The Arizona Cardinals just delivered an absolute gut punch to their own hopes, blowing a late lead against the Green Bay Packers and falling 42-38 in what should have been a triumphant preseason offensive showcase. Forget the stats for a second: they had this game locked up and let it slip, and that’s the kind of loss that makes you wince, even when it “doesn’t count.”
This Offense Can Light Up a Scoreboard
Man, if you were watching the Cardinals’ offense, you were probably pumped. Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis were out there absolutely dealing, combining for a massive 309 yards through the air and two sweet touchdowns. They were moving the chains, making plays, and putting points on the board. Slovis, though, did throw a couple of interceptions in his audition, which is definitely a buzzkill when you’re trying to impress. But it wasn’t just the passing game; their running backs were simply phenomenal. Those guys racked up an incredible 166 yards on 32 carries, finding the end zone twice! And let’s talk about Evan Hull: the dude was a wrecking ball, busting out 107 yards on just 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns himself. This offense, from the QBs to the backfield, showed some serious teeth.
But That Defense? Oof.
Here’s where the excitement turns into frustration, because after all that offensive firepower, the defense just completely buckled. Giving up a late lead after all that effort? That’s the stuff of nightmares, and it’s exactly what happened. Green Bay’s Kyle McCord threw for 226 yards and carved them up for four touchdowns, including the absolute dagger of a game-winner to Kisean Johnson. Watching your team put up 38 points and still lose 42-38 because you can’t get a stop, even in a preseason game, is a tough pill to swallow. The big, glaring concern here is whether this defensive breakdown is a grim preview of what’s coming when the games actually matter. You can’t be giving up 42 points if you want to win, period.
So, yeah, the preseason slate is officially done, and while the offense flashed some serious potential, this late-game defensive collapse is what’s going to stick with fans. The Cardinals are now preparing for the “real thing,” and they absolutely have to figure out how to stop opponents, especially when a game is on the line. Can they fix this before kickoff? The season’s stakes are already rising for that defense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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