Jose Juarez is an Associated Press photographer.
The Arizona Cardinals used to have a clear-cut edge over the rest of the field. They were 10-2 after their Week 12 bye, and looked to be in cruise control when Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins came back from injuries.
A lot can change in a couple of weeks. The Cards lost to the Rams at home and then to the Lions in Detroit in Week 15 to fall out of the top spot in the conference.
The Lions are better than their record. The 30-12 loss was an utter dud for the Cards. We have enough evidence to indict the Cards for football fraud after their ugly performance against the Rams.
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The last-place Lions shocked the world and upset the 10-3 Cards.
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This inexperienced team has buckled because of critical home-stretch football. LosingHopkins again didn't help, but that alone doesn't excuse horrendous performances from Murray. He and his coach must be able to overcome a loss like that.
The last eight red-zone trips, Arizona has scored two touchdown. In the last two games, Murray has just one touchdown, no rushing touchdown and three turnovers. He's been sacked six times and missed a lot of throws.
This wasn't a close call. We're talking about Detroit's biggest win at Ford Field in a while. The league's 26th-ranked running game in terms of DVOA was once again ineffective, as Murray was uncharacteristically shy about scrambling beyond the line of scrimmage.
The defense has surrendered at least 30 points in three of the last five games. In this case, they made a guy named Craig Reynolds look like Patrick Mahomes.
They're not playing good football at the moment.
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This is the 3rd time since 1970 that a team with the worst record has beaten a team with the best record. Each 8gms is the previous. The 1995 Cowboys and the 2004 Pats went on to win the Super Bowl.
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We shouldn't be surprised. The team lost five of their last seven games last season, but they were in great shape at 6-3. They are not trustworthy.
Don't forget about the Cards. They will have to beat the Indianapolis Colts, the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks in order to make the playoffs.
The Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the running for the top spot in the conference. The team traveled to the Super Bowl on the road. Imagine a home field advantage for Tom Brady and Co. They have a perfect home record. Ditto for the Packers. Nobody wants to play the Packers in the playoffs.
It could have been avoided. The road to Super Bowl LVI in the NFC will most likely go through either Green Bay or a combination of both cities.
Jose Juarez is an Associated Press photographer.
The Packers have teams that are a combined 15-24-1 and the Buccaneers have opponents who are a combined 13-29. The Packers have already beaten the Lions and the Cards, and they've also taken down the Cards.
It's a shame because the Cards have the talent to make a deep playoff run. There is a minuscule margin for error with Brady and Rodgers, and the team crumbled under the pressure. It's easy to see the wheels are coming off. It might be too late to avoid a trip to Florida or Wisconsin if they avoid that fate.
The Cards might have to watch their backs in their own division. A Rams victory Tuesday night over Seattle will move them into a tie with Arizona for the lead in theNFC West, and their schedule to close the season is more favorable than Arizona's.
TheCardinals are a classic. In a few weeks, from cruise control to a wild card? It is a strong possibility now. We'll be left with the same old giants fighting it out atop that conference.
Brad has been covering the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on the social media site.
