Trey McBride's birthday was on Saturday, and he said a fan gave him a sign to commemorate the occasion, something that cheered him up.
He needed it. The Cardinals did too. They brought back their competitive work Sunday against the Jaguars, leaving in the rear view the back-to-back ugly blowout losses in the division. But they were left with similar pain from earlier in the season, a three-point final in which they felt they could've/would've/should've had.
They again played on the backs of McBride and wide receiver Michael Wilson, each of whom were great again but the Jaguars knew that. So both were double-teamed on the final fourth down, with Xavier Weaver initially with one-on-one coverage – which is why Jacoby Brissett tried him – until safety Andrew Wingard sprinted back to make it an impossible-for-Weaver 2-on-1.
Wilson, a second straight game of at least 10 catches (10-118) politely declined interviews after the game. He wore a small smile as he said it, wearing the idea his team still wasn't winning despite his personal success.
McBride had his birthday wishes, and he had nine receptions for 79 yards. But …
"We have to score more points," McBride said. "Defense did their part."
Defensive lineman Calais Campbell said the Cardinals did get four turnovers, but the defense still allowed too many points. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. kept it even more basic, noting "we just have to do more." Simple as that.
The Cardinals have a long road trip next week, flying out to Tampa to face a Bucs team that was headed to a loss to the Rams Sunday night and will need a win badly to stay in playoff contention. They will be ready for the McBride-Wilson duo (and hopefully, Marvin Harrison Jr. will join the mix.)
Maybe the Cardinals can get McBride a birthday victory, albeit a week late.
"It's a fun game," McBride said. "I'll never stop fighting."
-- The last time the Cardinals forced four turnovers in a game and scored a defensive touchdown came against … wait for it … the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence. In Jacksonville in 2021, the Cardinals made two interceptions and recovered two fumbles, and Byron Murphy returned one of the picks for a TD. The Cardinals won that game, however, 31-19.
-- Defensive lineman Walter Nolen III scored his first touchdown in the NFL Sunday on a seven-yard fumble return in the first quarter, and it was his first six-pointer since he scored on a 3-yard run as a wildcat QB in high school during a state championship victory in 2021.
Unfortunately, when Nolen got submarined on the score, he also hurt his knee. His absence was felt.
-- The blitz was much more prevalent at times Sunday. It worked well when Budda Baker came and sacked Trevor Lawrence (although the sack was split between Baker and Calais Campbell) and really well when fellow safety Jalen Thompson strip-sacked Lawrence early in the game to give Nolen the chance to score. Cornerback Garrett Williams blitzed later and hit Lawrence just as Lawrence let the ball go – and it ended up a 10-yard TD pass.
-- Rookie pass rusher Jordan Burch had the first sack of his career on a play that ended the first half.
-- Campbell had a half-sack, bringing his total to 5½ this season, surpassing the 5 he had last season with the Dolphins. He also tipped the pass to allow Garrett Williams his interception in the end zone – stalling what looked like a sure Jacksonville TD drive.
-- Former Cardinals fan favorite Dennis Gardeck had a nice afternoon in his old stomping grounds, finishing with five tackles and 1½ sacks against Brissett.
-- The change of punter was noticeable in a good way for the Cardinals. Matt Haack, the former ASU punter who lost the punting battle with the Cardinals during training camp in 2023, averaged 49,8 yards a punt and had an impressive net of 42.7, and that was despite the Cardinals allowing a 43-yard punt return at one point. Haack dropped four inside the 20, in part because of great coverage twice by Max Melton.
-- Melton, however, was not playing nearly as much at cornerback, with Denzel Burke and Garrett Williams getting the bulk of the snaps and Kei'Trel Clark taking it half the time when three cornerbacks were used.
-- The last word belongs to Baker:
"I'm a sore loser. We could play rock, paper, scissors right now and I'd be mad if you beat me. I don't like to lose, but at the end of the day we have to trust in the work."
That's all for tonight.
