Arizona Cardinals see their title window decreasing

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals believe they are good enough to contend for a championship against next year. But they are wise enough to know that their window of time for doing so is dwindling.

Quarterback Carson Palmer is 36. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be 33 next season. With the 49-15 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC title game on Sunday, the Cardinals window for a championship closed a little bit more.

"There's no doubt," Coach Bruce Arians said. "When you have guys that are above 10 years in the league at critical positions, your window is very short."

The Cardinals will remain contenders as long as Palmer is healthy and playing like he did through most of the regular season.

But he struggled in the two playoff games. Six of his passes were intercepted and he lost two fumbles. He missed open receivers far more than he did through most of the regular season.

He denied that a dislocated right index finger suffered in late December bothered him, but Palmer didn't look like the same player who set franchise single-season records for passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating.

And the big question that has dogged him for years - can he help a team win a big game? - still has validity.

"Until you do (win) ... it's just one of those things you've got to break through and I will," he said.

Arians and general manager Steve Keim talked often during the season about the team's needs. And they huddled on the plan ride home on Sunday.

Some needs are easily identified. They need a pass rusher and that's the top priority.

And Arians said they could use a corner and safety with size and speed. He acknowledged that is difficult to find.

On Monday, Arians tried to remain philosophical about the stinging loss.

"Like I said last night, unless the confetti is coming down on you and you're putting rings on, the season's not successful," he said. "That being said, there were a lot of good things that happened this year - goals that were met, big, big plays, big games. I thought our team grew, dramatically, from last year to this year. Hopefully, we can make that next step next year by learning from this."

--Palmer pulled out of the Pro Bowl because of an injury to his right index finger. Palmer suffered the injury in late December, and the Cardinals insisted he was fine. Palmer won't need surgery, he said, but it's telling that he admitted his finger/hand had been bothering him.

--The Cardinals reportedly want to extend safety Tyrann Mathieu's contract this offseason, even though Mathieu is coming off a second serious knee injury in two years.

Mathieu is recovering from ACL surgery and wants to stay in Arizona.

"I think this is the perfect place for me," Mathieu said "I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life here."

--Fitzgerald rarely is emotion after games, but he was teary after the loss to Carolina.

"You put so much pressure on yourself," he said. "Seven months it's been the journey, the mental strain, the focus that it requires to be able to have sustained success like we were able to this year.

"It's great but it takes a great toll on you. Just sleepless nights, and restless days where things don't go well. It really affects you."

REPORT CARD VS. PANTHERS

--PASSING OFFENSE: F. Carson Palmer had four passes intercepted and lost two fumbles. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald dropped two passes and the protection was poor. Just an awful performance.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: C. Rookie David Johnson finished with 60 yards on 15 carries. But 58 of those yards came in the first half before the game was a blowout. Johnson showed great toughness and vision.

--PASS DEFENSE: F. The Cardinals barely touched Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton, and he had no trouble finding his favorite receiver, tight end Greg Olsen. Newton finished with 335 yards and two touchdowns.

--RUSH DEFENSE: C. It was decent until the defense wore down. The Panthers finished with 152 yards on 37 carries and scored three touchdowns.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: D. There was only one mistake - Patrick Peterson's muffed punt return - but it was damaging. Punter Drew Butler had a good game, one of the few highlights for the Cardinals. Panthers punt returner Ted Ginn Jr. nearly returned one for a touchdown.

--COACHING: F. The Cardinals were ready to play, but it sure looked as if the Panthers had a much better game plan. Their offensive coordinator, David Shula, kept the Cardinals on their heels most of the game. Defensively, the Panthers seemed to know what the Cardinals were going to run, especially on running plays.