THE STORY: The details are and will be important this week as the Cardinals try and find their way back.
But Sunday, after a disappointing 42-14 loss to the Commanders at State Farm Stadium, the subject was big picture. The minutia of such a game like the Cardinals (1-3) had just didn't matter in the moments after.
"We can't look like that," coach Jonathan Gannon said, and when he was asked if there were any positives, he was equally blunt.
"Not a lot, honestly. This league is very humbling, and we got humbled today."
There were a few things. Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. finally hooked up on an end zone fade for a touchdown, converting a fourth down to take a 7-0 lead that was lost to history soon enough. Garrett Williams had a fantastic leaping interception of Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the first pick Daniels has thrown in the NFL. James Conner rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries after his unproductive day a week ago.
The Commanders (3-1) had many more, however, most attached to the offense and coordinator/former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury in his return to Arizona. Daniels continued to look very much not like a rookie, completing 26 of 30 passes for 233 yards, the interception and a TD, in addition to rushing for 47 yards and a TD. (He also threw a two-point conversion to former Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz.)
Led by the 101 yards rushing by Brian Robinson Jr., Washington had 216 yards rushing total after the Lions had 188 a week ago against the Cardinals.
"Hopefully we can watch the film and see where they are getting the leaky yardage and everything," defensive lineman Roy Lopez said. "It's something good to assess yourself and be able to grow. Us having an older group in the D-line, that's why you bring in vets.
"It's not good enough."
Even when the Cardinals did get a couple of stops – and the Commanders, who had scored on 16 straight drives before Williams made his interception, only punted one time Sunday and scored seven of nine possessions – the offense couldn't do much with it.
The Cardinals stalled after two first downs on their second drive and went three-and-out on their third. Harrison went a long stretch without even being targeted. Arizona didn't turn the ball over, but they never really threatened much either.
"I'm just trying to process what just happened," Murray said. "Something's got to change. … That wasn't the brand of football we want to play."
Murray finished 16-of-22 for 147 yards. But the Commanders kept him in check; he had one rush for three yards and that came on the opening drive. Harrison had five catches for 45 yards.
"It's one game," Murray said. "The season's not over. No one is panicking, anything like that."
Gannon said the Cardinals "have to adapt some things." They definitely will have to tweak the run defense, with road trips to run-loving teams in San Francisco and Green Bay next up. (There could be some help on the way with the return of defensive lineman Darius Robinson from IR, but that is still in question.)
Gannon, as he does after every loss, noted the issues "start with me." Asked about that, Gannon said he's the head coach, "so everything that goes on out there is my responsibility.
"You get beat by whatever we got beat by today, it doesn't feel real good."
TURNING POINT: The Commanders already held a 17-7 lead, but the beginning of the third quarter seemed to permanently alter the course of the game. Washington opened the third quarter and had a first down at its own 44. It's entirely possible the drive would've ended the same regardless, but Daniels heaved a bomb to Noah Brown that was going to be over Brown's head – but Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting dragged Brown down regardless, earning a pass interference flag at the Arizona 9. On the next play, Daniels ran in a touchdown and a 24-7 lead.
On the next Cardinals' possession, two holding calls and a sack led to a third-and-34 play at their own 6, a sequence that seemed to sum up the day.
THE STANDOUTS: Given the outcome, the list was not long. Safety Budda Baker had 14 tackles, and while that is good, it's never great to have a safety pile up so many tackles. Marvin Harrison Jr. did have his fourth touchdown in four games, and Conner bounced back as a runner.
MCBRIDE MISSING: The offense was not helped by the absence of tight end Trey McBride, who sat out with a concussion. Elijah Higgins was targeted three times, making two catches for 12 yards, but it's hard to believe McBride wouldn't have made a difference in a passing game that struggled much of the afternoon.
