Kyler Murray remains positive about his play after Cardinals' offense can't stay with Rams

Kyler Murray had the most completions he's had in a game this season, 27, and threw for the most yards he's had in a game, 256.

Both came in a lopsided 37-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

Murray didn't regress much if it all with his play after two fairly solid games since his return from knee surgery. But his only touchdown pass didn't come until garbage time in the fourth quarter, and while he ran for a score early in the game, Murray ended up with a net of two rushing yards for the game after being sacked four times.

"Moved it down seamlessly, executed well at a high level, punched it in and then yeah, just kind of went downhill from there," Murray said. "I wish I could tell you, gotta go back and watch it. Wasn't good football. Didn't execute, they got the better of us pretty much. There's nothing really to say other than we got beat."

The Cardinals converted just 6 of 17 third downs, Murray throwing incomplete or being sacked on a handful of those.

Murray said he is staying positive as he continues to work his way back to where he wants to be coming off surgery, with seven weeks of practice and three games under his belt in 2023. After he ran for a two-yard score with 4:50 left in the first quarter, the Cardinals had three three-and-outs and a failed fourth down conversion in their next three drives, and didn't score again until the 5:12 mark of the fourth quarter.

The fourth down play was an attempted pass to tight end Trey McBride that went incomplete. The Rams scored a touchdown less than a minute after taking over possession of the ball.

"Didn't execute. Probably could have gotten through it. Rondale (Moore) was open. Last read, late, but you've got an internal clock in your head as a quarterback. So it's tough. But we need to be better," Murray said.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon didn't think Murray took a step back as he continues to learn a different offensive scheme than he's had in the past. Murray has looked mobile and quick with his throws but has been off target with some passes that maybe in years past he's been able to hit.

Last week at Houston, Murray tried to find McBride on a fourth-and-4 with Arizona down 21-16 with 7:22 to play. The two couldn't connect and the Cardinals went on to lose by the same score.

"He wants to get some in rhythm and get some plays going and put some pressure on the defense," Gannon said. "He's the ultimate competitor. He'll come back in here ready to work. But it's not on one guy. It's the whole operation, from coaching on down, we gotta play better."

Left tackle D.J. Humphries said whatever the case, the one thing he feels is that the Cardinals always have a chance with Murray at quarterback, and all of the players on offense know it.

"It's always an advantage for us," Humphries said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Did Kyler Murray regress for Cardinals? Not much, despite blowout loss