The Arizona Cardinals absolutely needed a win against a Detroit Lions team that frankly looked mediocre, especially after the Lions finished last in the NFC North last year. These two clubs were apparently locked in some “last place finish” schedule, and the 1-3-0 Cardinals were staring down the barrel of being at the very bottom of the league if they dropped this one. Well, guess what? Detroit didn’t just win, they took Arizona to the woodshed in a 45-21 bloodbath that felt like a gut punch.
The Briefest Taste of Glory, Then a Whole Lot of Pain
It all started so promising. The Cardinals’ defense came out strong, forcing Detroit into a three-and-out on their first possession. Then, the offense took over at their own 27-yard line and put together a gorgeous 14-play, 73-yard drive that ate up 7 minutes and 54 seconds of clock. It felt like maybe, just maybe, today was the day. An 11-yard catch by TE Trey McBride kicked things off, followed by short receptions from TE Elijah Higgins and WR Michael Wilson. WR Kendrick Bourne got in on the action with a 22-yard grab, then another nine-yard catch, putting Arizona on Detroit’s 18-yard line. After a 7-yard catch by Wilson on third-and-10, QB Jacoby Brissett found TE Teagan Quitoriano for a two-yard touchdown on fourth-and-short. Seven-nil, a perfect start. But then the second quarter hit, and it was a complete disaster. The Lions reeled off 24 unanswered points, grabbing total control of the contest with a full half left to play. What was that, even? A total collapse.
Bright Spots in a Sea of Red Ink
Even in a brutal loss like that, you look for something, anything, to hang onto. WR Kendrick Bourne definitely showed up. This guy should absolutely be getting more reps all season long! He made several key grabs to move the sticks, and that 22-yard catch on the opening drive was just a taste. In the second quarter, he pulled in an eight-yard pass that got them from deep in their own territory to a manageable spot. Then, on the very next possession, Bourne corralled a Brissett pass and sprinted 23 yards to Detroit’s 49-yard line. He ended up leading all receivers with 70 yards on five receptions. Give him the ball!
Then there’s TE Trey McBride. Yes, the game was long gone by the time he snagged that bobbled touchdown with 2 minutes and 11 seconds left, but what a spectacular catch on a poor throw! His feet awareness and focus on the ball were insane. But here’s the thing: he had the most targets with 10, yet most of those came when the game was already out of reach. Two targets and one reception at halftime? Nine catches for 66 yards in that situation is a travesty. You have to wonder what the offensive coordinator was thinking. Throw him the ball from the start! Finally, S Budda Baker was a tackling machine. If you want someone to bring down a defender, just tell Budda. He was constantly cleaning up plays where his teammates whiffed or let guys go, leading all tacklers with 11. These guys showed heart, but it wasn’t enough.
The Cardinals, now stuck at 1-4-0, just saw what being at the bottom of the league looks like, plain and simple. They’ve got to figure out how to stop the bleeding, because one good drive and some individual efforts won’t cut it when the team keeps getting taken to the woodshed like this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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