The Arizona Cardinals suffered a tough 42-14 defeat against the Washington Commanders, allowing 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. With this loss, the Cardinals’ record has dropped to 1-3, raising concerns about the overall talent on both sides of the ball.
The Commanders’ offense, directed by former head coach Kliff Kingsbury, dominated in the trenches. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the charge with 21 carries for 101 yards. The team also utilized Jeremy McNichols, who rushed eight times for 68 yards, and quarterback Jayden Daniels, who contributed with eight carries for 47 yards. Daniels, previously a standout at Arizona State and Heisman winner at LSU, completed 26 of 30 passes for 233 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
On the other side, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had a decent performance, completing 16 of 22 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, marked by a strong opening drive capped off with a touchdown pass to rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. However, this early lead was short-lived as Arizona struggled to generate pressure on Daniels, finishing the game with only one recorded quarterback hit.
The Cardinals’ offensive line faltered, allowing four sacks on Murray and three additional quarterback hits. Despite a solid effort from running back James Conner, who racked up 104 yards on 18 carries, the Cardinals lacked significant contributions from their skill position players. With tight end Trey McBride unavailable, Harrison had five receptions for 45 yards, while second-year player Michael Wilson and slot receiver Greg Dortch each chipped in 38 receiving yards.