Zach Ertz says ‘everyone’ on the Cardinals needs to ‘play better’
Since starting the 2021 campaign with a blazing 7-0 record, the Arizona Cardinals have fallen from the top spot in the NFC playoff picture.
The Cardinals have lost five out of their last eight games, including their last three straight games. It’s cooled down the hype around the franchise as a legitimate Super Bowl contender as earning the first-round playoff appears to be out of the picture.
Former Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz recently voiced that the Cardinals are still the team that many believed they were earlier this season.
“Everyone has to play better. Everyone has to coach better. Everyone has to do their job just a little better,” Ertz said, via Kevin Parrish Jr. of the Cardinals’ website. “We’re still the same team we were when everyone said how great we were. So just because we lost a few games doesn’t mean we’re now the worst team in the NFL.”
Arizona certainly possesses the same high confidence level, but their recent performance doesn’t back those firm words. The Cardinals have taken their lumps behind concerning showings as they have struggled to find their rhythm.
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The loss of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for potentially the rest of the season is a significant blow. Despite Hopkins putting forth a career-worst campaign, he remains a game-changing factor that lifts the Cardinals offense to another level.
However, quarterback Kyler Murray’s play will be the most significant factor in determining how far Arizona ventures. The Cardinals will look to use the last two regular-season games to get back on track for the playoffs.
