Getty Image / Grant Halverson
This season has not quite gone according to plan for the Arizona Cardinals early on.
Last year, they had no such troubles. In 2021, they got out to a hot start, winning their first 7 games before they cooled down in the second half and ended up with an 11-6 record.
This year, their struggles have started much earlier. In Week 1, they were dismantled by the Kansas City Chiefs, which is something that just kind of happens in the NFL. Even the Bucs didn’t have an answer for Patrick Mahomes this weekend.
However, the following 3 games were more troubling. The Cardinals fell behind the Las Vegas Raiders by 20 before the half in Week 2. A miraculous comeback and some Kyler Murray magic helped them claw their way back into that game and get the win.
In Week 3, the offense struggled again, this time in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. After that game, the Cardinals had still not held a lead for a single offensive snap.
That would change in Week 4, but they still struggled offensively against the Carolina Panthers. While the Cardinals won 26-16 in regulation, they still kept an unfortunate streak alive. The Cardinals still haven’t scored a touchdown in the first half of a game.
That has forced the Cardinals to play from behind in the 2nd half of every game this season. It turns out that trend could help Kyler Murray break an NFL record.
After Week 4, Kyler is on pace to throw 735 passes this season, which would be the most attempts in a season in league history.
Kyler Murray is on pace to break the single-season record for pass attempts
Kyler Murray on pace to throw NFL-record 735 passes this season. https://t.co/8GRqHN9iT9
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 4, 2022
The current record holder is Matthew Stafford, who racked up 727 attempts while quarterbacking a 4-12 Lions team.
That is not a territory the Arizona Cardinals want to be in. The Cardinals were expected to contend for a playoff spot this season, but they’re going to have a tough time making that a reality if they continue to have to play from behind in the 2nd half.
If Kyler actually does break this record, it likely won’t mean anything good for the Cardinals’ record this season.