The Cardinals have trouble explaining a dismal performance against the Rams, and other notes after a 37-14 loss

The big names all were among the last in the locker room, waiting to speak to the media in a situation in which players certainly would rather not but understand it’s part of the gig. First up was Budda Baker, then D.J. Humphries, then Hollywood Brown, all before Kyler Murray got into the press conference room.

There is never much to say after a game like Sunday, one that has a 20-plus separation yet wasn’t even that close. “What’s next” is the inevitable query, and in the moment, there aren’t many answers, not for a team now 2-10.

“I’m a firm believer in you set an example of what you want it to look like,” Humphries said.

There are five games left, and making progress when struggling on the field is not easy. This will be the hardest part for coach Jonathan Gannon, sorting out culture and process, judging Murray in context, finding out what rookies and young players do in this situation.

“A well-trained psychological team doesn’t let what happened in the past affect them moving forward,” Gannon said. “I have to do a better job of that.” 

— The Cardinals won the turnover battle for a sixth time on Sunday (Jalen Thompson had an interception; the Cardinals had no turnovers with one Kyler Murray interception wiped out on a penalty and another not counting in stats because it was on a two-point conversion.) Amazingly, the Cardinals are only 1-5 in those games.

— Matt Prater, noted long-distance expert, should’ve had another 50-plus yard field goal on his stat sheet after drilling a 56-yarder to end the first half. But tight end Geoff Swaim was flagged for holding with no time left on the clock. The rules say that despite the Rams accepting the penalty – taking the three points off the board – there is not an untimed down in a half on an offensive penalty. So, with no time left on the clock, Prater wasn’t able to try what would’ve been an NFL record-tying 66-yard field goal.*

(* – Assuming the Cardinals would have let him try and risk a kick-6 return.)

— Prater did get another 56-yard try in the second half but he got under the ball and pushed it wide right.

— Marco Wilson did not play on defense. The cornerback was active, but rookies Kei’Trel Clark, Garrett Williams and Starling Thomas V were the starters in nickel for the team, and even when Thomas went out, it was practice-squad call-up Divaad Wilson – also a rookie – getting playing time. Gannon said the rookies gave the…