After a strong defensive performance that held the 49ers’ offense scoreless in the second half and allowed Arizona to overcome a 13-point deficit for a thrilling 24-23 win, the Cardinals’ defense faltered in Week 6, offering little resistance against Jordan Love and the Packers in a 34-13 loss.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With that defeat, the Cardinals continue to inch closer to a dubious milestone: three full years without back-to-back wins. The last time Arizona won consecutive games was in late November and early December of 2021, though those victories were separated by a bye week. If you’re looking for consecutive wins in back-to-back weeks, you have to go further back—to Weeks 6 and 7 of the 2021 season, when they defeated the Browns and Texans.
This inability to string together multiple wins highlights the persistent inconsistency that has plagued the Cardinals since mid-2021. While the Jonathan Gannon era has brought notable victories against top-tier opponents—including last season’s wins over the Cowboys and Eagles and this year’s victory over the 49ers—the team has struggled to compound wins.
Offensively, the Cardinals have underperformed despite high expectations, particularly after selecting wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft. The defense on the other hand has lived up to expectations- but not in a good way- ultimately setting the tone for another season of below .500 football.
However, Mike Jones of The Athletic advises patience, listing the Cardinals among teams to “keep the faith” in. Other teams in this category include the Colts, Bengals, Dolphins, Broncos, and Seahawks. Jones acknowledged Arizona’s inconsistency but pointed to a more favorable schedule ahead as a reason for optimism.
“The 34-13 loss at Green Bay was bad. Three turnovers, third-down struggles and just one touchdown in three trips to the red zone proved crippling. But the Cardinals have earned quality NFC West wins over San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams (before all of the Rams’ injuries). Consistency is lacking on offense and defense, but the potential is there. A stretch of winnable games (Chargers, Dolphins, Bears, Jets) awaits. Arizona could enter its Week 11 bye on solid footing.” Jones wrote.
To Jones’ point, the Cardinals have faced one of the toughest schedules in the NFL so far. Of the six teams they’ve played, only the Los Angeles Rams would currently miss the playoffs if the season ended today.
Looking ahead, Arizona’s schedule lightens considerably. According to Tankathon, the Cardinals hold the seventh-easiest remaining schedule, with their opponents averaging a winning percentage of .452.
