The Arizona Cardinals just wrapped up a season that most fans would probably like to scrub from their memory banks with industrial-strength bleach. Honestly, if you were looking for a high-flying shootout or a gutsy underdog victory in the season finale, you didn't get it.
The final score for the Arizona Cardinals game on January 4, 2026, was 37-20 in favor of the Los Angeles Rams.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a 17-point exclamation point on a season that saw the team spiral into a nine-game losing streak to close out the year. They finished with a dismal 3-14 record. That’s the most losses in a single season for a franchise that’s been around since the 1920s back in Chicago. Think about that for a second. Over a century of football, and this was the rock bottom in terms of the loss column.
Breaking Down the Numbers at SoFi Stadium
The game started out sort of hopeful, or at least competitive. Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, with Chad Ryland knocking through a 45-yarder to keep things even at 3-3. By halftime, the Rams had built a 16-6 lead, but Arizona actually came out swinging in the third.
Jacoby Brissett, who’s been starting since Kyler Murray went down with a foot injury, found Michael Wilson for a 43-yard touchdown. Then, he connected with Josiah Deguara for a 7-yard score. For a brief, fleeting moment, the Cardinals actually led 20-16.
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Then the wheels fell off.
Matthew Stafford turned into a surgeon. He threw four touchdown passes in total, two of them to Colby Parkinson. The Rams scored 21 unanswered points to finish the game. It was clinical. It was brutal. It was exactly how the rest of the season has felt for anyone wearing Sedona Red.
Key Stats from the Season Finale:
- Jacoby Brissett: 22-of-31 for 243 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.
- Michael Wilson: 5 catches for 99 yards and a TD (he cleared 1,000 yards on the season, which is a rare bright spot).
- Trey McBride: 7 catches for 65 yards. He ended the year with 126 receptions—an NFL single-season record for a tight end.
- Matthew Stafford: 25-of-40 for 259 yards and 4 TDs.
The Most Miserable Team in the League?
It’s not just me being a pessimist. The national media is piling on. Recently, The Athletic labeled the Cardinals the "most miserable team" heading into the 2026 offseason. They gave the team's performance a 1/10 and their future outlook a 2/10. Ouch.
The Kyler Murray situation is basically the elephant in the room. He’s on a massive contract, but there are constant whispers that the front office doesn't think he’s the "guy" anymore. Plus, Marvin Harrison Jr., who everyone expected to be a generational superstar, had a pretty disappointing rookie campaign compared to the hype.
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When your division rivals (Rams, Seahawks, 49ers) are all fighting for playoff seeds and you’re 0-6 in the division, the "light at the end of the tunnel" looks a lot like an oncoming train.
What Happens Now?
Jonathan Gannon is now 15-36 as a head coach. He told reporters after the game, "We did that to ourselves, and it starts with me." You’ve gotta appreciate the accountability, but at some point, "keeping swinging" isn't enough if you're not landing any punches.
The 2026 offseason is going to be a total overhaul. The Cardinals have the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft. They also have a ton of potential "cap casualties" on the horizon. Players like James Conner, Dalvin Tomlinson, and even Jacoby Brissett could be on the chopping block as the team tries to claw back some cap space.
Honestly, the roster you see today might be 50% different by the time training camp rolls around in July.
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Priority Offseason Moves
- Decide on the QB: If they don't believe in Murray, do they trade him and take a QB at No. 3?
- Find a Pass Rush: The defense was basically a sieve in the fourth quarter against the Rams.
- Fix the O-Line: Brissett was sacked six times in the finale. You can't win like that.
The road back to relevance in the NFC West is incredibly steep. But hey, at least Trey McBride is a beast, right?
If you're a Cardinals fan looking for a silver lining, focus on the draft. The 2026 opponents are already set—Arizona will host the Eagles, Broncos, and Lions at State Farm Stadium next year. Whether they'll be competitive in those games is anyone's guess.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep an eye on the NFL Draft order and the upcoming coaching search updates. The Cardinals have the third pick, which is a prime spot to either grab a franchise tackle or a new quarterback if they decide to move on from the Murray era. Check the official team site in May for the specific dates and times of the 2026 schedule release.