TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had not experienced many losses on the football field growing up and through college, so starting from the bottom of the totem pole in the NFL was an adjustment.
Murray is now six years into being a pro, and with time, he continues to learn how to bounce back from losses and keep a positive attitude.
“Getting into the league and dealing with failure and stuff like that, I took it super hard,” Murray said. “But I think it was kind of a detriment to being able to move on.
“You don’t want to learn how to lose. But at the end of the day, you kind of have to learn how to deal with those things, and continue to play the game at a high level.”
The Cardinals put a blowout loss to the Washington Commanders behind them and stunned the San Francisco 49ers on the road. That momentum halted with a lopsided loss in Green Bay, and the Cardinals will once again have to bounce back on Monday Night Football against the Chargers.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing complimented Murray’s ability to be in the moment and remain even-keeled this week, saying he has done so as well as anyone in the locker room this year.
Despite a 2-4 record, Murray said he remains confident, explaining his team has not hit rock bottom and has so much to fight for.
“The culture we’re building, the mindset, mentality of the team, temperament of the team, nobody’s gonna waver,” Murray said. “It’s a long season. Everybody’s confident. We know what needs to be done, and we just gotta go do it.”
The Cardinals started strong but they failed to finish in 2020 and 2021, leading to unceremonious season ends.
Those experiences stick with Murray now as he preaches the “learn from the last one, focus on the next one” mindset. And he is feeling more comfortable on the field as that maturity continues.
“I think just the speed of the game slowed down,” Murray said. “I mean, it’s been slowed down a couple years now, but just being in Year 2 within this system, the guys around me, it’s a combination a lot of things.
“We’re 2-4, but when we’re on the field, you’re at that point where you’ve seen pretty much damn near all of it. It’s a good feeling. Obviously, we gotta deliver and execute.”
The offense has had an inconsistent start to 2024. Weeks 1 and 2 went very well (69 points scored), as did the fourth quarter of Week 5 against the 49ers. The loss in Green Bay was a step in the other direction.
He said the penalties (13) and turnovers (3) were unacceptable, and fixing the offense’s problems stem from practicing soundly.
Kyler Murray, Jonathan Gannon not worried about schedule
The Cardinals seem to have an opportunity with the schedule lightening up some. By win percentage, the Cardinals own the seventh-easiest schedule the rest of the way. Four of Arizona’s first six opponents have four wins and the other two are 3-3, although Murray said he isn’t into moral victories. His head coach agreed.
“We need to do more collectively to win more games,” Jonathan Gannon said. “All our energy and focus right now is what we do control, how that impacts beating the chargers on Monday night. So that’s where our head space is at.”
Cardinals want to get WRs more involved
Arizona wide receivers accounted for 11 of 32 targets and five of 22 catches on Sunday. Tight end Trey McBride has been Murray’s primary weapon this season.
While Marvin Harrison Jr.’s production has been followed closely all season, Murray said he wants to get the ball to all of his receivers more.
“I feel we got playmakers that can do special things with the ball,” Murray said. “We got to give them the ball more, and not just Marv, all around. To be explosive, we got to get those guys the ball because usually good things happen when they have it.”
Zay Jones will join Harrison, Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson as receiving options this week off suspension, which Murray said should be a difference-maker.
“I would like to think providing a comfort blanket for throws and hopefully extending the ball down the field, locking it in, great energy, it could be a combination of things, whatever is needed in the moment,” Jones said of his role.
