So, the Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their 2025-2026 campaign at SoFi Stadium, and honestly, it went about how you'd expect for a team on a nine-game skid. They fell 37-20 to the Los Angeles Rams on January 4, 2026. If you just look at the final score, it looks like another blowout in a season full of them. But if you actually watched the thing, there was this weird, brief window in the third quarter where it felt like the Cardinals might actually pull off the upset of the year.
They didn't. Obviously.
The loss cemented a 3-14 record, which is officially the most losses this franchise has ever banked in a single season. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a fan base that saw a 2-0 start back in September and thought, "Hey, maybe Jonathan Gannon has actually figured this out." Instead, they finished with the worst winning percentage since the team was literally playing in Chicago back in 1959.
The Arizona Cardinals Last Game Breakdown
The game started as a battle of kickers. Chad Ryland was basically the only reason Arizona stayed in it early, nailing a 45-yarder and then a massive 56-yarder. For a while, it was 6-6. Then Matthew Stafford remembered he’s Matthew Stafford. He found Puka Nacua for a 2-yard score right before halftime, and the Rams took a 16-6 lead into the locker room.
Then came the weird part.
✨ Don't miss: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Jacoby Brissett, who’s been under fire all year, came out in the third quarter looking like a totally different human being. He launched a 43-yard bomb to Michael Wilson to cut the lead. Then, after a defensive stop, he hit Josiah Deguara for a 7-yard touchdown. Suddenly, the Cardinals were up 20-16. You could almost hear the collective "Wait, what?" from the crowd in LA.
How the Wheels Fell Off
It lasted about six minutes.
The Rams responded with a clinical drive that ended with Colby Parkinson catching the first of his two second-half touchdowns. Arizona’s defense, which has been gassed for most of the last two months, just couldn't get off the field. Stafford ended the day with four touchdown passes, two of them to Parkinson and one to Tyler Higbee. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Cardinals looked like they were already thinking about their flight back to Phoenix.
The final stats are pretty ugly if you're a Cards fan:
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
- Total Yards: Rams 395, Cardinals 317.
- Sacks: Brissett got dropped 6 times.
- Time of Possession: The Rams held the ball for over 32 minutes.
Jacoby Brissett finished 22-of-31 for 243 yards and those two scores, but that one interception and a lost fumble really killed the momentum. On the bright side, Michael Wilson had a day, hauling in 99 yards and a score. Trey McBride also showed why he’s an All-Pro, grabbing 7 catches for 65 yards despite being the only guy the Rams secondary was actually worried about.
Why This 3-14 Season Is Historically Bad
We have to talk about the context here. Finishing 3-14 isn't just a "bad year." It’s a franchise-altering disaster. After starting 2-0 with wins over the Saints and Panthers, the team went 1-14 the rest of the way. Their only other win was a random Monday night stunner against the Cowboys in November.
The defense was the biggest culprit. During this nine-game losing streak to end the season, they gave up 40 or more points three separate times—to the Seahawks, Rams (in the first meeting), and Texans. You just can't win in the NFL when your secondary is getting shredded for 300+ yards every Sunday. Denzel Burke, the rookie corner, had a particularly rough go in the Arizona Cardinals last game, getting targeted repeatedly by Stafford on the game-deciding drives.
What Happens Next?
The 2026 schedule is already set, and it doesn't look much easier. Because they finished last in the NFC West, they’ll host the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos next year. They also have road trips to Kansas City and Dallas on the horizon.
💡 You might also like: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
General Manager Monti Ossenfort is sitting on a mountain of draft capital, and frankly, he needs to hit on every single one of them. The "Gannon era" is at a crossroads. While the locker room reportedly hasn't quit, the talent gap between Arizona and the rest of the NFC West—specifically the 14-3 Seahawks and the playoff-bound Rams—is currently a canyon.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking for a silver lining, keep an eye on these three things heading into the 2026 offseason:
- The Draft Slot: 3-14 likely puts Arizona in the top 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Expect heavy rumors about a franchise tackle or another elite pass catcher to pair with Wilson.
- Trey McBride’s Extension: He’s the heartbeat of the offense. Locking him down long-term is the only "must-do" on the 2026 checklist.
- Defensive Overhaul: State Farm Stadium will see a lot of new faces in the secondary. The current group simply isn't NFL-caliber yet.
The season is over, and for most fans, that’s probably a relief. Now the real work starts in the front office to make sure the next Week 18 actually matters.