If you're asking did the AZ Cardinals win their most recent outing, the short answer is no. On January 4, 2026, the Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their season with a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. It was a rough end to a rough year. Honestly, for fans who followed the team through the grueling 2025-2026 schedule, that final score felt like a microcosm of the entire campaign: a few flashes of brilliance followed by a total defensive collapse.
The game itself was actually competitive for a while. Believe it or not, the Cardinals actually held a 20-16 lead late in the third quarter after Jacoby Brissett found Josiah Deguara for a seven-yard touchdown. But then Matthew Stafford happened. The Rams' veteran quarterback sliced through the secondary for three straight touchdown drives to close the door.
Arizona finished the season with a 3-14 record. That’s a hard pill to swallow. It marks the first time in the franchise's long history—stretching all the way back to their Chicago roots in 1920—that they've lost 14 games in a single season.
The Brutal Reality: Did the AZ Cardinals Win Anything This Year?
When you look at the standings, the "wins" are hard to find. The Cardinals closed the season on a devastating nine-game losing streak. Their last victory feels like a lifetime ago—a 27-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys on November 3, 2025.
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Why did things go so south? Most experts and local analysts, like those at PHNX Cardinals, point to the devastating foot injury to Kyler Murray. When your franchise quarterback goes down, the margin for error evaporates. Jacoby Brissett stepped in and played with a lot of heart, but he went 1-11 as a starter. It’s tough to win in the NFL when you're playing from behind and struggling to find consistent rhythm in the red zone.
Breaking Down the Final Loss to the Rams
If you missed the Week 18 game, here is how it basically went down:
- First Half Grind: It was a kicker’s duel early on. Chad Ryland knocked through a 56-yarder to keep things tied at 6-6.
- The Puka Problem: Puka Nacua caught a 2-yard TD just before half, giving the Rams a lead they’d eventually grow.
- The Fake Punt Spark: Arizona pulled out a bag of tricks in the third. Punter Matt Haack threw a 28-yard beauty to Emari Demercado on a fake. One play later, Michael Wilson caught a 43-yard touchdown.
- The Collapse: After taking a 20-16 lead, the defense stayed on the field too long. Stafford finished with 4 touchdowns, and the Cardinals couldn't keep pace.
Silver Linings in a 3-14 Season
It wasn't all misery. If you're looking for reasons to stay a fan, look at Trey McBride. The guy is a machine. He finished the season with 126 receptions, extending his own NFL single-season record for a tight end. Every time the team needed a first down on third-and-long, it felt like Brissett was just looking for number 85.
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Then there’s Michael Wilson. He finally topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career. Seeing him develop into a legitimate deep threat gives some hope for whenever Murray returns to the field.
But let's be real: coaching is under the microscope. Jonathan Gannon’s record now sits at 15-36 after three seasons. In a league that stands for "Not For Long," those numbers are terrifying. Gannon himself admitted after the Rams game that "we did this to ourselves."
What This Means for the 2026 Offseason
Since the Cardinals didn't win, they secured a very high spot in the upcoming NFL Draft. With 14 losses, they are looking at a top-three pick. This opens up a massive debate in the valley: do they stick with Kyler Murray or use that pick on a fresh start at quarterback?
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The roster has holes everywhere. The defense gave up 37 or more points in four of their last five games. They need pass rushers, they need cornerbacks, and they desperately need to protect whoever is taking snaps under center.
Next Steps for Fans Following the Cardinals:
- Monitor the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Kyler Murray’s recovery timeline during the spring. His health dictates the entire franchise's direction.
- Draft Order Confirmation: Check the official NFL Draft order once the playoffs conclude to see exactly where the Cardinals land (likely 2nd or 3rd overall).
- Coaching Staff News: Watch for any "Black Monday" or late-January announcements regarding changes to the defensive staff, which struggled significantly in the final two months.
The 2025-26 season is officially in the books. It was a historically difficult stretch for Arizona, but the silver linings of individual records provide a small foundation to build on.