Cardinals’ Kyler Murray leads winning drive in return

GLENDALE, Ariz. – After Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder scored a touchdown with 2:33 remaining to give Atlanta a one-day lead Sunday, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray , playing his first match since tearing his ACL in December. , thought: “Of course, it settles like this.”

Then Murray did what he’s done best in his five-year career: making game-changing plays with his feet and arms. He orchestrated a 70-yard drive that included yet another highlight-worthy run and a throw that showcased his arm strength and precision. It was capped by a 23-yard field goal from kicker Matt Prater to give Arizona a 25-23 victory at the buzzer at State Farm Stadium.

It had been 335 days – exactly 11 months to the day – since Murray tore his right ACL on “Monday Night Football” against the New England Patriots, the first major injury of his career. Murray said he just wanted one thing Sunday afternoon.

“I just want to win,” he said. “It feels good to win. I mean, it’s like icing on the cake. It would have been a shitty night to come here and lose, and then somehow, it all built up to what, you know what. I mean? So, I’m just happy for us and the team, man. I’m just happy.”

Before Murray took the field to begin the final ride, he was told where the finish line was from Prater’s stand. Murray responded by saying he was going to take the ball all the way down the field. That’s exactly what he did.

After a few runs throughout the game that proved his rehabbed knee wouldn’t hamper his play, Murray showed he was back to his old self with 1:50 left. On third-and-10, the play broke down and Murray was forced out of the pocket. It first broke away to its left then reversed its trajectory to return to its right before going straight again. He gained 13 yards to move Arizona into Atlanta territory, but he ran for 74 yards and had a top speed of 20.17 seconds, according to NFL NextGen Stats.

“It was like, ‘Man, that felt good for him to get that and finish it that way,’” wide receiver Marquise Brown said after seeing his good friend break out of a bind and do something from scratch.

Murray thought the Falcons did a good job containing him, but it wasn’t enough.

“I had to make up my mind,” Murray said. “It might sound cliché or, like, impossible, but for me it felt like, at the end of the day, if it came down to being in my hands, I had to make something happen.”

If he had to take a hit to win the game, Murray said that’s what he was willing to do.

“Obviously when you run like that, everything gets blurry,” Murray said. “For me it was just about doing whatever it takes to win.”

Falcons coach Jonathan Gannon called the run “wild” and said Murray’s ability to make plays like that is “invaluable.”

“Oh my God, it’s crazy to see this live,” center Hjalte Froholdt said. “It’s who he is. He’s a playmaker and he makes plays in these situations, it’s so crazy to watch, but I don’t think I’ll be too surprised.”

Two plays later, Murray hit tight end Trey McBride, who set a career high with 131 yards on eight catches, for a 33-yard pass that traveled 40 yards through the air to move Arizona to the 9 from Atlanta. returned Sunday after missing four games with a knee injury to run for 73 yards on 16 carries, then bulldozed his way to the 2-yard line. After two maneuvers to get the ball exactly where Prater wanted it, he gave the Cardinals their second victory of the season.

“He believes if you give him the ball, he’s going to win the game,” Gannon said of Murray. “So there it is.”

Sunday was the culmination of Murray’s highly anticipated return, and he couldn’t avoid the emotions of returning no matter how hard he tried. He worked to suppress them during the week, trying to stay as cool, calm and collected as possible, but they started bubbling up Sunday morning when he returned home after spending the night at the team hotel .

As he passed the time, waiting to get to the stadium, impatience began to build in his chest. He tried to suppress them as much as he could, without letting himself get too upset.

“I thought I did a good job of not letting the emotions and everything get to me throughout this week, obviously it’s a big week,” Murray said. “But at the end of the day, man, I’m just trying to come out here and get the win. That was the mindset.”

Murray hid the emotions he was experiencing during the week, even from Gannon.

“He doesn’t ride the emotional roller coaster,” Gannon said.

When Murray entered the huddle before the first play of the game, he clapped three times, a rare expression of emotion, but his teammates could see what being back meant to him.

“He’s a quiet guy,” Froholdt said. “You can see the passion in his eyes and it’s like, ‘All right, we’re here to win.’ Like, every time he’s in this group, you say, ‘We have a chance.'”

Murray finished with 249 yards and an interception on 19 of 32 passes, along with 33 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries. His rushing touchdown came on a six-yard run in the second quarter and gave the Cardinals a 14-12 lead. When Murray backed up, he saw a hole and took advantage.

“He made me feel like my legs weren’t working,” Murray said. “I haven’t read something like this since second grade, but it was good.”

For Murray, his return “felt normal, good.” Conner said Murray’s performance on Sunday felt like “he was doing magic.”

“Obviously a surge of energy and confidence within our team,” Gannon said. “That’s why he is who he is. I couldn’t be happier for this guy.”