3 things the Arizona Cardinals need to address in 2022

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at SoFi Stadium on January 17, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 09: Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals sends in a play against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

1. Learn how to close out a season

Kliff Kingsbury just finished his third year as the Cardinals’ head coach. During his debut campaign, the team owned a 3-3-1 record after seven outings. But the team would go on to drop seven of their last nine contests. A year ago, Kingsbury’s club owned a 6-3 record before losing five of their final seven games.

This year, the Cardinals were the last team in the league to lose a game. Their 7-0 start was the best by the franchise since 1974. And the club owned a 10-2 mark with five weeks to play.

But a Monday night home loss to the Rams was followed by an embarrassing setback at Detroit and then a Saturday night setback to the visiting Colts. All told and including the wild card loss at Los Angeles, Kingsbury’s squad was 1-5 in its last six outings.

Injuries were certainly a factor. Kyler Murray missed three games and never regained his early-season form. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins missed seven contests but still led the team with eight touchdown receptions. These issues were certainly a factor but it’s now been three straight years that this team has failed to close the deal.

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