Cardinals suffer shocking Week 15 loss to Lions

Kyler Murray's Cardinals should have had an easy win on Sunday. Instead, Arizona suffered an embarrassing loss to one of the worst teams in the league. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cardinals leave door open in NFC West with shocking Week 15 loss to Lions

By Adam Stites | Last updated 12/19/21

The Arizona Cardinals could have clinched a playoff spot simply by beating the one-win Lions. Instead, an inexplicable 30-12 loss to the Lions in Week 15 has the Cardinals in danger of soon losing the lead in the NFC West.

Detroit dominated from start to finish with quarterback Jared Goff throwing three touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Lions led 17-0 at halftime, and the defense continued to make plays in the second half, including an impressive diving interception by cornerback Amani Oruwariye to set up another Detroit touchdown.

.@AmaniO with the full extension for the INT‼️#AZvsDET | FOX pic.twitter.com/dWwcsDD6U0
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 19, 2021

Arizona didn't score a touchdown in the game until there were fewer than five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday but still had a one-game lead for first place in the NFC West heading into Week 15. The Rams now have the opportunity to pull even with the Cardinals when they play the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.

Arizona still owns the tiebreaker, thanks to its Week 4 win over the Rams and its superior record in NFC West. But the Cardinals have no more room for error and face tough tests with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys on the schedule in the next two weeks.

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