Breaking Down Kyler Murray's Heroic Return to Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have struggled for weeks, largely due to poor quarterback play. With franchise QB Kyler Murray making his return, all eyes were on the young passer.
While his numbers might not have been flashy, his return did not disappoint.
Murray was solid through the air, completing 19 of his 32 passes, for 248 yards. Despite seeing his first NFL action since tearing his ACL, he added 33 yards on the ground, including two crucial rushing plays in Arizona's win.
After Arizona's first drive went three-and-out, Murray showed that his deep ball was still there, dropping a perfect 19-yard rainbow to TE Trey McBride. He followed that up with another nice chunk play to WR Michael Wilson for a gain of 16.
The Cardinals moved the ball well behind Murray, and despite their first three drives resulting in 6 points--on two Matt Prater kicks--the offense appeared to be fully in control, for the first time all season.
After the defense allowed two lengthy Atlanta touchdown drives, Murray drove Arizona downfield, connecting deep with Hollywood Brown and picking up 47 yards. To cap off the 75-yard drive, Murray faked a give to Conner and scampered into the end zone, for his first touchdown since the 2022 season.
Murray's first passing touchdown will have to wait, however. Although it appeared that rookie WR Michael Wilson had cashed in the QB's first air score, replay review showed him to be inches shy of the goal line.
A tough blow to anyone who dared start Murray in fantasy, as Clayton Tune ended up coming on for the "tush push" touchdown one play later.
But the true highlight of Murray's day came by way of a spectacular seven-yard game-winning drive. Down by just one point following some questionable defense and officiating, the Cardinals were left with just 2:33 on the clock.
Murray was unfazed.
Arizona began methodically moving the ball downfield. On 3rd and 10 from the Arizona 42, Atlanta brought pressure. Murray looked dead in the water, with multiple defenders in his face.
But the speedy QB spun out of the pocket, escaping a potential game-losing sack and turning upfield for a gain of 13 to extend the drive with no sign of any impediment from his surgically-repaired knee.
Murray, on the outskirts of Matt Prater's range, later heaved a deep ball downfield for Trey McBride. Although the ball did appear to be somewhat under-thrown, McBride was able to make a brilliant play on it, cementing the 33-yard gain and allowing Arizona to run down the clock inside the 20.
Prater made it official, and Arizona walked off the Atlanta Falcons behind a beauty of a drive by Murray and McBride.
The returning QB was, however, not without mistakes. Midway through the third quarter, after forcing a Falcons punt, Murray sailed a pass into heavy coverage. The ball was behind McBride, and picked off by Falcons LB Nate Landman.
It did appear that McBride was supposed to sit down on the route and wait for it in the open field, but ran back into Atlanta's zone coverage, however Kyler's pass was well behind his TE.
Murray took responsibility for the mistake postgame. “It was miscommunication… I felt like he could have sat down but that’s not something that we had practiced or worked on, so he was right to keep running," said Murray after the game, "my fault, it’s my fault.”
Murray also missed a touchdown to a wide open Marquise Brown early in the second quarter. The speedy WR had his man beat by several yards, but Murray led him just a little too far. Brown dove for the pass, and was able to get the ball in his hands, but it was just out of his reach, taking four points off the board as Arizona settled for a field goal.
But at the end of the day, you want a QB who can go and win the game for your team, and that is exactly what Kyler Murray did today. It certainly was not his prettiest performance from a statistical perspective, but the young QB was able to put the team on his back and get the job done when they needed it the most.
Murray said he was grateful for the support he had received in his return. “Can’t thank the fans enough, I really felt all the support this week” said Murray, “a lot of love this week and I appreciate it.”
Murray's return ushers in a new era of this young team's offense. For the first time all season, there were consistent, extended drives that ended in points. While some of this can be credited to RB James Conner's return and the huge role he plays in all aspects of the offense, Murray's arm talent, accuracy and ability to escape pressure were what ultimately turned this contest into a win.
Welcome back, K1.
