The Arizona Cardinals face a struggling Carolina Panthers team on the road on Sunday in Week 16. Should Cardinals fans fear a potential trap game before they close the season against the division-leading L.A. Rams and San Francisco 49ers?
Absolutely not, said Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Wednesday. They aren’t in a position to even be able to have a trap game.
“I’m very confident that it’s not a trap game because, mentally, that could never be a thing because of where we are,” he told reporters. “Our back is against the wall, we understand that.
“I think in order for it to be a trap game, our record would have to be better. We’d have to be feeling not humble. We understand what’s at stake and we understand it’s each week for us, so we have to go play our best on the road.”
It’s true. A 7-7 team that essentially has to win out to make the playoffs can’t have a trap game. They have no lead over anyone. There is no more important game than this one.
Yes, it is still possible for them to win the NFC West if they lose to the Panthers. They could finish in a three-way tie at 9-8 with Seattle and L.A. and be division champs.
But the truth of the matter is that if the Cardinals can’t beat the Panthers in this situation where every game matters, they don’t deserve to be a playoff team.
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