By james art GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The calendar is flipping to November and the Arizona Cardinals are right in the middle of the playoff race.
Now quarterback Kyler Murray says real football begins.
“I think teams kind of evaporate and get complacent,” Murray said. “I think teams are on their own at this time of year. A lot of games are lost more than won.”
The Cardinals (4-4) will look to snap a three-game winning streak when they host the Chicago Bears (4-3), who are also right in the middle of the playoff race with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Arizona has won three of its last four games, all on fourth-quarter comebacks, and is tied with the 49ers and Seahawks atop the NFC West.
Murray has been in a good position at this point in the schedule before. In 2021, the Cardinals looked like a Super Bowl-caliber team after winning their first seven games, but closed the season 4-6 and were quickly bounced out of the playoffs in the wild card round by the Los Angeles Rams.
“We won early in the year,” Murray said. “Now we have to lock down the next few months and really continue to improve and focus on what we need to focus on.”
The Bears are coming off a brutal 18-15 loss that ended with Washington’s game-winning Hail Mary as time expired.
The loss was even more tumultuous after cameras caught Bears cornerback Tyreek Stevenson waving to the crowd and having his back turned when the Commanders snapped the ball on the game-winning play.
Stevenson apologized, and coach Matt Eberfluss said any discipline would be handled internally. Williams said the Bears can’t let one bad moment ruin a season.
“We’ve got to focus on coming out here and winning this game right now,” Williams said. “We’ve had a 24-hour period to feel how we feel, but we have to move forward.”
To be responsible
The big talking point around the Bears this week has been about accountability and whether the team and coaches are on the same page.
Some players openly questioned the sideline calls after the Washington loss.
Receiver DJ Moore mentioned during a radio interview the handoff call to offensive lineman Doug Kramer at the goal line in the fourth quarter. The Bears botched the exchange and the Commanders recovered.
On the same broadcast, cornerback Jaylen Johnson wondered why the Bears didn’t call a timeout before the Hail Mary to get organized and make sure everyone knew their assignment.
“I’m going to be the guy that I’ve been, the leader that I’ve been, and just be steady through the process,” Eberfluss said. “We are a team that is growing and we are a team that is improving. We will get through this ordeal.”
Murray’s defense
Arizona’s offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack in three straight games, the franchise’s longest streak since 1975.
“I can’t say enough about these guys,” Murray said. “The offensive line and that connection, they’re really the heart and soul of almost any team. We walk like them and they know it. I just love this band.
Murray’s defense is anchored by left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., a second-year player who moved from right tackle to left tackle during the offseason. Center Hjalte Froholdt has also been a key figure, helping organize a line that has been disrupted by injuries.
Johnson said there was pride in keeping Murray up for three straight weeks, even if he cautioned against complacency.
“That’s what it’s all about — that’s the sole purpose of pass protection,” Johnson said.
Caleb Williams rebound
Williams will look to bounce back from a rough outing after putting together some solid performances before Chicago’s bye.
The No. 1 draft pick and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California threw the fewest passes of his young career, going 10 for 24. Besides the failed handoff to Kramer, he had a 15-yard sack that put Chicago out of field – target range.
It was a big change from the three games before Chicago’s bye. Williams went 60-of-81 for 687 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception in wins over the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I think we have to start quickly, find ways to do that,” Williams said. “We’ve got to figure out ways to sustain and sustain that through four quarters or however many plays you need to be able to win games.”
Slow startup is a big problem. The Bears had just 10 points in the first quarter.
The Great Ryland
There has been at least one common theme in the Cardinals’ last three wins — kicker Chad Ryland has sealed them with clutch hits.
Ryland made a 35-yard field goal with 1:31 left that proved to be the difference against the 49ers and then made a 32-yarder against the Chargers and a 34-yarder against the Dolphins, both as time expired. The second-year player out of Maryland is 8-of-9 on field goals since taking over for veteran Matt Prater, who is out with a knee injury.
“He’s a prime-time player,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “However, he does it in practice. We try to annoy him in practice. He has ice water running through his veins right now.
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AP sports writer Andrew Seligman of Lake Forest, Ill., contributed to this story.
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David Brandt, Associated Press