Arizona Cardinals set NFL record in OT loss to Jacksonville Jaguars
Theo Mackie and Bob McManaman discuss the Arizona Cardinals latest loss, this time to the Jacksonville Jaguars in OT
Both teams enter the matchup on three-game losing streaks, largely due to struggling run games.Key factors for an Arizona win include a potential absence for Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and improving their own run game.Arizona Cardinals (3-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5)
Time/site: 11 a.m. MST, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida.
TV: FOX. Radio: 98.7.
Last time they played: In what would be the final home game of Kliff Kingsbury’s tenure, the Cardinals lost to the Buccaneers, 19-16, in overtime. They forced Tom Brady into two interceptions but could not take advantage, blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead with Trace McSorley at quarterback.
Series history: After two consecutive wins for Tampa Bay, the all-time series is tied at 11. That’s little surprise, given that the Buccaneers are the only NFC team with a worse all-time win percentage than the Cardinals.
Coaching matchup
The Buccaneers are in their fourth season under Todd Bowles, who has reached the playoffs in each year at the helm. Bowles and Jonathan Gannon have never faced off as head coaches, though they did once line up as opposing defensive coordinators in 2021, when Bowles was in that role for Tampa Bay and Gannon was with the Eagles.
Storyline
The Cardinals’ season has been a disaster. They were projected for 8 1/2 wins by sportsbooks at the start of the year and would now need to win out just to eclipse that mark. At this point, it’s all about finding some sort of positive momentum heading into 2026 — and determining whether a change is needed at head coach.
Arizona will win if…Baker Mayfield is out: Mayfield left the Buccaneers’ loss to the Rams last week with a sprained AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder. Despite his struggles over the past two weeks, his absence would be a huge boost for the Cardinals. Backup Teddy Bridgewater had not attempted a pass in three years before last week.They discover some semblance of a run game: No matter which stat you prefer, the consensus is clear: The Cardinals went from a top-third run game last year to a bottom-third run game this year. Those struggles have put way too much pressure on Jacoby Brissett.They play a clean offensive game: Against the Seahawks, they had two fumbles returned for touchdowns. Against the 49ers, they had two interceptions and another fumble. Against the Jaguars, they protected the football but took six sacks. It’s one reason that their run game is so important: It takes pressure off Brissett, so he doesn’t have to play this brand of hero ball.Tampa Bay will win if…They get after Brissett: Brissett has impressive poise in the pocket, but his lack of mobility makes him susceptible to sacks. That could be a dangerous game against a Buccaneers defense that ranks fourth in pressure rate. The last time the Cardinals played a pass rush like that, they were destroyed by the Seahawks.They slow down Michael Wilson: This was a key to last week’s game as well, and the Jaguars won despite allowing Wilson to go for 118 yards. But the Buccaneers, who sometimes struggle in the secondary, would be wise to avoid a repeat. That might be easier said than done, though, given that Wilson has put up 303 yards in two games without Marvin Harrison Jr.Bucky Irving jumpstarts the run game: Like the Cardinals, the Buccaneers have lost three in a row, in part because of their struggles in the running game. And like the Cardinals, the Buccaneers have been much less effective on the ground than they were a year ago. The difference here is that Tampa Bay is likely getting its top running back, Bucky Irving, back this week, whereas Arizona’s James Conner is out for the season.
They said it
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing on what the Cardinals can do with Michael Wilson’s role when Marvin Harrison Jr. returns: “Move him around the formation, continue to put him higher in the progression. … When you produce in this league, we’re gonna give you more opportunities to continue to do that.”
By the numbers
405 — Days since the Cardinals beat a team with a winning record, in Week 7 of last year against the Chargers. In that span, they’re 0-10 against teams with a winning record and 5-3 against everyone else. The Buccaneers, at 6-5, provide another opportunity.
2-9 — The Cardinals’ record in one-score games since their 2024 bye week. Those close-game struggles have prevented them from getting over the hump against winning teams.
8 — Consecutive games in which the Cardinals have scored between 20 and 27 points. Strange but true: That ties an NFL record. Even stranger: The team that they tied (the 1992 49ers) went 8-0 in those games. The Cardinals are 1-7 in their past eight.
150 — Brissett’s total pass attempts over the past three weeks. Only two other quarterbacks in NFL history have attempted as many pass attempts over a three-game span: Cincinnati’s Jon Kitna and Carolina’s Chris Weinke, both in 2001.
3.6 — The Cardinals’ yards per attempt on screen passes, the worst in the NFL. Last year, they were the best in the NFL at 8.3 yards per attempt. There are no easy buttons for this offense right now.
Who will win and why
Buccaneers 24, Cardinals 21: Even if Mayfield misses out, it’s difficult to have any confidence picking the Cardinals right now. This is a team that seems to find new ways to lose every Sunday. Last week, they became the first NFL team in 51 tries to lose with a plus-four turnover margin. What will it be this time around?