Cardinals' Trey McBride reaches milestones, but deflection off helmet leads to loss

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Trey McBride became the 10th tight end in NFL history to have 100 catches in a season and had one of the best games of his three-year career Saturday night for the Arizona Cardinals.

However, an unlucky bounce prevented the Cardinals from rallying for a victory over the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night.

The Cardinals had first-and-goal at the 5 in the final minute, but Kyler Murray’s pass deflected off McBride’s helmet in the end zone. Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon made a fingertip grab for the interception, preserving Los Angeles’ 13-9 victory.

Murray compared the loss to a 2021 defeat in Green Bay, where the Cardinals drove down the field, but Murray's pass was picked off in the end zone, allowing the Packers to hold on for a 24-21 victory.

“I can think of a couple of games I played where we drove all the way down and felt like for sure we were going to win the game,” Murray said. “Like that feeling of we drove down the field. There’s nothing the defense could do with us. We were kind of having our way and at the end a (lousy) turn of events. That’s what it comes down to. We were unlucky.”

McBride tied a career high with 12 catches, and the 123 receiving yards were his second-highest total. He is the first tight end in franchise history to reach the century mark in receptions.

“He made a lot of plays. I thought he had some great catch and runs,” coach Jonathan Gannon said.

McBride also reached the end zone for the first time this season on a 1-yard reception midway through the third quarter to get the Cardinals to 10-6.

However, Chad Ryland’s extra point was blocked by linebacker Michael Hoecht, which is why the Cardinals had to go for a go-ahead touchdown instead of a game-tying field goal at the end.

“It was a little leaky in the protection. Hoecht does a good job. We have to be a little better in technique there,” Gannon said.

Murray tried to go to McBride in the end zone on two previous plays on that drive before they connected. The second one ended up being negated by a holding penalty on Hoecht, which gave the Cardinals first-and-goal at the 1.

“I think (offensive coordinator) Drew (Petzing) was calling for that moment. I was glad to get him in the end zone. Wish we would have had another one,” said Murray, who completed 33 of 48 passes for 321 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

McBride has at least seven catches and 70 yards in five of his past six. He has 104 receptions for 1,081 yards. The record for receptions by a tight end in a season is 116 by Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz in 2018. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce has the yardage mark with 1,416 in 2020.

Besides McBride, Gannon and Murray were encouraged by Marvin Harrison Jr.’s night. The rookie, who was the fourth overall pick in April’s NFL draft, tied a season high with six catches for 96 yards.

“In your rookie year, you want to get better every week. The game has to slow down for him,” Murray said, “The reps are priceless. He is getting continuity with me and learning the nuances of the game. During the offseason, we can get to go to work.”

After being 6-4 and leading the NFC West at the bye week, the Cardinals have dropped four of five and are guaranteed their third straight losing season.

“When we play our brand of ball, we can compete and beat anyone, but it doesn’t mean a lot right now,” Gannon said. “I know we’re close. We’re there, but we’re not there.”

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) reacts after a pass deflected off his helmet and was intercepted by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) lunges into the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray answers questions after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

The ball deflects off Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride's helmet in the closing seconds of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) makes a catch while Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake tackles him during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A year removed from winning the national championship, Michigan finished its first season under Sherrone Moore with a victory setting the tone for a bright future.

Moore replaced Jim Harbaugh after the former Wolverines coach left for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers last winter. He called Tuesday's 19-13 victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl a total team effort that bodes well for the Wolverines moving forward.

“We’ve got a great culture and great kids,” Moore said. "No one person wins a game ... no two people. It’s always going to be a team sport.”

Michigan's defense sacked Jalen Milroe five times and forced three turnovers by the Alabama quarterback. ReliaQuest Bowl MVP Jordan Marshall rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries to help the Wolverines dominate time of possession.

Dominic Zvada kicked four field goals and Davis Warren threw a first-half touchdown pass to Fredrick Moore as Michigan (8-5) finished the season on a three-game winning streak that included back-to-back upsets of rival Ohio State and Alabama.

“We were 5-5 and then we won some games, but it’s not the standard,” Marshall said. "We’re going to be better than this next year.”

Alabama's season ended with a loss to Michigan for the second year in a row. The Wolverines and the Crimson Tide (9-4, No. 11 CFP) met in a College Football Playoff semifinal at last season's Rose Bowl, with Michigan winning on the way to capturing the national championship.

Tuesday's loss ended Alabama's string of 16 consecutive seasons with double-digit wins. Kalen DeBoer inherited the streak from seven-time national championship-winning coach Nick Saban, who retired after last season.

“Every time you’re in the locker room and you have something like this, it’s disappointing. But I think there’s a lot of things that you take from it,” DeBoer said, reflecting on his first season with the Crimson Tide.

“So to me, it’s a success if we move forward and we take advantage of the lessons (learned this season), even though we don’t want to learn those lessons sometimes, because they’re hard,” DeBoer added. "We’re going to learn from those lessons, move forward and be better next year because of it.”

Milroe shrugged off a disastrous first quarter that was played almost exclusively in Alabama territory during heavy rain that sent many in the crowd at Raymond James Stadium scurrying for cover. The Crimson Tide had a chance to win it in the closing minutes but turned the ball over on downs after driving to the Michigan 15.

Milroe lost two fumbles and threw an interception on three of Alabama's first four drives. The fourth possession ended badly, too, with Milroe being sacked for an 11-yard loss at the Crimson Tide 44 on fourth-and-4.

Michigan, however, was able to turn the blunders into only 16 points — Warren's TD pass to Moore and field goals of 45, 30 and 21 yards for a 16-0 lead.

Milroe cut into Alabama's deficit with a 25-yard TD pass to Robbie Ouzts, then ran for 41 yards and threw to Germie Bernard for 40 on back-to-back plays to set up Graham Nicholson's 24-yard field goal just before halftime.

Michigan defense made the narrow halftime lead stand until Zvada's 37-yard field goal put the Wolverines up 19-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Alabama countered with Nicholson's 51-yarder to make it a one score game again with 4:38 to go.

Milroe finished 16 of 32 passing for 192 yards, one TD and an interception.

Warren was 9 of 12 for 73 yards without an interception before limping off the field after being sacked early in the third quarter. Alex Orji finished up at quarterback for the Wolverines.

Michigan pressured Milroe all day long, and the Crimson Tide never fully recovered from the quarterback's early mistakes.

Michigan: Opens next season on Aug. 30 at home vs. New Mexico following a highly anticipated competition for the starting quarterback job. The nation's No. 1 high school recruit, Bryce Underwood, practiced with the Wolverines for the ReliaQuest Bowl and was on the sideline Tuesday as an early enrollee. The competition also will include Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene.

Alabama: The Crimson Tide opens their second season under DeBoer on the road on Aug. 30 at Florida State. One question heading into the offseason is who will take the first snap at quarterback. Milroe hasn't said if he'll enter the NFL draft or return to school.

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Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore celebrates after his team defeated Alabama to win the ReliaQuest Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)