Cardinals Crash Out of Playoff Race, Wildcats Shine in Rivalry Weekend
The Arizona Cardinals’ season hit rock bottom on Sunday-and not just because of the 20-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the defeat, the Cardinals dropped to 3-9 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention. There are still five games left on the calendar, but for Arizona, the postseason door is now closed.
And honestly, the way this season has unfolded, it’s hard to call it a surprise. The NFC West is no picnic, and the Cardinals have looked outmatched far too often. Sunday's game was another chapter in a familiar story: a few flashes of promise, undone by missed chances and costly errors.
Let’s start with the offense. Arizona actually moved the ball fairly well, averaging five yards per carry and getting a 300-yard, two-touchdown performance from Jacoby Brissett.
But it didn’t translate to the scoreboard. Too many drives sputtered out - an interception, a missed field goal, and two fourth-quarter turnovers on downs.
The Cardinals never looked like they were in control, even with a close scoreline.
Tampa Bay’s defense seemed a step ahead all game. Once again, Arizona’s offensive game plan under Drew Petzing couldn’t keep up.
Whether it was scheme, execution, or both, the Bucs had the answers. And while the Cardinals’ defense held Tampa to under 300 total yards, it still felt like Arizona was chasing the game from the opening whistle.
Another frustrating Sunday, another missed opportunity.
But even in a lost season, there were a few bright spots worth highlighting.
Standouts from the Cardinals' Loss
QB Jacoby Brissett - Brissett threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight-reel throw on the run to Bam Knight that briefly injected life into the offense. It wasn’t enough to swing the game, but it showed why Brissett remains one of the league’s most reliable backup quarterbacks.
TE Trey McBride - Eight catches, 86 yards, and a touchdown. That’s a solid stat line on its own, but McBride also made NFL history.
With his fifth catch of the game, he passed Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez for the most receptions by a tight end in their first four seasons (302). In a year full of disappointment, McBride’s emergence has been a genuine silver lining.
OLB Josh Sweat - Sweat tied his career-high in sacks (11) with two more on Sunday, including a strip sack of Baker Mayfield. He’s making good on the four-year, $76 million deal he signed and has five more games to push for a new personal best.
RB Bam Knight - Knight made the most of limited touches, rushing 11 times for 62 yards (5.6 per carry) and catching three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. He also had a costly fumble, but his overall production helped keep Arizona in the game.
Wildcats Reclaim the Cup, Keep Rolling Across Sports
While the Cardinals were crashing out of the playoff race, the Arizona Wildcats were celebrating a big weekend-starting with a dominant 23-7 win over Arizona State in the Territorial Cup.
The Wildcats’ defense was the story, forcing four turnovers (three interceptions and a fumble recovery) and shutting down ASU’s offense from start to finish. The win moves Arizona to 9-3 on the year and up to No. 22 in the AP Poll. And for the first time since 2022, the Cup is heading back to Tucson.
In fact, it’s been a November to remember in Tucson. Across football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball, the Wildcats went a perfect 18-0 in the month. Let that sink in.
Men’s Basketball - The Wildcats stayed unbeaten with a 98-61 rout of Norfolk State at McKale Center. They’re looking every bit like a team with deep March aspirations.
Women’s Basketball - Arizona’s women’s squad also kept their perfect record intact, improving to 6-0 with a 78-63 win over CSU Bakersfield.
ASU Left Searching for Answers
It was a tough weekend for the Sun Devils. The Territorial Cup loss drops Kenny Dillingham’s squad to 8-4, a solid record on paper, but that defeat will sting for a while-especially with the Cup heading south.
Men’s Basketball - Bobby Hurley’s team showed some fight in the Maui Invitational, beating Texas and Washington State before falling to USC in the final, 88-75. At 6-2, there’s still plenty of reason for optimism, but the Trojans exposed some flaws that ASU will need to clean up.
Women’s Basketball - On the brighter side, the Sun Devil women are rolling. They improved to 8-0 with an 85-56 win over Southeast Missouri State, continuing a dominant start under head coach Molly Miller.
Suns Cool Off After Hot Streak
The Phoenix Suns ran into a buzzsaw over the weekend, dropping both games of a tough back-to-back against elite competition.
On Friday, they went toe-to-toe with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling NBA Cup matchup but came up just short, 123-119. That was followed by a 130-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets, who pulled away in the second half.
At 12-9, the Suns are still in solid shape, but the weekend was a reminder of how tough the Western Conference can be. Jordan Ott’s squad will look to bounce back tonight when they take on the Lakers in L.A.
One More for the Highlight Reel
Treydan Stukes made one of the wildest interceptions you’ll see all season - a full-extension, acrobatic grab that looked more like something out of a video game. Plays like that don’t just make the highlight reel-they define it.
It’s been a weekend of highs and lows across Arizona sports. The Cardinals are officially in draft mode, but the Wildcats are surging, the Sun Devils are regrouping, and the Suns are still in the thick of the NBA grind. December’s just getting started, and there’s plenty more drama ahead.