What We Learned From Cardinals Loss to 49ers

A lot of talk on the Arizona Cardinals' offensive side of the ball.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals are just 3-11 heading into their final three weeks of play, having given up a season-high 45 points to the San Francisco 49ers while also being eliminated from the postseason in the process. 

After an encouraging start, the 49ers took control of the game and never looked back to sweep the season series. 

Here's what we learned (warning, nothing but offense here):

Trey McBride is an Emerging Star

Trey McBride is already Kyler Murray's favorite target.  / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals have a star in the making on their hands. 

Trey McBride got a slow start out of the gates this season after playing second fiddle to Zach Ertz. When Ertz went to injured reserve, there were some that weren't confident in McBride after he failed to show anything promising in his rookie season. 

How quickly those doubts have been erased. 

McBride took full advantage of his opportunity and has captured the attention of defenses on a weekly basis. His 100-yard output vs. San Francisco was his second of the season and he's registered less than five catches just once in the last seven games. 

Trey McBride is the definition of “go up and make a play”. pic.twitter.com/Tf5Kp4WHQo

— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) December 18, 2023

"He's just getting better each and every week. I say it every week. The more he plays, the more confident he gets, and the swag and the juice from him just continues to grow. I think there's still things that me and him can be better at," Kyler Murray said following the game. 

"Like today, we had the opportunity to make a play (and) we didn't, the interception that (went) the other way. But those are little things that, as we play together more, those things happen and we'll fix them."

McBride only appears to be getting better and better, which is a scary sight for the rest of the league. 

WR Should be a Top Priority in Offseason

Kyler Murray needs another top weapon / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

I quickly want to flash over to Kansas City, where Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has struggled despite having a strong presence at tight end with little help from his receivers. It's a been a problem even one of the top offensive minds in Andy Reid can't quite overcome.

You can copy+paste that storyline here in the desert, where virtually no receiver was able to help Kyler Murray yesterday. 

Arizona's top three leaders in receiving yards were tight ends. Only two wideouts in Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch put themselves on the stat sheet with a combined four receptions for 20 yards. 

In the 1950's that's fine. Today? Not so much. 

Marquise Brown exited with a heel injury after 24 snaps and no targets. Michael Wilson played 88% of snaps and didn't catch any of his three targets. Zach Pascal was targeted four times with no catches, too. 

Arizona's overall inability to create separation at the line of scrimmage has haunted them for weeks now. Simply put, Cardinals receivers are having a tough time getting themselves open and making life easier for Murray.

The allure of adding a top option in the offseason - whether by the NFL Draft or free agency - was always a talking point for Cardinals fans. Yesterday's game made it evident that adding a legitimate receiver should be a top priority once 2023 concludes.

Cardinals Have Something Special in Rushing Attack

Emari Demercado's late touchdown showed the Cardinals can get it done on the ground / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

This is an ode to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and the big boys up front. 

The Cardinals rushed for a strong 234 net yards against one of the top defenses in the league yesterday, blowing San Francisco's previous season high of 160 out of the water. 

Before the season, Petzing promised the Cardinals would establish the run in hopes of controlling the game and opening the entire field for Murray simultaneously in the play-action front. 

Though sometimes Arizona has strayed from that philosophy, the Cardinals looked competent offensively thanks to their ability to gash the 49ers on the ground, averaging eight yards per carry and seeing two runners in James Conner and Emari Demercado score. 

“We played really well as an offense," Trey McBride said following the loss. "(RB) James (Conner) played well. (RB) Emari (Demercado) had a big run in there. (TE) Elijah (Higgins) came in and played well when I went out. We really clicked as an offense. There’s a lot to look forward to that’s exciting. It makes me happy. I think we’re moving in the right direction. We just need to tighten it up just a little bit.”

Turnovers ultimately killed the Cardinals offensively, but their rushing attack remains a strongpoint of their overall play on either side of the ball, and is something to build on as the season draws to a close.