The Arizona Cardinals play scared football in loss to Minnesota Vikings.
The Arizona Cardinals have a problem.
They play scared.
Over and over today you saw decisions made to play conservative football on the road against a 9-2 team.
The Minnesota Vikings are better than you at nearly every single position on offense and defense, and coaching.
And instead, you play to not lose the game and in the end fall 23-22.
The Arizona Cardinals are now 6-6, they fall two games out of first place in the NFC West and are coming back to earth.
Why? Because the head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback played scared.
It is a tale as old as time for this franchise. No matter the names, the results stay the same.
We thought Jonathan Gannon would be different, but he showed today the game and the moment were too big for him.
Maybe this is a wake up call, maybe it is a preview, but when you allow your offensive coordinator to continually settle for field goals.
When you tell your quarterback, or allow him to not take risks until it is desperation time, and when you get conservative at the end of halves, drives and games, you will lose.
Not just games, but the confidence of the team and the fanbase.
Now, the Cardinals have lost two in a row and are staring down the barrel of being under 0.500 again with the first place and rolling Seattle Seahawks looming.
All that goodwill goes away quick.