Kliff Kingsbury’s time as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals has often been marked by late-season struggles, and the current season is proving no different. After a promising start at 6-4, the Cardinals find themselves on a three-game losing streak, and the focus has turned to quarterback Kyler Murray as potential scapegoat for this downturn.
### Criticism of Kyler Murray
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark has been particularly vocal about Murray’s recent performance, claiming that the quarterback “love-bombed” fans and analysts alike with early-season promises of improvement, only to falter as the season progressed. Clark pointed out that this is not an isolated incident; Murray has a history of midseason dips, citing similar performance issues in 2020.
The statistics support this narrative; a comparison of Murray’s performance before and after the losing streak reveals a concerning drop in effectiveness. From Weeks 1-10, Murray showed a completion percentage of 61% when under pressure, but this figure plummeted to just 39% over the past three games. His touchdown-to-interception ratio also worsened dramatically—from 4 touchdowns and no interceptions to 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions during this slump.
In total, over the last three games, Murray has thrown five interceptions against just three touchdowns, leading to an average passer rating of 76.8. Notably, he has failed to complete more than 70% of his passes in any of these contests, a significant decline from the earlier parts of the season.
### Changing Narrative
Historically, Kingsbury has shouldered the blame for the team’s struggles down the stretch, particularly when it came to Murray’s performance. Now that Kingsbury has moved on to become the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, the burden of the team’s current predicament seems to fall squarely on Murray’s shoulders. With playoff aspirations fading, it is crucial for Murray to elevate his game to help the Cardinals remain competitive.
As the team looks ahead, Murray must address these performance issues. The Cardinals’ chances of clawing back into playoff contention depend largely on his ability to produce at a higher level, particularly in critical situations. With the NFC West title still within reach, the stakes are high, and the pressure is on Murray to deliver in the coming weeks. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can turn this narrative around and return to the form that led to early-season optimism.
