Kyler Murray‘s Cardinals’ hopes are hanging by a thread after another frustrating loss. Fans watched in disbelief as Arizona faltered against the Seahawks. But amid the growing criticism, head coach Jonathan Gannon delivered a bold message that shifted some of the heat back. But to whom? And most importantly, from whom?

Well! He shifted the heat back onto himself and raised the stakes for his struggling quarterback, Kyler Murray. In his post-game presser, Gannon didn’t shy away from responsibility. “I gotta find some answers to get us going a little bit because we haven’t played great here the last couple of weeks,” he admitted, acknowledging the Cardinals’ third straight loss. But he also made it clear that Murray is integral to their December playoff push.

Gannon defended his quarterback, saying, “The reason we’re playing meaningful games in December right now… He’s a huge piece to that.” His comments underline Murray’s potential to carry this team, but they also highlight the immense pressure on the QB’s shoulders to perform when it matters most.

For those still wondering about Murray’s performance, this loss didn’t help his case. Despite an early 7-0 lead, Kyler Murray’s 2 costly interceptions in the first quarter quickly derailed any momentum the Cardinals had. These turnovers proved to be especially painful late in the game. As Gannon noted, they did some “different” and “unique” things on 3rd down to keep the chains moving. And they did, converting 7 out of 15 attempts, but sadly, the defense failed to capitalize.

Gannon didn’t sugarcoat it. “I’ve got to do a better job of setting them up to win a football game,” he said. But Murray’s struggles were evident on Sunday. The 2 first-quarter interceptions proved to be really costly, as they eventually turned an early lead into a 7-17 deficit. Now, the question is: Can Murray step up when it matters most?

Third-down woes and defensive lapses highlight Cardinals’ struggles

While Murray’s miscues made headlines, Arizona’s defense struggled just as much. Gannon admitted, “I didn’t think we operated great on 3rd down.” The Seahawks offense, led by Geno Smith and Zach Charbonnet, was able to march down the field with ease after Murray’s turnovers, adding to the frustration. And Seattle converted 7 of 15 third downs, exposing a key vulnerability.

The Cardinals’ defense looked solid earlier in the season. However, they allowed 176 rushing yards in this game. Seattle’s running game punished the Cardinals. Arizona allowed Zach Charbonnet to rush for 134 yards. This includes a 50-yard burst that crushed Arizona’s momentum. “We’ve got to tweak some things,” Gannon admitted as he reflected on the costly defensive lapses. Coming back to the O-line, they couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities to make matters worse.

“I let the team down today,” Kyler Murray admitted with a heavy heart while facing the first question in the presser. This sense of accountability is surely a positive sign. However, this marked the first time in his career that Murray threw multiple interceptions in consecutive games, both of which ended in losses. Murray’s 2024 season has been a study in contrasts. While his impressive QBR of 74.8 leads the league, his 2,603 passing yards rank 18th. And his 13 touchdowns leave him tied for 19th. But what about the others in the O-line?

Trey McBride, known to be one of Murray’s favorite targets, failed to record a catch until late in the third quarter. Leaving a void in the passing game. Despite the flashes of brilliance earlier in the season, Arizona’s inability to finish games is glaring. Gannon made it clear that adjustments were incoming. But time is running out as the Cardinals slip further behind in the NFC West race.

The Cardinals face a daunting task ahead, with a poor 6-7 record and the playoffs slipping away with each game. But Kyler remains hopeful, saying, “We gotta show up; we got another home game next week… Put our best foot forward when it comes down to it.”

But Kyler Murray’s inconsistency leaves fans divided. Some point to his impressive moments earlier this year; others can’t ignore costly errors in critical games. The coming weeks will be pivotal for both Murray and Gannon as they try to turn the tide. Would Gannon’s fiery defense inspire a late-season resurgence or amplify the pressure if they fall short again?