Live: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray Scores, Picked Off in Return
Welcome to All Cardinals' live coverage of Kyler Murray's return! Here we'll keep track of each play he's on the field.
That's game! Kyler Murray orchestrates a game-winning drive to lead Arizona to a 25-23 win over the Falcons.
Murray went 19/32 for 249 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT. He rushed for one touchdown on the ground.
Fourth Quarter: Falcons 23, Cardinals 22
Tenth Drive (Clutch time!)
1st and 10: Murray checks down to Moore for an eight-yard gain.
2nd and 10: Incomplete pass to Michael Wilson, probable pass interference
3rd and 10: Murray scrambles left, then right, and then pushed for a 13-yard gain for a first down.
1st and 10: Murray keeps the ball for a three-yard gain. Now under a minute left and Arizona looks to be playing for a game-winning field goal.
2nd and 7: Murray hits McBride down the right sideline for a 34-yard gain.
Matt Prater hits the field goal and the Cardinals win.
Ninth Drive
2nd and 9: Rondale Moore drops a slant route in contested coverage
3rd and 9: Murray is sacked for a fourth time.
Third Quarter: Cardinals 22, Falcons 17
Through three quarters, Murray is 17/27 for 208 yards and one interception. His lone score came on the ground.
Eighth Drive
1st and 10: A QB keeper sees Murray gain six yards after a nice punt return from Greg Dortch to set Arizona up in scoring position.
2nd and 4: Murray finds Michael Wilson on the left side of the field for what was nearly a passing touchdown, though replay confirmed he was short of the goal line.
Clayton Tune would be brought in for a QB sneak to push Arizona into the lead.
Seventh Drive
2nd and 10: Murray's brought down to the ground for a sack. Too much pressure in the interior.
Sixth drive
1st and 10: Interception! Murray completely misses McBride for the first turnover of the game, throwing behind the tight end and landing in a sea of Falcons defenders.
Fifth Drive
1st and 10: Swing pass to Rondale Moore, gain of three.
2nd and 7: Quick screen to Trey McBride, who works extra for a 12-yard gain and first down.
2nd and 3: Another pass to McBride on a slant, which goes for 13. I think we found who is reliable.
1st and 10: Guess who? McBride again, wide open through the middle. Another first down.
1st and 30: After back to back holding calls, the backed up Cardinals nearly found a big play to Rashard Higgins, who dropped a wide open pass on the sideline.
2nd and 30: After about seven seconds of scrambling, Murray is nearly picked off on a scramble drill as a miscommunication between him and Rondale Moore almost landed the ball in Atlanta's hands.
3rd and 30: On third and forever, Murray just dumps the ball off to Moore for a 12-yard gain. Prater trots on for his third field goal attempt of the game, which was good from 56 yards to give Arizona the lead.
Halftime: Falcons 14, Cardinals 12
Kyler Murray finished the first half going 11/18 for 143 yards and one touchdown, which came on the ground. He has two rushing attempts for 13 yards.
Fourth Drive
2nd and 5: After a James Conner carry, Murray finds Moore wide open in the flat on play-action for a first down.
1st and 10: Brown finally connects with Murray on a 28-yard gain on a post pattern.
1st and 10: We have our first run action with Murray, who had a QB option but ultimately pitched it to Conner.
1st and 10: After three runs, Murray finds Swaim for an eight-yard gain on a crossing pattern.
2nd and 8: After no receivers were open, Murray sneaks up the middle for seven yards to set up a third-and-short.
3rd and 1: Kyler keeps the read option and scores on the ground! Two-point conversion no good.
Third Drive
1st and 10: Trey McBride is found on a crossing route for a 28-yard gain. Great work from the second-year TE.
1st and 10: Murray nearly found Brown down the seam on a zipped pass before a pass interference call saw Brown's arm held and prevented the catch. First down.
1st and 10: Michael Wilson catches a four-yard hitch pattern.
3rd and 3: Marquise Brown almost comes down with a diving catch for a touchdown but it's just out of reach. Field goal unit comes on and knocks home another kick.
Third drive analysis: Murray didn't have to work for many of his yards on that drive, though he probably wants the missed opportunity to Brown back. Regardless, he still looks good. 8/15 for 96 yards thus far.
First Quarter: Cardinals 3, Falcons 0
Murray is 6/12 for 64 yards. He looked a bit shaky at first but managed to look much better on the second drive.
Second Drive
1st and 10: Murray's first completion of the 2023 season is to Trey McBride for a six-yard completion.
2nd and 9: Zach Pascal dropped a nicely placed ball by Murray on a deep in-route. Murray threw the ball exactly where he should have.
3rd and 9: Murray checks down to Rondale Moore who falls just one yard short of the sticks. After a successful James Conner rush on fourth down, the drive extends.
1st and 10: With pressure closing in on him, Murray successfully dumps off to Geoff Swaim for a six-yard gain.
2nd and 4: Murray executes a beautiful bootleg under center and finds Trey McBride on a crossing route for a first down.
2nd and 12: Murray connects with McBride on a deep corner route, where the tight end fought through contact and came down with the ball. What a rope by Murray.
1st and 10: Murray with the play-action finds a wide open Michael Wilson on the opposite end of the field for another first. Deep in ATL territory now.
1st and 10: Murray almost connects with Wilson again on a touchdown but the back-shoulder pass falls incomplete.
2nd and 10: Murray scrambles for a first after the play breaks down but a holding call brings it back.
3rd and 10: Murray's attempt to find Marquise Brown on another slant gets tipped at the line of scrimmage and falls incomplete.
Matt Prater FG. Cardinals Lead 3-0
Second drive analysis: Great play-calling by Drew Petzing on that drive. Murray shook whatever rust he had off after the first drive and at least for now, looks solid in terms of accuracy and ability to move.
First Drive
1st and 10: Murray in shotgun to begin the game. Overshot Marquise Brown on a slant pattern.
3rd and 9: Murray was forced to scramble to his right and threw the ball away. His legs were tested early and so far, so good.
PRE-GAME
The Arizona Cardinals welcome Kyler Murray back to the lineup 11 months removed from his ACL/meniscus tear on this very field at State Farm Stadium. Currently 1-8, the Cardinals hope Murray's arrival will reverse the course of the season.
Needless to say, he's pretty excited:
“Playing football, I feel that’s what excites me the most. Obviously, I haven’t played for ‘JG’ (Head Coach Jonathan Gannon) or (Offensive Coordinator) Drew (Petzing), but I’ve gotten to witness it for the past however many months," said Murray.
"I’ve seen what’s been put into it. I’ve seen the grind that’s been put into it. Obviously, our results haven’t been what we’ve wanted them to be, but we’ve been right there in every single game. It’s been unfortunate to have to sit back and watch us go through the pains that we’re going through right now, but I’m excited to get back out there and be out there with my teammates. That’s what I look forward to.”
The Falcons have labeled this a Super Bowl for their squad in terms of looking for a win - we'll see if Murray and co. have other ideas.
READING MATERIAL
The Kyler Murray Revenge Tour Starts Now
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