Kliff Kingsbury doesn't believe Sunday was a blessing in disguise.
The Cardinals suffered a Week 1 disappointing 44-21 loss to the Chiefs, a performance nobody in the locker room was happy about. But Sunday did allow Kingsbury to see where the Cardinals stand compared to another playoff-caliber team and where they need to improve.
"We needed to play well to beat them, and we didn't," Kingsbury said Monday. "But I expect the sense of urgency to pick up after we watch the film (Tuesday) with the players, and see how far we have to go."
Kingsbury said that includes the defense increasing their focus by fixing communication issues and reducing the number of missed coverages in the secondary.
The Cardinals surrendered 488 total yards and the Patrick Mahomes-led offense was 6-for-6 in the red zone. The Cards also struggled to generate pressure on the quarterback throughout the game, finishing with zero sacks.
"We made a lot of mistakes together as a team," linebacker Markus Golden said. "Especially just simple little mistakes, stuff we worked on during the week.
"They are a great team, they prove it every year. But that doesn't mean we've got to let them beat us like that. You don't want to lose like that anymore."
Things were not a lot better on the offensive side of the ball. Yes, the Cardinals were without wideouts DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) and Rondale Moore (hamstring), essential players to their passing success. Justin Pugh, one their starting offensive linemen, did not play.
But quarterback Kyler Murray said injuries come with playing the world's most dangerous game, so Murray refused to use them as an excuse.
Like Murray, Kingsbury emphasized the importance of learning from their mishaps. It's the only way the team will reach its ultimate goal.
"There's nowhere to go but up after that performance," the head coach said.
"We want to reach our full potential and when you're doing stuff like that, making the self-inflicted wounds like we did (Sunday), we're not. It's nothing we can't correct, we just have to get it done. That's on all of us, coaches and players. But we'll get better."
EXTRA POINTS:
Kingsbury said defensive end J.J. Watt (calf) and Pugh (neck) are day-to-day this week. Wide receiver Rondale Moore (hamstring) will test himself this week, but Kingsbury noted that with how much running Moore must do in games, they will be careful with his recovery. The coach also said that cornerback Marco WIlson, who hurt his right leg near the end of Sunday's game, was "doing better."
The top images taken by the Cardinals team photographer during the 2022 Week 1 regular season game against the Kansas City Chiefs, presented by Earnhardt Auto Centers.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (2) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin (26) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence (90) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence (90) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Nick Vigil (59) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (2) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (2) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons (9) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45), Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Rodney Hudson (61) and Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence (90) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Cameron Thomas (97) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman D.J. Humphries (74) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (2) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
The Arizona Cardinals during the 2022 regular season game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 in Glendale, AZ.
