Desperate for a Breakthrough: Can the Cardinals Save Their Season Against the Packers Without Kyler Murray?

The moment of truth

The Cardinals host the Packers this Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. With a 2-4 record, Arizona has already dug a hole. The Packers, by contrast, are sitting at 3-1-1. (NFL.com)
The odds reflect how serious the situation is for the Cardinals: Green Bay is favored by about 7 points and the total is set at 44.5. The Cardinals’ outright moneyline‐underdog price is around +300. (Action Network)
In short: Arizona is underdogs at home with time slipping away.

Big question: Can they win without Kyler Murray?

The biggest cloud hanging over Arizona right now is the status of Kyler Murray. He has been dealing with a foot injury, was limited in practice, and the team appears to be preparing for the possibility that he won’t play. (Reuters)
If Murray is unavailable, the backup role falls to Jacoby Brissett (or potentially even rookie depth). Brissett has had some moments, but his career record (19-35 as a starter) doesn’t instill confidence in turning around a fading season. (Acme Packing Company)
So yes — the Cardinals can win without Murray, but the odds drop significantly. It will place even more pressure on the running game, supporting cast, defense, and their game‐planning.

What’s been going wrong

Let’s go through the key numbers and issues plaguing Arizona:

Offensive inconsistency

• The Cardinals are averaging around 23.5 points per game (12th in the NFL) but their total yards per game are down (around 284.5 yards/game) and they rank 27th in passing yards/game. (Yahoo Sports)
• Their passing yards/season leader (Kyler) is 962 so far with 6 touchdowns & 3 interceptions. (Reuters)
• When Murray has been out or limited, the offense has struggled to maintain rhythm or close out points, especially in the red zone. In the Week 6 loss to the Colts, Arizona managed three touchdowns in six red-zone trips. (Revenge of the Birds)

Defensive and late‐game collapse issues

• The defense has repeatedly failed to close out games. The Cardinals have been in the lead or in striking range late in multiple losses, yet collapse in the fourth quarter again. (Revenge of the Birds)
• On third downs, Arizona’s offense has been below the levels of successful playoff squads; defensively, they give up enough plays to enable comebacks. For example, Pro Football Reference data show major issues in first downs allowed vs gained. (StatMuse)

Scheduling & depth

• The NFC West is a brutal division. The Cardinals are chasing within that context and have less margin for error.
• Injuries to key offensive contributors (running backs, receivers) have sapped consistency and depth. The running game, which should be a cornerstone when the passing game is shaky, hasn’t been dominant either.

Why this game may still hold hope

• The Cardinals have a home game: even as underdogs, that matters.
• The Packers, while favored, are not immune. They’ve had their own issues (e.g., travel disruptions) and may face some key injuries upfront (which could ease pressure on Arizona’s offense). (Revenge of the Birds)
• Arizona has some talented pieces: receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. are emerging, and tight end Trey McBride is offering consistent production. Even with the QB uncertainty, good schemes + execution can offset that.

What must the Cardinals do to pull off a win

• Protect the football and win the turnover battle. Without Murray, turnovers will be even costlier.
• Establish the run early so they aren’t always playing from behind, and so the play-action/pass game opens up.
• Convert on third down — their ability to sustain drives and keep the Packers’ offense off the field will be critical.
• Mixed defensive approach: Need to stop the deep pass, avoid giving up big plays, and generate at least one turnover or defensive stop with momentum shift.
• Close the game: They must eliminate the late‐game “collapse” habit and execute in the fourth quarter.

Final take

The Cardinals are in a precarious spot. With time slipping, a 2-4 record, quarterback injury concerns, and a dominant opponent in Green Bay, this game looms large as a “must‐win” to keep playoff hopes alive. The odds (Packers about +7, Arizona about +300 underdog) reflect that reality. (Action Network)
If Kyler Murray can’t play, the challenge ramps up. But if Arizona can execute on all of the items above, there is a path to an upset. Whether they have the consistency, depth, and mental toughness to take that path remains the question.

In many ways, this game will tell us not only if the season is salvageable — but if the Cardinals have learned from their recurring failures or if the same script plays out again.