Cardinals suffer penalty woes in loss to 49ers

The season has been one to forget, and the Cardinals continue to extend their trend of losses within the division, having yet to secure a win against an NFC West opponent and falling to 3–7.

Arizona also suffered its worst-disciplined game since 1936, committing 17 penalties for 130 yards against San Francisco. Their undisciplined play cost them key drives and points, and gave the 49ers extra opportunities to redeem their mistakes.

Frustration among fans continues to pour online, with many calling for some type of leadership discipline to be implemented. Self-inflicted mistakes have contributed to many of the Cardinals’ losses, and Sunday was no different.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His 47 completions are an NFL record and his 452 passing yards are the most of his career.

On the other side, Arizona native and San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy had an excellent return from injury, completing 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

When a team inflicts more damage on itself than its opponent does, change becomes necessary. For the Cardinals, it’s not clear what direction they’re heading or how they plan to salvage the second half of the season before it spirals further.

What once looked like a rebound year may now require revisiting the blueprint to determine where things went wrong.