THE STORY: Michael Wilson got his 1,000 yards, despite losing 14 to a questionable offensive pass interference call, about 50 when a deep pass was stolen from him for an interception, and 56 more when an incredible bomb he grabbed was called back for a blindside block penalty.
The wide receiver was excellent again for the Cardinals.
Yet his team finished up the regular season in a familiar spot -- a loss, this one 37-20 to the Rams at SoFi Stadium to close out the 2025 season in much the same fashion of many of their other losses. It was tight much of the game, before it wasn't.
"Not a great (season)," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "A lot of adversity. But growth will happen."
The Rams (12-5) clinched the NFC's fifth playoff seed. The Cardinals (3-14) closed the season with nine straight losses. The Cardinals will pick third in April's NFL draft.
Gannon said his thoughts on his status were no different than they had been about a week earlier, when he said he thought he was the right man for the job. Asked about his coordinators status, he said it wasn't the time to get into such things.
He did say he appreciated the fight of his team, which held a 20-16 lead in the second half before the Rams took over.
"I am grateful for them," Gannon said. "If it weren't for those guys in the locker room, it would not be a fun job."
One of those players was Wilson, who had eight catches for a mere 52 yards through five games of the season. That he ended up with 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns was remarkable.
Needing 93 yards coming into the game, Wilson had 99 on the five catches that did count. The 20-yarder that got him over the top set up the TD catch from tight end Josiah Deguara that gave the Cardinals their third-quarter lead.
"Honestly, I think the catch that I had, I was kind of keeping track naturally and then after I had the catch on the sideline, I was like, 'that could be it.' Then when I came on the sideline, everyone was like, 'You did it. He did it. He did it.' It's really gratifying for sure," Wilson said.
Tight end Trey McBride had seven catches himself, and Jacoby Brissett took a physical pounding (six sacks) but stood in for 22-of-31 passing for 243 yards.
"The ultimate goal is to win the game," Wilson said. "But this is a game of doing your 1/11th and if you're doing your own 11th, you're doing what's in your power to help the team win games. And I feel like I've done that, especially since my number was called and I stepped into a new role."
Said defensive lineman Calais Campbell, "Watching '85' (McBride) play football, '10' (Josh Sweat) play football, '14' (Wilson) play football, even though we are losing, it's cool to see greatness."
As has been the case, players all endorsed Gannon's future despite the tough season.
"JG, that's my guy," defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson said. "I would play into the ground for that man. The belief is always there, it's just the small details as players. We got to correct that on the field and we can't let small things become big things."
Gannon and Brissett each were outside the locker room as the players came off the field Sunday, giving hugs. Gannon's message Saturday night was to have each player leave a good impression with their teammates as the season came to a close.
Now change happens. The Wilsons and McBrides are the cornerstones. What will be around them is TBD.
"You have to create a family environment to play this game," Campbell said. "You win and lose together. When there are tough times, that's when you get closer together. You wish it led to more wins, but it's still fun."
TURNING POINT: After the Cardinals took a 20-16 lead midway through the third quarter on a Josiah Deguara touchdown catch, the Rams quickly took control, sandwiching 70- and 66-yard touchdown drives around a Cardinals' three-and-out that had minus-6 yards.
THE STANDOUTS: Wilson goes without saying. Safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson were active all day and combined for 19 tackles. Punter Matt Haack completed a 28-yard pass on a fake punt, and also averaged 54.5 yards a punt. Linebacker Josh Sweat had his 12th sack of the season to set a career-high.
INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Will Johnson hurt his knee in the first half, and after halftime was declared out. Linebacker Channing Tindall left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury. Both linebacker Cody Simon (concussion check) and safety Budda Baker (shoulder) were both able to return to the game.
