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Cardinals Defeat Falcons 25-23 in Kyler Murray’s Return

The Arizona Cardinals were at home against the Atlanta Falcons. This was one of the most highly anticipated games between two under .500 teams in NFL history, due to the return of Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray. How did the first quarter play out?

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First Quarter

Atlanta and Arizona exchanged three and out drives to start the game. On Arizona’s second drive of the game Kyler Murray started to look like himself as he found a connection with Trey McBride.

Murray and McBride were able to get the Cardinals into field goal range before the drive stalled out. Matt Prater hit a 51-yard field goal to put Arizona up 3-0 with 4:48 left in the quarter.

Atlanta responded with a good drive of their own that was in the red zone as the quarter ended.

Second Quarter

The Falcons were able to finish off their drive with a touchdown. Taylor Heinicke connected with Scott Miller.

Atlanta was up 7-3 with 13:27 left in the game. Arizona came back with a sustained drive of their own. Murray had Marquise Brown open on a deep pass for a touchdown but led him just a bit too far. The Cardinals settled for a field goal. Atlanta was up 7-6 with 10:32 left in the game.

The Atlanta Falcons responded with another good drive as they were able to strike a balance between run and pass. The key play of the drive was on third and 10 at Arizona’s 21-yard line . Heinicke scrambled for 16 yards. On the next play Bijan Robinson ran in for a touchdown. Atlanta was up 14-6 with just over four minutes left in the half.

The Cardinals would respond with another good looking drive as they were in the red zone with under two minutes left in the half. Murray took off for a nine yard scramble that put the Cardinals on Atlanta’s 11-yard line. On the next play Arizona ran a read-option play where Murray ran in for a touchdown.

The Cardinals missed the two point conversion attempt. Atlanta went into halftime up 14-12.

Stats of the Half

Kyler Murray went 11/18 for 143 yards. He also had two carries for 13 yards and a touchdown. The leading receiver was Trey McBride who had four receptions for 62 yards.

Taylor Heinicke went 5/9 for 30 yards and a touchdown. Bijan Robinson had nine carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Third Quarter

Arizona’s defense started the second half of a high note as they forced a three and out. The Cardinals were able to take advantage of the quick turnaround and drive for a field goal. Matt Prater hit his third field goal to put the Cardinals up 15-14 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.

The Cardinals defense continued to play well as they were able to get another stop.

The celebratory mood was short lived as Kyler Murray threw his first interception. He attempted to throw it to McBride going across the middle and the pass was behind him.

The Falcons were not able to move the ball at all after the turnover and had to settle for a field goal. The field goal attempt was good. Atlanta led Arizona, 17-15, with 5:18 left in the third quarter. The teams would exchange disappointing drives until the Cardinals got a big time punt return from Greg Dortch.

The Cardinals took full advantage of the short field as they scored a touchdown. Clayton Tune came in to run the quarterback sneak/brotherly shove. Arizona was up 22-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Taylor Heinicke hurts his leg on a scramble. Desmond Ridder entered the game. The drive was very run heavy. The Falcons went for it on fourth and one. The quarterback sneak did not go as planned, Ridder slipped and fell short of the marker. Cardinals were up 22-17 with 7:49 left in the game.

The Falcons got the ball back rather quickly as the Cardinals drive only lasted four plays. Atlanta’s drive look to be stuck in mud until Drake London made a great catch on third down to keep the drive alive.

London also forced a 32-yard pass interference penalty that put the Falcons in the red zone. This led to Desmond Ridder touchdown run on read-option. The two-point conversion was no good. Atlanta was up 23-22 with 2:33 left in the game.

The Cardinals drive looked to be dead in the water but Murray escaped a sack and scrambled for a first down on third and 10.

This was followed by a big pass from Kyler Murray to Trey McBride. Murray under threw the pass but McBride made a great play to come back to the ball and catch it. This led to the game winning field goal for the Cardinals as time expired. Arizona won 25-23. The Cardinals improved to 2-8 and the Falcons fell to 4-6.

Stats of the Game

Kyler Murray finished the game 19/32 for 249 yards and one interception. He also had 33 rushing yards and one touchdown. James Conner ran for 73 yards on 16 carries. The leading receiver was Trey McBride with 131 yards on eight receptions.

The only bright spot on offense for the Falcons was Bijan Robinson who had 22 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Up Next

The Atlanta Falcons are on a bye next week then will host their biggest rival the New Orleans Saints in a big divisional match-up. The Arizona Cardinals are at the Houston Texans, who are winners of two straight.

 

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