Cardinals owner sounds off on seeing 49ers-Rams playoff matchup

It's no surprise the Arizona Cardinals are unhappy their postseason was cut short. But for team owner Michael Bidwill, the real disappointment is having to watch as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers face off in the NFC championship game next weekend.

"Anytime you see your direct competitors in the playoffs, it should bother any football fan, and it certainly bothers this one," Bidwill said, via the Arizona Republic.

No member of the Cardinals' organization should be happy, really, given the team had the division title within reach before coming undone and losing four of their last five regular-season games and being booted by the Rams in the Wild Card round.

"Disappointing for everyone," Bidwill said. "For our players, for our coaches, certainly for our fans, and certainly as a fan myself, it was very disappointing. We have high expectations. We need to play better.

"We had a lot of great success in 2021. I don't want to take away from that, but we can get better and that's what we're working on now."

Bidwill is correct in noting the success the team had over the course of the 2021 campaign, particularly early in the season when they were the last team to go undefeated. Plus, the late-season skid could also be contributed to the slew of injuries to the roster's biggest stars including quarterback Kyler Murry and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. 

That being said, there is work to be done in the offseason if the Cardinals don't want to suffer the same fate in 2022. 

There are, of course, rumors swirling that head coach Kliff Kingsbury is on his way out. Bidwill has yet to confirm such reports, although it's fair to say Kingsbury is in the hot seat given the Cardinals have faded late in each season he has coached in Arizona.