Marvin Harrison Jr. scored his fourth touchdown in as many games on Sunday, a beautiful fourth-down pitch-and-catch between the rookie and quarterback Kyler Murray on the first drive of the game.
It was a fast start. But Harrison's production didn't keep up, with the rookie finishing with five receptions for 45 yards to go along with the score in the Cardinals' loss to the Commanders.
"Not enough, obviously," Harrison said. "When you get blown out, 42-14, obviously I did not do enough to help the team win."
Jonathan Gannon disagreed with that statement.
"Marv, I thought, actually played his best game," the coach said on Monday. "I thought he launched really well off the line of scrimmage. I thought his route depth and his execution to detail, his routes were really good. I thought he won a bunch of one-on-ones."
Harrison's touchdown was not only a nice reception with a defender by his hip, but he tied the Vikings' Justin Jefferson as the league leader with four receiving touchdowns. He is the first Cardinals rookie since Steve Lach in 1942 as the only first-year players with at least four touchdowns in their first four games. Plus, the toss was the 100th career passing touchdown for Murray.
But it doesn't erase the inability of the offense to sustain success beyond the first quarter. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has scripted four flawless starts for the Cardinals offense, scoring on their first drive in every game this year.
After that, the lack of production in the second half came back to haunt the Cardinals.
"I think just player execution because at the end of the day, that's what it comes down to," Harrison said. "It's 11-on-11. You've got to win your one-on-one as a player in the run game and the pass games. That's really what it comes down to."
Similar to Week 1 against the Bills, Harrison recognized the Commanders began to play more cloud coverage on his side of the field. It showed in his production. Harrison went a long stretch -- from late in the first quarter to late in the third quarter -- without a target.
"When we're doing good, you feel that," Murray said. "You feel like, 'OK. The playmakers are making plays, and everything's flowing.' But when it's stagnant and you're going three-and-out ... you can't get in rhythm and you're off the field. Everybody's stats are going to look like that."
Gannon said there were moments when Harrison was open, but the ball didn't find him. Both the coach and quarterback agree the ball needs to be in No. 18's hands.
It's all a part of the process as Murray and Harrison develop their chemistry. The hope is that the chemistry extends beyond the first quarter.
"I'm definitely getting more comfortable out there. I guess that's the positive of (Sunday) for me," Harrison said. "Other than that, I've got to continue to do my job and help the team win."
MCBRIDE "LOOKING GOOD"
Gannon wouldn't say what tight end Trey McBride would do this week after missing Sunday's game with a concussion but added McBride was "looking good" in his recovery. The coach also said the team had a couple more days to evaluate if any player -- specifically defensive lineman Darius Robinson -- would return to practice this week as he rehabs on IR.
