Cardinals QB Kyler Murray Slammed After Loss

ARIZONA -- Somebody close to Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray should probably advise him to stay off social media for a minute.

Murray and the Cardinals again failed to deliver in an important game, falling to the three-win Carolina Panthers in overtime and effectively ending their season in the process.

Murray completed 20 of 32 attempts for 202 yards for one touchdown and one interception on the afternoon, with the mistake coming with just minutes left in the game.

Murray's been one of the more polarizing sports figures in Arizona since arriving years ago, so he's used to the haters - though Sunday's performance opened the floodgates for opinions and takes alike.

Kyler Murray deadass a bust and nobody talks about it lmao most overrated player in the league
— 🃏 (@llMcbucketsll) December 22, 2024

Kyler Murray has now missed the playoffs 5 out of 6 years since being picked 1st overall and the 1 time he made it he put up one of the worst performances in playoff history.

Arizona won't be winning anything important as long as he's under center.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) December 22, 2024

Kyler Murray is such a good quarterback. Now you say a lie.
— Jason Moore (@jasonffl) December 22, 2024

Head coach Jonathan Gannon - who has been Murray's biggest supporter since first stepping foot in the door - offered this after the loss on Murray.

"I thought he battled, yeah. I thought he battled. I mean, some of those -- the two-minute drive there, the touchdown play was good. I know the last interception, he's trying to make a play there. I don't fault that at all. He's just like all those guys. He battled and gave us a chance to be in position to have a chance to win the game," said Gannon.

"Everybody makes mistakes. I made a bunch today. So you learn from it and move on, but that dude is competitive, he's a warrior. He gives us a chance to win, so I'm never going to fault his decision-making."

That's very much not the opinion of Cardinals fans, however.

Kyler Murray after today. pic.twitter.com/yN8pwFRxzW
— itsallphoenix (@itsallphoenix2) December 22, 2024

The Arizona Cardinals have tried to make Kyler Murray a pure pocket passer. That’s not what he is at his peak potential.

Hell, nobody’s trying to make Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson a pure pocket passer. It’s all about maximizing talent.

This is Haason Reddick all over again.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) December 23, 2024

Cardinals fans have given Kyler 6 years but are ready to move on from MHJ after his rookie season?

I have more confidence in MHJ than I do in Kyler. Marvin will adjust to the pro game and thrive. Kyler has had 6 years and is still struggling.
— nkemjika (Kemi) (@kemindolo) December 22, 2024

"We had an opportunity to win the game. We didn't, and that's the most frustrating part. We showed we're a resilient bunch but at the end of the day, we didn't get the job done. Losing is not fun," Murray said after the game.

After falling behind 20-3 in the first half, Murray said he believed the Cardinals didn't come out flat.

"I don't think we came out flat. I know the guys came out on this trip understanding who we were playing, how they've been playing lately. We didn't take this team lightly at all, but it's the NFL. When you come out and you do that, put yourself behind, we fought back, though, and had a chance to win the game and that's all that matters and we didn't do it, so, that's part of the game. I'm happy that we got back in the game, but, again, like I said, we didn't win the game."

Why does Kyler Murray refuse to be good. pic.twitter.com/vhgXA0vo9x
— Chuck Bass (@ChuckFBass) December 22, 2024

Kyler Murray with the Cardinals season on the line. pic.twitter.com/5EG4ImqNpH
— trevor lahey (@thetrevorlahey) December 22, 2024

We'll see if the next two weeks can rectify anything for Murray, though clearly he's got quite the uphill battle to climb.