NFL 2025 Week 7: What’s Happening to the Arizona Cardinals?
Saying the Arizona Cardinals are in a rough spot after 6 weeks seems like an understatement.
This team has been left searching for answers for the last 4 weeks as their losses piled up. Sitting at a 2-4 record and securely in last place in the NFC West, they need to find their identity. This team has had its share of issues, but coming into this season, it was expected to be at least a playoff contender, and was even predicted by some to have a 6-0 record entering this week. While that prediction was clearly too outside the box for the Cardinals to nail down, their streak of losses, built on the back of second-half collapses and last-second opponent field goals, has been nothing short of shocking.
What’s going on in the Cardinals organization? There’s plenty to discuss, so let’s dive in.
The Cardinals Can’t Stop Losing on FGs
Lose on a last-second field goal once, and it’s a tough loss. Losing on a last-second field goal twice is an odd coincidence. But losing on a last-second field goal three games in a row? That’s a serious problem.
From Weeks 3-5, the Cardinals lost to a walkoff field goal for three consecutive weeks. First to the San Francisco 49ers, then to the Seattle Seahawks, and finally to the Tennessee Titans. The real story behind these late-game losses, however, has not been the field goals themselves but rather how they were set up. In all three losses, the Cardinals’ struggling pass defense allowed a pass of 20+ yards with under one minute to play every single time. Just when this team has their opponent dead to rights, they give up a big shot that revives them. Maybe that’s why their pass defense ranks 28th in the NFL right now and is allowing 30 more yards per game than last year. When it comes to crunch time, this defense can’t stop an air raid.
Ugly Collapses Have Killed Confidence
The Cardinals have been no strangers to blowing a lead this season.
They held the lead at some point in the 4th quarter in three of their four losses this season, and were tied late in the 4th quarter of the other loss, which came against the Seahawks. While the other contests were battles for the whole 60 minutes, the most embarrassing collapse came in Week 5 against the Titans. The Cardinals led by 15 at the start of the 4th quarter and hadn’t trailed all game.
What followed was a bizarre chain of events: Running back Emeri Demercado burst free for what should’ve been a game-sealing 72-yard TD run, but in his excitement, he forgot to bring the ball with him. The Titans scored a TD on the following drive, the Cardinals punted on the next one, and then the Titans had one of the most unlikely scores all season. Titans QB Cam Ward threw an INT, but Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson fumbled the ball and both teams played “hot potato” before Titans WR Tyler Lockett fell on the ball in the end zone for another Titans TD. Another Cardinals punt on the following possession allowed the Titans to drive down the field for their game-winning field goal as time expired.
The events were unlikely, but the circumstances were all too familiar for the Cardinals this season. If they want to win, they have to close games on both sides of the ball.
Jonathan Gannon is Under Pressure
Third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon is on the hot seat not just for his scheme but also for his interactions with players.
A social media storm and $100K fine were sent his way after Gannon was seen hitting Demercado on the sidelines following his costly fumble. Gannon apologized, but a move like that could lose him the locker room. Some players may appreciate his competitive fire, but others won’t want to risk getting slapped around on the bench. Gannon shouldn’t be comfortable about keeping his job for next season unless the Cardinals go on a miracle run.
Injuries Give Team a Dreary Outlook for Coming Weeks
Starting QB Kyler Murray was out with a foot injury for Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, and RBs James Conner and Trey Benson were both on IR, which meant that there wasn’t much optimism for the offense. Even so, backup QB Jacoby Brissett led the Cardinals’ best offensive showing so far, but the team still lost the game and star WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to a concussion.
Murray could be out for multiple weeks, and if Harrison Jr. is too, that could be a wrap on the Cardinals’ season. Brissett had a good showing in Week 6, but he’s still a backup in the NFL for a reason. His ability to carry the offense to long-term success probably isn’t in his wheelhouse.
At this point, the Cardinals may have too many injuries and too little motivation to conjure up a push for the playoffs. They have a tough road ahead and may need to start asking some serious questions about the state of their franchise by the end of the year. Until then, we’ll keep our eye on them to see if they can pull together an unlikely comeback to contention.