Cardinals fire McCoy after drubbing

The Arizona Cardinals fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy a day after the team was blown out at home by the Denver Broncos on national television.

First-year head coach Steve Wilks said Friday that quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich will take over the job for a club that is 1-6, the worst record in the league.

“Seven weeks into the season, based off where we were from the standpoint of production on the offensive side of the ball, I felt the need to make a change, and that’s what I did,” Wilks said.

McCoy, who is the former head coach of the San Diego Chargers and assistant with the Green Bay Packers, was fired for the second time in as many seasons. He was let go after 10 games as Broncos coordinator last year.

The Cardinals lost, 45-10, on Thursday night, trailing, 21-3, after one quarter and, 35-3, at the half. Wilks called the effort “embarrassing.”

But he said his decision to replace McCoy was not based on that one game alone.

“We weren’t productive enough,” Wilks said. “Let’s just say that, and that may be an understatement.”

Arizona entered Thursday night’s game ranked last in the NFL in offense and rushing offense and next-to-last in passing offense. The Cardinals have just 10 offensive touchdowns in seven games.

Raiders lose Lynch: Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch will miss at least a month because of a groin injury.

Lynch was hurt last week in Oakland’s 27-3 loss to Seattle in London. Oakland could choose to place Lynch on injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least eight weeks.

The 32-year-old Lynch has been one of the few bright spots for the Raiders this season. He ranks 12th in the league with 376 yards rushing, averaging 4.2 yards per carry with three touchdowns.

Lynch came out of retirement last season in order to join the hometown Raiders before they move to Las Vegas in 2020. He is in the final year of his contract.