Getty Images

Safety Tyrann Mathieu returned to the lineup for the Cardinals on Sunday, but his presence couldn’t stop the team from losing for the third time in the last four games.

The loss dropped their record to 4-6-1 on the season and makes a return to the playoffs for a third straight season a long shot for Arizona. Coach Bruce Arians and several players, including Mathieu, said they were frustrated by the way the season has played out while linebacker Kevin Minter lamented the loss of the “swagger” the team had in the last couple of seasons.

“We’re not trying hard enough to win games, and then when we get in those games, when we get in those tough situations, we tend to let the ball slip,” Mathieu said, via ESPN.com. “We’re too talented to be under .500.”

A look back at preseason predictions from around the football world would find plenty of agreement with Mathieu’s view, although the team’s record says that the talent on hand hasn’t been enough this season. That should make for an interesting offseason in Arizona as the team tries to chart a course back to success.