The Arizona Cardinals have now won three-straight games after blowing out the Chicago Bears 29-9.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Arizona improved to 5-4 with the win and remains in first place in the NFC West, while the Bears dropped to 4-4 on the year.
Here are some initial takeaways from the win for Arizona:
– The Cardinals did exactly what they preach on the ground today, picking up 213 team rushing yards on 34 carries. Arizona did not have a single game with multiple rushing touchdowns coming into today, but had three tonight by three different players. James Conner had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the year with 18 rushes for 107 yards, but wasn’t even one of the three with a touchdown. Rookie Trey Benson (8 carries, 37 yards) notched his first NFL touchdown, Trey McBride had his first-career rushing touchdown on an end around and Emari Demercado (4 rushes, 59 yards) broke off a 53-yard touchdown run right before halftime.
– What a game by a beat-up Cardinals pass rush. They had a season-high six sacks on the night, led by two from Zaven Collins. Chicago also only had 70 rushing yards on 23 attempts.
Wow. @NextGenStats says *16* different Cardinals got a pressure against the Bears this Sunday. Most individual players to get a pressure for a defense since 2018.
Cardinals walked into the game with a 26.6% pressure rate and pressured Caleb on 46% of dropbacks
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 4, 2024
– The Bears had not allowed more than 21 points this season, and the Cardinals reached this number at halftime and made it look easy. Kyler Murray did not even have to do much because of the rushing attack, as he completed 13-for-20 passes for 154 yards.
– Arizona got a safety with 7:54 to go in the fourth quarter after Chicago was flagged for a chop block in the end zone, marking the first time the Cardinals have had two-straight games with a safety, according to the broadcast.
– Caleb Williams struggled behind a depleted offensive line and against Arizona’s pass rush and coverage, finishing with 216 passing yards and completing 22 of his 41 throws. Arizona’s young cornerbacks Max Melton and Garrett Williams really stepped up next to the star safety duo of Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson, a very encouraging sign for a team who has been searching for solid secondary play.
The Cardinals next host the 3-6 New York Jets in Week 10 next Sunday.
Cardinals rookie scores first touchdown of NFL career vs. Bears
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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
