After the Arizona Cardinals lost by seven points to the Lions in Week 3, their record in one-score games under head coach Jonathan Gannon was 2-7.
However, following three wins in four games by a total of four points, the Cardinals are suddenly 3-2 in one-score games this season while being 4-4 overall and currently in first place in the suddenly average NFC West — at least for now.
Still, it underscores the importance of winning those games. It doesn’t take a math major to figure out that if two of those three wins had been losses, the Cardinals would be 2-6 and the positive narrative that now exists would be replaced by the gloom and doomers claiming general manager Monti Ossenfort’s roster rebuilding efforts were a failure.
That’s the way of life in the NFL.
In Week 8, there were 10 games won by eight points or less, nine by seven, four by three and there were 12 games that were one-score games in the fourth quarter.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that’s what separates teams in the NFL. After all, the 7-0 Kansas City Chiefs have won five games by one score. Many coaches preach the mantra that about five plays in a game are the ones that truly decide the outcome. Winners make them, losers don’t.
Five teams in Week 8 — the Cardinals, Browns, Packers, Patriots and Commanders — won games in the final two minutes.
Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, and Brandon McManus of the Packers, each kicked game-winning field goals as time expired for the second consecutive week.
Through eight weeks and 123 games, 67 (54.5%) have been won by seven points or less and 56 (45.5%) by six or less.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Wednesday prior to the first practice of the week, “We laugh about it. You’re a couple plays away from being better than your record and worse than your record. That’s the NFL. That’s why we don’t really live in the past, but I think our team knows if we play good clean football, we can beat anybody. That’s the attitude that they take, but the challenge is you win Sunday today. You win Sunday on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That’s what our guys are focused on right now on.”
Coaches and players always highlight execution while the outside narrative is on play-callers. The reality is that players determine whether a play works or not and the other team is also striving for that same consistency.
Putting together three game-winning drives in four weeks surely increases confidence, right?
Said quarterback Kyler Murray, “Yeah, I think all the guys understand who we are and who we can be when we’re playing at a high level. I don’t think any guy in that huddle has a doubt when we get the ball in that moment – I know I don’t – that we’re going to go score and do whatever’s necessary to win the game.
“Obviously, in that moment (Sunday), it was kick a field goal to win the game, but if we needed to go put the ball in the end zone, I have full faith in the guys and I think they have the same faith.”
On the subject of staging comebacks, Murray said, “I think it goes back to the culture and the makeup of the team. No quit in us; 60 minutes. We continue to believe in each other and understand we’re going to get that stop, we’re going to score when we need to. Obviously yes, we would like to come out and dominate from the jump, which is something we have to be better about, but it’s also good to know that this team is resilient.”
As for confidence, Gannon said, “It’s about the players. They put in the work and then when it’s time to make plays to either win or lose the game, I feel really good about our guys because of the preparation that was put forth to put them in that position to make those plays. We don’t lack confidence. This team doesn’t lack confidence.
“They know they can play with anybody, but they also know that they can get smoked by anybody too if we’re not on point. That’s the NFL, but I think what our team’s doing a good job of right now is can we compartmentalize each day and really maximize each thing that we’re doing on a day-to-day basis. I’ll have an answer for you after today, see if it’s to my liking.”
Always one to harp on the details, Gannon added, “I have a high standard of consistency, so it always can improve. That’s what you’re always striving for, but again, I’ll have my eye on today. The consistency of doing the right things today in practice (from) everybody. Whether it be ball security, to our effort, to the details of how they get aligned, to the calls being made, to how many balls we got on the ground, to our tempo; everything, man. Everything matters.”
Perhaps the biggest growth from Murray is understanding the importance of those details and treating every day as important so consistency is the result.
“You have to be,” he said. “In order for us to win three in a row, you have to keep going. We can’t get complacent. I don’t know who we would think we are to even get complacent. That’s my mentality. It’s too hard to win. We can’t take a week off. We can’t take a day off.
“To think that we just won two (and) we’re going to just go win three because we feel good today or we felt good yesterday after the win; that’s not how it works. We have to continue to attack every day like it’s our last and just keep going.”
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