The Arizona Cardinals started strong but ultimately fell to the Buffalo Bills 34-28 in their season opener on Sunday. Despite leading 17-10 at halftime after scoring 10 unanswered points, the Cardinals struggled to maintain their momentum against a resilient Bills team led by quarterback Josh Allen, who rallied the squad with three touchdowns and a field goal in the second half.
Arizona Sports’ team of hosts, editors, and reporters shared their observations from the game:
John Gambadoro, co-host of Burns & Gambo, expressed disappointment, highlighting that while the Cardinals showcased promising play in the first half, they suffered yet another one-score defeat, marking an 0-1 start after ending the previous season with a 2-5 record in such matches. He pointed to the offense’s failure to continue production after building a 17-3 lead, noting that the defense allowed the Bills to score just before halftime and immediately after, erasing Arizona’s advantages.
Gambadoro emphasized the inconsistency of quarterback Kyler Murray, stating that the Cardinals managed only three points in the second half. Murray’s statistics reflected a stark decline, as he threw for just 31 yards after halftime following a solid first half of 131 yards.
Dave Burns, also co-hosting Burns & Gambo, noted that while a close loss against a top-tier quarterback might have been acceptable in the past, expectations have changed. He criticized the second-half performance of Murray, some play-calling decisions, and the defense’s inefficiencies, suggesting that the team’s strong start was overshadowed by their inability to close the game.
Tyler Drake, the Cardinals beat writer, praised the team’s initial strategy, especially the use of running back James Conner, which helped them gain an early lead. However, he lamented the loss of momentum after halftime as Buffalo adjusted effectively while the Cardinals did not, ultimately rendering their offensive performance ineffective.
Kevin Zimmerman, lead editor for ArizonaSports.com, remarked that it remains to be seen whether this loss signifies the Cardinals as a competitive team, noting Murray’s significant drop in productivity from the first to the second half. He pointed out issues with the team’s talent pool, highlighting missed opportunities and a lack of depth in the offensive line.
Kellan Olson, co-host of Arizona Sports at Night, shared concerns about the offense’s reliance on the running game and short passes, which became less effective as the game progressed. He criticized the distribution of targets, particularly emphasizing the underutilization of rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride.
Overall, despite the promising start, the Cardinals have much work ahead to improve their offensive consistency and defensive reliability as they navigate the season.