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The Cardinals’ season came crashing to a halt in Carolina on Sunday night, which General Manager Steve Keim called a “bitter ending” to a “special year” during a Monday morning appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7.

Keim also said that the “harsh reality” of NFL life is that 31 teams end their season without reaching the highest level of success. Another harsh reality is that there isn’t much time to reflect on the year that just ended before it is time to turn the page to the next one. Keim said that he and coach Bruce Arians started talking about the offseason on the flight home and that the team has already identified its top offseason priority.

“Create a pass rush,” Keim said.

The Cardinals ranked 20th in the league in sacks during the regular season with 35 and picked up two more in their two postseason games. The team leader was Dwight Freeney, who had eight sacks in 11 games after being signed in October. Freeney could return, but turns 36 next month and the fact that the Cardinals signed him in the season speaks to the overall need to boost the pass rushing options on the roster.