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Kyler Murray lights up 49ers to send Cardinals’ fans into offseason with something to remember

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Before you call for Kyler Murray’s head this offseason, remember how he ended the year with nothing to play for besides respect.

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Murray threw four touchdowns in the Arizona Cardinals 47-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the Cardinals’ final game of the season Sunday.

Arizona’s franchise quarterback shook off a rough six-game stretch that contributed to the Cardinals’ playoff hopes dissipating with his best performance of the year. In five of the last six games, Murray threw at least one interception, throwing two in three of those contests, which all resulted in losses. In the Cardinals’ lone win against the New England Patriots since the mid-November bye week, Murray didn’t throw any picks, but also didn’t throw any touchdowns.

That all came to a halt on Sunday. Murray’s four scores were a product of a 25-35 completed passes (71.4%) for 242-yard outing.

Murray found wide receiver Greg Dortch for a 23-yard score to start the game’s touchdown frenzy after Cardinals corner back Sean Murphy-Bunting came down with an interception at the end of the first quarter. That begin a blow-for-blow heavy weight bout between Murray and 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs.

Dobbs, who played eight games for the Cardinals in 2023 while Murray was out for the year with an ACL tear, responded to the interception and touchdown with a score of his own — a one-yard QB sneak across the goal line. Murray fired back on the next drive, capping off a 70-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride for his second touchdown in consecutive games after going the majority of the season scoreless.

The former Cardinal seemed to have a chip on his shoulder, playing the team that sent him packing during the most productive time in his career. Dobbs responded once again to a Murray touchdown, this time finding Phoenix native and rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for a six-yard score to tie the game with 16 seconds to play in the half.

Both teams looked as if they would head into the second half with an even score, but Murray had a few more tricks up his sleeves. With very little time on the clock, the Cardinals’ lead man methodically moved his squad down the field, completing 3-3 passes for 39 yards to set kicker Chad Ryland up for a 49-yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead into the 3rd quarter. Ryland also knocked down a 51-yarder for the game’s opening score.

Dobbs must’ve heard the calls for Murray’s job from the voices around The Valley and wanted to prove that the Cardinals made the wrong decision by moving on from him. Murray, however, heard the same chirps and showed Dobbs and the Greater Phoenix area that this is his team.

After trading punts on the teams’ opening drives of the second half, Murray found his groove again, putting the cherry on top of a 49-yard drive with another Dortch connection in the end zone, this time for two yards.

Before it’s said, take a guess at what happened next. Dobbs fired back with a 36-yard strike to fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a touchdown.

The battle for Arizona was hard fought on both sides, but in the end, Murray is still here for a reason.

Running back Michael Carter, who was standing in for running back James Conner due to injury, punched in a four-yard run in response to the latest 49ers’ score, which was also the last.

Dobbs luck finally ran out, fumbling on the next drive. The 49ers bent, but stayed sturdy, forcing the Cardinals’ to punt, but their replacement QB ran out of gas. Dobbs would throw his second interception of the day, this time to corner back Kei’Trel Clark. Clark returned the pick for a touchdown, but it was called back after being ruled as down by contact, giving Murray another shot to do what he did all game. Dobbs would finish the game with 29-43 completed passes (67.4%) for 326 yards with matching pairs of touchdowns and interceptions.

In poetic fashion, Murray found rookie first round draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. for his last touchdown of the season for 12 yards. Murray’s four touchdowns were a season-high and the most since Week 2’s 41-10 victory over the NFC West champs, the Los Angeles Rams.

Murray spread the ball around more than he had all year. McBride filled his normal role as the team’s leader in receptions and receiving yards with seven catches for 65 yards and a score. Harrison Jr. followed closely behind with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown to match. Dortch’s game-leading two touchdowns came by way of four catches for 47 yards. Wide receiver Zay Jones chipped in 46 yards as well off of four catches.

Though it was Carter who took the lead for Arizona in Conner’s absence with 17 carries and 43 yards for a score, a garbage time 46-yard touchdown by running back Tony Jones Jr. made him the Cardinals’ lead-rusher with 55 yards on four carries. Murray rushed three times for 22 yards.

The 49ers were without superstar running back Christian McCaffrey, but utilized running back Patrick Taylor Jr. well in his absence. The backup posted 17 carries for 107 yards. Dobbs’ lone-rushing score came with 17 yards on eight carries. His top targets in the pass game were Pearsall (6 catches, 69 yards, 1 touchdown), wide receiver Chris Conley (4 catches, 79 yards), Jauan Jennings (7 catches, 52 yards) and Juszczyk (2 catches, 49 yards, 1 touchdown).

If you go back seven weeks ago, it’s not the ending The Valley thought it would get from its Cardinals, but its far better than the one it could have gotten.

While the season reaches its end point, an outstanding performance by a heavily criticized Murray, touchdowns from its superstar and blossoming star pass catchers, and a display of fight when there was nothing to play for can give Arizona fans something to look forward to as the Cardinals turn the page to 2025.

Kyler Murray capitalizes on turnover with Cardinals’ first touchdown

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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live

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