PHX Reporter

Kyler Murray maintained a positive demeanor during his postgame press conference on Sunday, following the Arizona Cardinals' 20-13 loss to the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium. When asked about embracing a moral victory, Murray dismissed the notion.

The Cardinals (1-2) struggled with their running game against last year's NFC finalists, managing only 77 yards on the ground, with 45 of those coming from Murray himself. Despite a strong defensive effort in the second half, it was not enough to secure a win against the Lions (2-1).

"Losing is frustrating," Murray said. "I'm encouraged though. I'm encouraged because I know what could've been in that game. I am excited for the road ahead."

Coach Jonathan Gannon echoed this sentiment, describing his team as "resilient." He noted that the defense's second-half shutout kept them competitive in a game that seemed to be slipping away.

Running back James Conner's performance highlighted potential issues for the Cardinals' offense. Conner finished with just 17 yards on nine carries, matching his output from his first two runs in their previous week's win over the Rams.

"Honestly, we want to keep it simple and execute," tight end Tip Reiman stated. "I don't feel (OC) Drew (Petzing) called a bad game. We just have to keep chopping. This is nothing to overanalyze."

The lack of an effective run game influenced offensive decisions late in the match. Despite being down by ten points, Arizona did not attempt any runs in the fourth quarter and called passes for their final 18 plays.

"We have to find a way to get (the run game) going," Murray said.

Murray completed 21-of-34 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown, and one interception—his first of the season—on a deep ball intended for Marvin Harrison Jr., which he regretted afterward.

The Cardinals struggled on third downs due to their ineffective run game, converting only one out of nine attempts after leading the NFL in third-down percentage before this game.

In contrast, the Lions ran for 187 yards but were contained by Arizona's defense after scoring touchdowns on their first two drives.

"We just settled in," linebacker Kyzir White commented. "As a team, we've just got to keep pushing forward."

This message was reiterated by both Murray and Gannon as they look ahead to another home game against the Commanders next week.

"That's a good football team," Gannon said about Detroit. "If we keep playing like that and clean up some mistakes, we will get back on track."

A pivotal moment occurred late in the first half when linebacker Mack Wilson Sr.'s apparent interception return touchdown was nullified due to timing discrepancies with officials ruling that play had stopped before Wilson's interception return began.

Defensively, standout performances included linebacker Dennis Gardeck's interception and defensive lineman Dante Stills' six tackles and first sack of the season. Offensively, wide receiver Michael Wilson had eight receptions for 64 yards despite losing another catch due to penalty.

Injuries further complicated matters for Arizona; right tackle Kelvin Beachum missed the game with a hamstring injury while third-string tackle Jackson Barton exited with a toe injury mid-game. Fourth-stringer Charlie Heck finished as right tackle—the team's fourth different player at that position within three games.

Additionally, starting defensive lineman Justin Jones left with a triceps injury while tight end Trey McBride was evaluated for concussion symptoms following a collision with Lions defensive back Brian Branch during Arizona’s final scoring drive.