The Arizona Cardinals (4-4) came out strong to build a 21-9 halftime lead over the Chicago Bears (4-3), as they look to stay in first place in the NFC West.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Here’s what the Cardinals have to do to sustain their lead, as they search for their third-straight win:
Keep pounding the ball
Emari Demercado capped off the half with a huge 53-yard rushing touchdown with four seconds to go, exemplifying what worked for Arizona all half: pounding the ball on the ground.
Emari Demercado continues the #AZCardinals strong rushing attack with a 53-yard touchdown to cap off the first half for Arizona, who leads 21-9.
pic.twitter.com/0hcdUTkovh— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) November 3, 2024
James Conner went into the injury tent late in the half, but him and Trey Benson combined for 93 yards on 14 attempts in the first half. A prime example of how effective the ground game was in the first half is when Conner got six-straight touches on Arizona’s second scoring drive for 47 yards, but the Cardinals then passed it twice and Murray was sacked on third-and-goal to bring up a field goal attempt.
Luckily, Arizona caught a break with a leverage penalty against Chicago on the field goal try to give it another goal-to-go chance. Conner broke multiple tackles to the one-yard line on the next play, but was injured flipping to the one-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Benson then filled in for Conner and punched it in for his first career touchdown in the NFL to put Arizona up 14-6 with 3:14 to go in the second quarter.
Trey Benson with his first career TD to put the #AZCardinals ahead 14-6 with 3:14 to go in the first half. Cardinals capitalize on leverage penalty against #Bears on field goal attempt #CHIvsAZ
pic.twitter.com/hgFTVObds5— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) November 3, 2024
A bonus to this area was a two-yard rushing touchdown on an end around to Trey McBride, the tight end’s first-ever rushing touchdown, for the opening score of the game.
The #AZCardinals strike first on an end around to Trey McBride! 7-0 Arizona with 46 seconds to go in the first, as it capitalizes on a big punt return by Greg Dortch. pic.twitter.com/Atffu4Q9bI
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) November 3, 2024
In total, the Cardinals had 16 rushes for 148 yards (9.3 yards per rush) and three touchdowns as a team in the first half, and Kyler Murray (8-for-12 for 83 yards) did not even have a single rushing attempt.
Continue making Caleb Williams uncomfortable
The Cardinals had two sacks on Caleb Williams in the first half after the No. 1 overall pick made some great plays early. After his good start to the game, Arizona forced several incompletions, as Williams ended the half completing 11-of-24 passes for 137 yards.
The coverage down field was great for the most part all half, except for a blown coverage on a 43-yard pass to Rome Odunze at the beginning of the third quarter.
Arizona has also only allowed 12 rushes for 40 yards for the Bears, so Chicago can’t seem to get going in any area on offense. The Cardinals have to keep up their pressure. Rookie Xavier Thomas has 1.5 sacks at the break after entering today with 0 on the season.
tiger on the prowl ????@ClemsonFB x @atxlete pic.twitter.com/13pgKZIzc5
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 3, 2024
Don’t give Bears any breaks, take advantage of their mistakes
The Cardinals looked like the better team in the first half, as proven by the score, and a big reason, outside their offensive attack, was holding Chicago to only field goals on defense.
Marvin Harrison Jr. fumbled away his only reception of the first half in Chicago territory, but the Bears were only able to get a field goal out of it. On the Cardinals side, they turned a big 27-yard punt return by Greg Dortch into a touchdown.
As mentioned before, the Cardinals capitalized on a penalty by the Bears on a field goal attempt with a touchdown. They then somehow got an easy touchdown to end the half from 53 yards out.
The Cardinals need to continue to limit their mistakes and not allow too many points off them for Chicago, and take advantage of the Bears’ errors, which they did plenty of in the first half.
Chicago will get the ball to begin the second half.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
