His mantra was simple: be responsible. Don’t punish yourself.
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Arizona finished with an 8-9 record and it looked like things were heading in the right direction. So when the Cardinals received an influx of talent during the offseason, the idea was that better players, combined with the team’s established culture of discipline, would lead the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Obviously, things have not gone as planned.
In a second straight embarrassing loss to an NFC West opponent, the Cardinals fell to the 49ers 41-22 on Sunday and committed a franchise-high 17 penalties, breaking a team record set in 1936. No other NFL team has been penalized as many times this season.
There were illegal switches, holding calls, false starts and even an unnecessary roughness flag for hitting the Niners’ long snapper in the head.
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It was a surprising lack of discipline for a team that prides itself on its responsibility. Today, the Cardinals (3-7) aren’t just losing games: They’re losing their identity.
A defiant Gannon said Monday they will get it back quickly.
Your job security could depend on it.
“It’s not something controllable for me,” Gannon said. “I didn’t hire myself, I’m not going to fire me. Seriously, I know it comes up. That’s the business we’re in. If you don’t want to be in that business, we laugh, we joke, ‘Go work somewhere else.’ I’m going to control the controllables myself.
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“I come to work, do the best job I can and try to get our team in a position to win a game.”
What is working?
Jacoby Brissett completed an NFL-record 47 passes Sunday on 57 attempts. He finished with 452 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Sure, those numbers were inflated because the 49ers held a big lead for much of the game, but Brissett is doing a lot of things right. He started his fifth straight game on Sunday in place of Kyler Murray, who is dealing with a foot injury.
Brissett has thrown for 1,570 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in five starts, but the Cardinals are 1-4 in those games.
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The veteran said Sunday that he would have rather thrown for 3 yards in a win than 452 in a loss. He added that the team is simply making too many mistakes.
“It’s like a stain,” Brissett said. “You try to put baking soda in it, you try to put club soda in it, you try to wash it – you have to figure something out. It’s the mentality of not giving up on the process and not giving up on the idea that we can clean it.”
What needs help?
The Cardinals have allowed more than 40 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2002.
Their defense, which was supposed to be a strength, appears to be regressing. Arizona’s offense and special teams haven’t helped the cause with some untimely mistakes, but Gannon said the defense has to find a way to stay strong in those moments.
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“We’re turning the ball over,” Gannon said. “We’re giving up short fields. We put people behind the sticks and we don’t win on third down. We get to the red zone (and) we don’t make them kick field goals. That’s a recipe for giving up a lot of points.”
Supply
Michael Wilson was the team’s best receiver against the 49ers since Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) was out. The third-year player responded with the best game of his career, catching 15 passes for 185 yards.
Stock down
Special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers has been a mainstay for nearly a decade, spanning three coaching staffs. His units usually perform admirably, but Sunday was not his best day.
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San Francisco’s Skyy Moore took the opening kickoff 98 yards to the 1-yard line, helping give the 49ers a 7-0 lead 16 seconds into the game. The Cardinals also allowed a 42-yard kick return.
Injuries
Murray has to miss at least two more games while on injured reserve. CB Garrett Williams (shin), RB Emari Demercado (ankle) and OL Kelvin Beachum (groin) were injured Sunday and did not return.
Key number
3-13 – The Cardinals’ record against NFC West opponents in Gannon’s two and a half seasons.
Next steps
The Cardinals host the Jaguars on Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl