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The Arizona Cardinals are sinking fast in Mike LaFleur’s first season as head coach, but he is not ready to shake up his coaching staff just yet despite falling to 1-4 after a 45-21 home loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, their fourth straight defeat.
Arizona has now allowed at least 30 points in four consecutive games. Its 162 total points allowed are the most in the NFL.
Despite growing calls for changes, including at defensive coordinator, LaFleur made it clear on Monday that nobody will be stripped of play-calling duties. He believes the problem is consistency, not talent.
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“I’ve seen it, I just haven’t seen it consistently,” LaFleur said. “And again, I know we can help them with that consistency by providing the clarity, calling the right plays, both offense, defense, special teams.”
"Cause I've seen it…I just haven't seen it consistently."
Mike LaFleur on why he believes the right coaches are in place to lead the Cardinals out of this. pic.twitter.com/0fpfrrlSAd
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) October 12, 2026
LaFleur pointed to the flashes his defense has shown, including a strong start against the Lions and the Week 1 upset of the Los Angeles Chargers, a 26-14 road win in his head coaching debut.
“There were moments in the Giants game. We forced the three turnovers, we got the four sacks, but we just haven’t consistently done it for 60 minutes,” LaFleur said. “And we need to tackle that, and there’s gonna be no changes with play callers, but we’re looking at how to improve this defense.”
Arizona still lost that Week 4 game against the New York Giants, 36-24.
LaFleur added that he believes the right pieces are already in the building. “I do believe we have the right guys on defense to play better, and I told them that today,” he said. “But we gotta help them with that, whether that’s providing the clarity, whether it’s making it easier, what have you.”
The offense has its own issues. After a 14-play opening touchdown drive against Detroit, the Cardinals went three-and-out on their next five possessions.
“When it’s going good, it’s going good. And then it’s a three-and-out machine,” LaFleur said. “There’s really nowhere in between right now for us.”
The coaching staff will not change, but the roster is. Arizona traded wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans during Sunday’s loss.
The Cardinals will try to snap their skid against the Los Angeles Rams.
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