Arizona Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill Under Fire by Fans for Enforcing Blackout; Keeping Epic Chiefs-Raiders Game Off Regional TV – Week 12

The rest of the country had the opportunity to enjoy football on CBS during the late slate, whether it being the Buffalo Bills at the Philadelphia Eagles or the Chiefs visiting the Raiders. The Cardinals are the first team to enforce a blackout this season.

Arizona Cardinals: Owner Michael Bidwill Forces Cards Fans to Watch Abysmal Showing

Michael Bidwill and the Cardinals enforced a blackout on Sunday, leaving those Arizona natives without NFL Sunday Ticket with just one game to scratch their football itch. The Cardinals got destroyed 37-14, allowing a whopping 457 yards of offense to the Rams. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had a day, going 25-of-33 for 229 yards and four scores. However, his performance was overshadowed by that of running back Kyren Williams. The Notre Dame production ran wild against a weak Arizona front seven, rushing 16 times for 143 yards while also catching six passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns. 

Meanwhile, outside a late garbage time touchdown pass from Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to Greg Dortch, the Cardinals struggle to move the football. Arizona became one-dimensional on offense, giving top back James Conner just six carries for 27 yards. Conversely, Murray threw the ball 45 times for 256 times while getting sacked four times. The Cardinals now sit at 2-10 in year one of the Jonathan Gannon era. 

Michael Bidwill: Losing the Faith of Arizona

Sunday isn’t the first time owner Michael Bidwill has caught heat from Arizona Cardinals fans and the football world. Bidwill and the Cardinals were at the center of workplace misconduct allegations last month. Additionally, his handling of former general manager Steve Keim’s suspension in 2018 drew heavy attention in April. Per Yahoo Sports, former Cardinals front-office executive Terry McDonough filed an arbitration claim that Bidwill forced staffers to use “burner phones” to communicate with the suspended Keim. McDonough also accused Bidwill of mistreating the team’s black and pregnant employees. 

The Cardinals also failed miserably in the league’s first Players Association survey. They received an F or F-minus in 5-of-8 categories, including food/nutrition, weight room, training room, locker room, and treatment of families.