Valley football fans are lost in a maze of emotions. Many ASU fans are in crisis mode, already dreading the annual Territorial Cup. It’s even more complicated for Cardinals fans.
Consider:
The Cardinals played an exciting football game on Sunday, a 36-24 loss to the Giants that ended in a horrible ending. This was not a must-play game. But with the Lions, Rams, Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, Rams (again) and Chiefs on the road ahead, this could have been the last winning opportunity in a while.
After two good series to start the game, Jacoby Brissett was once again a piñata in the pocket. He made a handful of exquisite throws, but also a handful of really bad decisions. And with two chances to win the match, Brissett failed horribly.
The first opportunity started at his own three-yard line and ended with a terrible non-call against Trey McBride. The second ended at the Giants four-yard line, a drive aided by a terrible call against the Giants. In other words, the football gods leveled the playing field so Brissett could produce heroics and fireworks, giving him four plays to win the game.
In just one play, Brissett threw a pick six, confirming all the worst fears. The Cardinals starting quarterback is both underrated and underappreciated in the Valley. But he’s not the next veteran/savior to fall into our hands. He’s not the next Kurt Warner or Carson Palmer. He doesn’t have the star power to win a game that’s on the line.
Next up was Marvin Harrison Jr., who caught a touchdown pass on a great throw from Brissett early in the game. He immediately put a finger to his lips, making the shhhhhhh gesture. Maybe it was aimed at the Giants fans at MetLife Stadium. Perhaps this was intended to silence his legions of critics. Regardless, it was a wonderful time full of hope and renewal.
Until Harrison Jr. slaughtered a perfect pass from Brissett late in the game near the goal line, a pass that could have won the game much earlier.
Next up is head coach Mike LaFleur, who was incredibly impressive for most of Sunday afternoon. His playmaking abilities sliced and diced the Giants early in the game. Even more impressive, he seemed to have full control of his brain and emotions in the nerve-wracking final minute of the game, when the clock was ticking and the Cardinals head coach was making up plays on the fly.
But after playing clean football for the first 22 minutes, the Cardinals finished with seven more penalties for 55 yards. And we can’t help but wonder why Jeremiah Love wasn’t on the field at the end of the match.
Finally, the defense, which has now allowed more than 30 points in three straight games. Budda Baker brought the gavel. Josh Sweat played a very loud game, looking like his dominant self. Except the performance came after a troubling pregame report from Adam Schefter that Sweat wants a new contract and is one of the five players most likely to be traded. In other words, the chaos will continue even as the schedule becomes a challenge, with all the bar stools and water coolers screaming for a new quarterback to replace Brissett.
Instead of winning their second road game under LaFleur in three tries, the Cardinals lost in the most cardinal fashion. With a play to win the game, they executed a play that produced a 12-point margin of defeat. And the march continues.
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