👋 GOOD MORNING

Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 — Happy Friday! On top of that, it’s Friday the 13th in December? Creepy.

Today’s edition takes a look at the Cardinals’ playoff hopes, but off the field, the team is recognizing the efforts of individuals who are committed to enacting change in the community. Arizona announced its recipient of the 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker Award is Roberto Del Real, who is the Director of Community Services at Chicanos Por La Causa.

The Changemaker Award recognizes individuals in each NFL market making a difference in their community across Inspire Change’s four focus areas: Education, economic advancement, police-community relations and criminal justice reform. Del Real will receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation, paid directly to a nonprofit organization of his choice, in addition to being recognized at State Farm Stadium during this Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

I love things like this. Del Real has had a true impact on the community through his outreach efforts, and I encourage everyone to volunteer and make a difference in our community. No gesture is too small, and the impact you can have may just make a life a little bit easier for your neighbor. It is, after all, the season for giving!

OK, it’s Friday, so here’s your weekly joke: Why did the cell phone need glasses? He lost his contacts!

Let’s run it back next week. On to the show!

Is Playoff Football in the Cards?

This is a decidedly dangerous week for the Arizona Cardinals, and the team knows it all too well.

Yes, the Patriots are 3-10. No, they’re not an easy out.

Need proof? Look no further than the 2023 version of the Cardinals, who waltzed into Acrisure Stadium with a 2-10 record and defeated the then-7-4 Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10. The loss actually started a three-game slide for Pitt, though they eventually recovered to win their final three games of the season and qualify for the playoffs at 10-7.

As luck would have it, that’s the exact record Arizona could finish with if it wins its final four games of the season.

Beware of the trap.

Murray Has Been Accountable, But How Will He Respond?

Kyler Murray has impressed with his leadership. Even after turning in what was arguably his worst performance of the season, the 27-year-old quarterback shouldered the entire blame, stating after the game that he feel like he let the team down.

He doubled down on that assessment on Wednesday, but rest assured, his belief in himself and his team are as high as ever.

“I don’t need anyone thinking the world is ending,” he said. “My confidence will never waiver in myself, at all.”

Murray has been a consummate leader, and at points this season he has looked like the best player on the entire planet. This week’s matchup comes against a Patriots defense that is in the middle of the pack statistically, allowing 341 yards of offense and 23.6 points per game.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has been targeted 20 times over the past two weeks, and has just one touchdown to show for it (though he does have 109 yards on his nine catches.)

“Execution, that’s what it comes down to,” Harrison Jr. said. “Execution from the players.”

Defense Has an Opportunity to Dominate

The teams are statistically similar on defense, but the two offenses are strikingly different.

New England ranks 31st in yards per game (290.9) and points per game (17), offering an opportunity for Budda Baker and the defense to make a true impact. It all begins on the ground, where the Patriots rank 13th by averaging a respectable 119.5 yards per game.

“That’s where it all starts, to be able to stop the run, and get into second- and-pass, third-and-pass,” Baker said. “Getting some pressure on the QB. The name of the game in this league is to stop the run, because if you don’t, that’s when offenses have the ability to run whatever they want.”

Arizona certainly hopes to avoid that type of scenario against the once-mighty Patriots. The Cardinals allowed 176 rushing yards against the Seahawks last week.

“We have to stop the run better,” Head coach Jonathan Gannon said. “We have to affect the quarterback better.”

Favorable Schedule, but Need Some Help to Make the Playoffs

Arizona has back-to-back games against sub-.500 teams, beginning with the Patriots on Sunday before traveling to Carolina to face the 3-10 Panthers on Dec. 22. The Cards then wrap up their road slate against the Rams in Los Angeles before finishing the regular season at home vs. San Francisco.

Arizona has already beaten both the Rams (41-10) and 49ers (24-23) this season, but it still needs help to reach the playoffs.

The NFC West-leading Seahawks, meanwhile, have two very difficult games coming up against the stacked NFC North, facing Green Bay on Sunday and Minnesota next week, though both are in Seattle. They conclude their regular season with road games at Chicago and L.A.

Sadly, though, the Cardinals no longer control their own playoff destiny following two losses to the Seahawks.

“The tough part is understanding the opportunity that we had, and I felt like we didn’t give it our best at all, either opportunity we had to play against them,” Murray said. “Not only that, the implications that were part of the game. We weren’t thinking about that, but we understood what was at stake. But to let it go, and not play our best, that was the tough part.

“It stings, it hurts, but we have to get over it and put all of our energy in to New England coming in here.”

Cardinals fans throughout The Valley are counting on that, or the season is effectively over.

ICYMI:
Cardinals’ Isaiah Adams is down with the dirty work
A Jimmy Butler trade to the Suns is unlikely, for a number of reasons
Full PHNX Coverage

🧢 TIP OF THE HAT BY BRANDED BILLS
The Valley Suns’ Paul Watson with a beautiful finish against the South Bay Lakers yesterday.