The (1-8) Arizona Cardinals were at home against the (4-5) 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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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.
It's @MillerTime___10!!
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— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 12, 2023
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 Tucson kid is in the endzone đź’¨
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— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 12, 2023
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.
things we missed: pic.twitter.com/7Um0WODLdK
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 12, 2023
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.
