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Blame directed at Murray, Kingsbury after Cardinals latest loss

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Blame directed at Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury after Cardinals latest loss

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 10/16/22

Add the Arizona Cardinals to the list of dysfunctional NFL offenses.

They lost to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and are averaging 12.7 points in their past three losses. The defense is only allowing 19.7 points during the same span.

Kyler Murray signed a contract extension worth $230.5M over five years this offseason. On Sunday, he put up impressive stats, including a nice early run, but it didn't amount to much.

Kyler Murray RUNNING WILD pic.twitter.com/r6XKeb74So
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) October 16, 2022

Kyler Murray threw for 222 yards and added 100 on 10 carries with his legs.

Arizona scored 9 points and lost.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 16, 2022

The six sacks Murray took lost the team a staggering 51 yards and was a significant drag to their ability to put up points. Players given contracts like the one Murray got are usually expected to help cover some of their team's deficiencies. Murray's recent performances have only exacerbated them.

If we're being honest, Kyler Murray hasn’t played well since the opener and has been pressing. The Cardinals need the five star players to play like five star players and paying a lot of money.
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) October 16, 2022

Kyler Murray's just got no time.

If you can't protect Kyler Murray, none of this is going to work.

Maybe let Steve Keim know that.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) October 16, 2022

Kyler Murray giving full effort to block for Rondale Moore. pic.twitter.com/JTgQmBv1i8
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) October 16, 2022

Can you imagine having your team bet the house on Kyler Murray? Very inaccurate suspect decision making, and leadership seemingly an issue.

Of course, his coach stinks and they should have fired him and tried a year w/ Murray and a new coach before committing.
— Mike Salk, Seattle Sports Station (@TheMikeSalk) October 16, 2022

As much as Murray has not looked like a $230M QB (let alone much above average), head coach Kliff Kingsbury received plenty of criticism as well.

We are watching the cumulative impact of 4 seasons of bad coaching on Kyler Murray. Sticking with Kliff after their 2020 collapse will go down as an extremely costly blunder, in more ways than one. https://t.co/tbiAPRM2iD
— Jody Oehler (@radiojody) October 16, 2022

Kyler Murray is currently broken and unfortunately it's gonna take a new coach to fix him.
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) October 16, 2022

Kyler Murray has always won IN SPITE of Kliff Kingsbury, not because of him.

I've said this since 2019 and I have never wavered.

Kyler Murray isn't getting better. So not only is Kliff Kingsbury failing the Arizona Cardinals, he's failing Kyler Murray as well.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) October 16, 2022

The Cardinals really gave all that money to Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury to score 3 points in the first half against the Seahawks defense.

Tough scene.
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) October 16, 2022

There were questions about the front office's decision to invest in Murray when they initially put a clause in his contract that required him to spend four hours every week studying film independently. Many said film study was something any NFL quarterback should be doing, while others ridiculed the organization for giving so much money to a player that needed to be told how to prepare.

The doubts that surrounded this team in the offseason have so far turned out to be prophetic.

Since beginning the 2021 season 7-0, the Cardinals are 4-10 in their past 14 regular season games. The offense folded in their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams and has carried that same energy with them into 2022. They'll need to rekindle that spark soon, but whether they do may be irrelevant in regard to each's job status. On top of Murray's extension, the team also gave Kingsbury an extension this offseason that ties him to the team through 2027. Murray's deal expires after the 2028 season.

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