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Kyler Cole Murray deserves an encore. In my piece about the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback a month ago, I shined the brightest of spotlights on the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner from Bedford, TX.
A few days after I wrote the aforementioned article, Mr. Murray and the Cardinals took center stage on Sunday Night Football against their archrival Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. In a collision that paired the Seahawks and Russell Wilson against the Cards and Kyler Murray, we saw arguably the best game the NFL had seen through Week 7.
The Cardinals went into the key matchup at 4-2 in the division while the Seahawks notched a perfect 5-0 mark. When the SNF contest crowned a winner, Arizona saw their record in the NFC West soar to 5-2 after an epic 37-34 overtime tilt. Meanwhile, Seattle dropped to 5-1, taking their first loss of the 2020-21 NFL season back home to the Emerald City.
Mr. Wilson did have one of his typical MVP-esque performances on the road versus the Cards, but he also tossed three interceptions that inevitably cost his squad dearly. On the other end of the spectrum behind Kyler Murray, Arizona’s laser beam throwing, speed Lil’ jitterbug was 34-of-48 on pigskin slinging attempts for 360 yards.
Additionally, Murray accumulated three passing touchdowns to just one INT in the game. What did his sickeningly quick feet do to punish the opposition? Well, 14 totes for 67 yards and one trip to the house is pretty dad-gum good.
After a much-needed bye week due to the back and forth insanity that was the Seahawks’ game, Mr. Murray and the Cardinals invited the Miami Dolphins and stellar southpaw QB Tua Tagovailoa to the desert. Starting just his second NFL game as a rookie, Tua showed flashes of brilliance in a 34-31 road “W” for the Fins. Outside of marked improvement each week moving forward, I’d expect nothing less from Tagovailoa. He’s a gamer, my friends.
Speaking of gamers, Kyler Murray might be up there with the best in the business right now. Murray’s early fumble against the Fins produced seven points for Miami’s defense on a scoop-and-score; otherwise, Mr. Murray was simply everything and more for the Cards.
How about these numbers from the 5-foot-10 and 207-pound, 23-year-old pup? He managed to go 21-of-26 for 283 yards with zero INTs. Add his 106 yards on 11 carries along with one rushing TD, and Kyler Murray is showing off his dual-threat QB dominance. Again, in head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s version of the air raid offense, Kyler just needs a millisecond to decide whether he’ll fling it or keep it.
In other words, “Mr. Electrifying” is impossible to defend.
Ahead of their NFC West rematch versus the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday Night Football later this evening, the Cardinals just pulled-off a berserk, bananas, bonkers victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Bills’ QB Josh Allen had just given Buffalo a 30-26 lead on an extraordinarily gorgeous dime to wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the left corner of the end zone with just 34-ticks remaining.
What followed can only be described as “The Desert Miracle.” After the ensuing kickoff gave the pigskin back to Arizona with only 34 seconds to work with from their own 25-yard line, I witnessed the best finish I’ve seen live in my entire life.
Unbelievable. By the way, Kyler Murray is all alone with yet another NFL record — the only QB in the Super Bowl Era to run for a TD in five-straight games. He’s flat balling-out, folks.
From Buffalo’s 43-yard line with 11-ticks remaining, only a Hail Mary would allow the Cardinals to escape this one with a checkmark in the win column. Evading the defensive rush from his left, Kyler Murray maneuvered his way to the far-left sideline before uncorking a pigskin beauty.
Clearly, he was hoping the football would reach the hands of either big-bodied WR Larry Fitzgerald or DeAndre Hopkins. Heaving the rock into the air while his momentum was carrying him nearly out of bounds, Mr. Murray somehow pitched-up a prayer with ridiculous torque. I still have no earthly idea how his right arm remained in its socket.
Kyler Murray looked to be wearing some sweet yellow shoes on Sunday, but they easily turned golden after that dime piece. Waiting in the end zone and draped by three Bills’ defenders was Mr. Hopkins. Using his solid frame and exceptional leaping ability, DeAndre high-pointed the rock into his exquisitely soft hands. Hopkins’ Nike Air Jordan Brand gloves did the rest as he pulled the pigskin to his body on the way to the turf.
Hail Murray on repeat. @K1 @DeAndreHopkins
(by @WilsonFootball) pic.twitter.com/MUuskOjaat
— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2020
Here’s another angle and different audio from this insane Hail Mary.
Touchdown. Game over. Cardinals win, 32-30, and improve to 6-3 in the battle-tested NFC West. The Los Angeles Rams and Seahawks are also 6-3; however, the tiebreaker gives Arizona the lead in the division.
While speaking with NBC’s Peter King to break down the play, Kyler revealed an interesting and astounding nugget. “I’ve never done a Hail Mary before,” Murray said. Goodness gracious, Kyler Murray.
Tonight on TNF, the victor of Cardinals at Seahawks will grab complete control in the NFC West with a 7-3 record. I can’t wait to see what unfolds.
Until next week, be smart, stay safe, and stay healthy.
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