs to happen to not only rid the bad taste out of the mouths of Cardinals fans, but also give Arizona some positive momentum (yes, I said it) ahead of Year 3 under this regime?

Don’t just lie down, Cardinals

This one is pretty self-explanatory and massively important for a team that prides itself on going full-bore 24/7.

With the playoffs out of the picture, it wouldn’t be extreme to think players might be looking ahead to the offseason.

That is unless you’re a player under head coach Jonathan Gannon.

“There is no challenge because as competitive as I think I am, you can double that plus 10 for those guys,” Gannon said Monday. “They love to play football, they want to compete, they want to play football, they want to win.

“There’s still a lot at stake for this team these last two games, and they understand that. They understand kind of the role that they’re in now, how we got here and also what’s needed to go win a game.”

Sure, Arizona was eliminated from playoff contention last week with an ugly 36-30 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers.

That doesn’t mean there still isn’t something to play for, especially for those looking to move up the depth chart in 2025.

There’s also the fact that two divisional opponents, one of which is still fighting for the NFC West title, are next on the docket.

“Just want to end out the right way,” safety Budda Baker said Wednesday. “Right now, we’re just living in the present and we’re getting ready for the L.A. Rams, a good playoff team. … Just put it on tape. That’s the big thing. We got two weeks to work on our best for this team. That’s all we can control.”

That little thing called pride is very much real, too.

“I love this game. I take pride in every snap I play,” quarterback Kyler Murray said Tuesday. “There won’t be any foot off the gas or going out there just playing for no reason. I personally have a reason to play, and I know the guys will feel the same way.”

Get to stacking

It’s been three weeks since rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. last found the end zone.

You have to go all the way back to Week 8 when it comes to his last 100-yard performance.

His recent stretch has been especially rough, catching 10 of 22 targets for 120 yards as he and Murray struggle to find consistent chemistry in their first year together.

And with every miscommunication or dropped ball, the noise grows that much more.

So even though these next two games might not mean anything standings-wise, they could go a long way in getting the duo back on track before they embark on offseason work.

“We have no choice,” Murray said. “We have to get to where we need it to be. He is who he is. We have to get it going in order for our offense to be what we want it to be.”

It doesn’t have to be gaudy numbers, either. Make the most of his nearly seven targets per game and see what happens.

Forget the flags

After being dialed in on the little things earlier in the year, the Cardinals have lost their focus when it comes to fouling.

Whether some should have been called or not, Arizona has put itself in a terrible spot from a penalty standpoint since they came back from the bye.

It’s been a near-constant the past five weeks, making the Cardinals’ earlier work seem like a completely different season.

Regaining that discipline that Gannon has preached time and time again would go a long way in shoring up the penalties and avoiding more self-inflicted shots in the foot.

“What I’m concerned about is, are we doing enough? Are we doing things the right way? Are we disciplined enough to stick to our process and make sure that it’s good to maximize the opportunity to go out there to compete and win a game,” Gannon said.

Make Trey’s days!

I’m going to keep this last one short and sweet.

Get Trey McBride the ball in the end zone.

His two nonreceiving touchdowns are cool and all, but one of the most consistent parts of the offense deserves to be rewarded these last two games.

Make it happen.

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