The ageless one, Calais Campbell, got another sack Sunday in Cincinnati, giving the national TV broadcast the chance to talk again whether the defensive lineman might retire when his 18th season comes to a close in another week.
(For the record, Campbell hasn't closed the door on continuing to play, but the decision isn't going to made one way or the other until a couple of months after that last game.)
But he also wasn't where he was supposed to be on Chase Brown's six-yard touchdown run, "one play that will haunt me," Campbell said after the lopsided loss. "It was probably the worst play of the season for me.
"I gotta wear that, and that's heartbreaking for me."
The season hasn't been anything like Campbell envisioned when he returned to the Cardinals. Then again, there isn't anyone who works at 8701 S. Hardy that envisioned much of this.
To that end, Campbell's biggest play of the day served as a reminder of sorts. His sack – bringing him to 6½ this season – came with the Cardinals down just 13-7 in the first half. It forced a punt, but Campbell said it could've (should've?) been more.
"I wish I could've gotten the ball out," Campbell said. "It was there for me, I just missed it. I've missed some sacks trying to get the ball, so I wanted to secure the sack. I left some plays out there too, there were a couple of opportunities early on, and for this team, you have to make the plays early on to get momentum on your side. You miss them, it comes back to bite you."
The Bengals punted, but the Cardinals couldn't get going and ended up punting it back – and then allowed the Bengals a 60-yard field-goal drive. The Cards couldn't get close after that.
Meanwhile, Campbell will play game No. 278 next week, one shy of Bruce Smith for second-most all-time for a defensive lineman, and four short of Jim Marshall's NFL record of 282.
Just sayin'.
-- Marvin Harrison Jr.'s snaps were again limited as the Cardinals manage his heel issue. He wasn't targeted for the first time until late in the first half, a contested ball that was broken up. That turned out to be his only target, and it was only the second time in his career he was held without a catch. He also didn't have a reception in Green Bay as a rookie after suffering a concussion early in the game.
-- On the other side of that, Michael Wilson had 10 targets. He ended up with five receptions, including an impressive catch and run for a touchdown and 89 yards receiving. He now needs 93 yards in the finale against the Rams to reach 1,000 for the season.
-- It's not ideal when you are highlighting the punter, but Matt Haack had a nice day, averaging 54.3 yards on his six punts, including a textbook 63-yard coffin corner bomb that came down in the air at the Cincinnati 2-yard line. Unfortunately, a Haack 50-yard punt was returned 43 yards right before halftime to set up a touchdown in the final minute.
-- Coach Jonathan Gannon lamented third downs after the game, and the stats back up his consternation. It was the highest percentage of third down conversions allowed by the Cardinals this season (66.7) and the lowest percentage of offensive conversions (23.1).
-- The Cardinals' 2026 opponents still have a couple of unknowns. Either the Lions or Vikings will visit State Farm Stadium next season; and the Cardinals will travel to either Atlanta or New Orleans. As the NFC West's fourth-place team, it will depend on which of those teams finish in fourth in the NFC North and South, respectively. If the Lions and Vikings are tied in the standings, the Lions would be the fourth-place team. If the Falcons and Saints finish tied, the Falcons would be the fourth-place team.
-- Tight end Trey McBride had his leaping catch on fourth down of a batted ball with multiple defenders fighting him, for one of his 10 receptions. But on that play – a fourth-and-7 pass that ended up gaining four yards – it was instinct to avoid a turnover more than anything.
"Truthfully I just wanted to get the ball down," McBride said. "I thought it was going to get picked off and that's what I was nervous about. I had a good angle on the ball and jumped a little higher than the other guys. Sucks I was short of the first down."
-- Cornerback Darren Hall became the second Cardinal to wear a Guardian Cap in a game. Hall was coming off a concussion. Linebacker Baron Browning, who was the first to do so after he came back from a concussion, is still wearing the Guardian Cap himself in game.
-- Weather was never a factor. In fact, the 65 degrees at kickoff made it the warmest December home game ever for the Bengals (and a far cry from the 10 degrees – with a wind chill of minus 1 – the Bengals had had their previous home game two weeks prior.)
-- The last word goes to Gannon, who was asked as the season goes into a final week about why he thought he would be coaching this team into the future.
"I think (because of) their effort and energy and enthusiasm. I think they're educated. They have belief. But we gotta coach and play better. There's no doubt."
That's all for today.
