This 5-game losing skid questions the direction of the Cardinals

The propulsion of this year’s season is quite a bit different than what was planned. No team in any league has a blueprint that begins with a 2-5-0 record. Which isn’t so bad when the entity is the NHL, NBA, MLS, or Major League Baseball. They play so many games that a bad start can be overcome.

But the NFL has a 17-game schedule. A bad record in the first half usually means watching the playoffs on a big screen featuring Rotel nachos, homemade potato salad, and grilled chicken wings from the backyard.

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What has been most aggravating for Cardinals fans is the fact that every single game the lead was basically given up in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. All five of their losses were by a grand total of 13 points. That is collectively, not per game.

A five-game skid is not fun in any sport at any level. When players are paid handsomely to participate yet lose repeatedly, it stings. Fans are not being paid millions to buy hats and jackets, purchase expensive game tickets, and pay for premium parking, book hotel rooms that were $179 on Tuesday and $480 on gameday weekend. Plus, the food is usually pretty good at the stadium, but at a cost.

Arizona is now coming off its bye week. A few extra days off during this span should help.

Here at ROTB, we have some relevant questions:

• What did the coaches come up with to end their losing streak?
• Will Kyler Murray be the starting quarterback once he is fully healed?
• With all the money spent this year on defense, how is that panning out?
• Because the starting running backs are all hurt, will OC Drew Petzing devise a plan to utilize the pass more?
• What is the plan to get the ball to TE Trey McBride and WR Marv Harrison more?
• We are halfway into the third year of the 3-year plan of Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort. Why isn’t the effort any better?

That final question is a bingo. The multiyear effort to rebuild the roster led by the GM and the head coach appears to have crackled and sputtered. Realistically, is this team any better than that 4-13-0 roster in 2022 when both Gannon and Ossenfort were brought in to fix the franchise?

On a Zoom media call, Gannon stated:

“I would say we have had adversity hit us since I’ve been here, and we are in it now, right?” There’s only one way to kind of flip the narrative, which I feel really confident with how we’re going to do that. We’re going to put our best foot forward, put all the energy and effort into flipping it, and then let the chips fall.”

Losing is one thing. Having the game in hand and then getting beaten is another animal. The 2025 Cardinals are masters of having the game in hand and then...