For the seventh time in their last 10 games, the Arizona Cardinals lost a competitive football game by one possession, falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-17. Arizona never led in Tampa Bay, but kept the game within reach thanks to another solid defensive performance, but two turnovers and two failed fourth downs erased the Cardinals' 22-13 first-down advantage, and a total yards advantage of over 100, 386-279.

Main Takeaway: The Josh Sweat signing was a homerun

When the Cardinals signed defensive end Josh Sweat to a four-year, 76 million dollar deal, it was fair to wonder what his ceiling would be with the team. Sweat was fantastic during his seven-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he totaled 54 sacks and capped it off with a dominating three-sack performance in Super Bowl 59. His talent was undeniable, but the question was, could Sweat anchor a defensive line after having the privilege of sharing the field with the likes of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Jalen Carter and Milton Williams?

The answer in year one has been a resounding yes. Sweat already has 11 sacks in 12 games, and is on pace to match his career high of 15 sacks without any extra opportunities in the postseason. Despite being the 17th highest-paid edge rusher in the league at $19 million APY, Sweat is tied for fifth in sacks. Sweat isn’t just sacking the QB, but creating turnovers, as he’s got four forced fumbles on the season. It’s a lost season for the Cardinals, but having Sweat under contract for three more seasons and being able to build around him and Walter Nolen upfront is a win for the organization.

The Monti Ossenfort discussion is a tough one

The unrest among Cardinals fans grows louder with every loss, and a failure to even appear in the playoffs after three years should put pressure on any regime, yet it feels difficult to say that general manager Monti Ossenfort deserves the axe with any conviction. Ossenfort hasn’t been perfect; Darius Robinson feels like a first-round pick gone to waste, and at this point, it feels like the best they could get out of four third-round picks in 2024 is a good blocking tight end in Tip Reiman, which isn’t enough.

On the flipside, Paris Johnson Jr. was a great, if not obvious, first-round pick, and Micheal Wilson has proved well worth the third-round pick spent on him in 2023. The 2025 draft feels like Ossenfort’s best work, as Arizona has gotten meaningful contributions from its first five selections. It feels like a divorce is coming between Kyler Murray and the Cardinals franchise, so this offseason is going to be a pivotal one for the franchise's future. Ossenfort should get one more season to prove he can pull this in the right direction, but only with a new coaching staff. There is no way to justify a young QB being brought in to develop under Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing.

Finally, Arizona should extend Jalen Thompson

Jalen Thompson has been a reliable, if unspectacular, member of the Cardinals' secondary for seven seasons now. His PFF defensive grade has never dropped below a 64.4 and never risen above a 71.3. Thompson has only missed two tackles against the run this season, and his 93.3 passer rating when targeted is much better than Budda Baker’s 115.3.

This doesn’t have to be a deal that breaks the bank; think of the three-year, 31.5 million dollar deal that the New Orleans Saints gave Justin Reid this offseason. It would take Thompson through his age-30 season and provide Arizona with reliable play on the back end while they continue to bring Dadrion Taylor-Demerson along.