Host: I thought Kyler Murray was the standout quarterback I watched this week; he was phenomenal. You know, we often have a perception of Kyler—like, “Yeah, he’s fine, he’ll make a few plays.” But I don’t think many people view him as a top 10 quarterback. However, he looked phenomenal on Sunday. He was fully integrated into the offense, and it was exciting to see him working with a talent like Larry Jo. Honestly, I’d say Kyler’s performance was among the top five players in the league that day, and I’ve been quite impressed.
In just six minutes of football at State Farm Stadium this past Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals flipped the script, becoming one of the most exciting offenses in the NFL. A healthy Kyler Murray finally has the supporting cast his talent deserves, and he’s beginning to connect with the generational talent of Marvin Harrison Jr. If they can maintain this level of play on both sides of the ball throughout the season, it’s hard to see why the Cardinals wouldn’t challenge for the NFC West title. If you think that’s extreme, then you must have missed the clinic Jonathan Ganon’s team put on Sunday.
It’s worth noting that this was their first win over a division rival since November 2022. Early in the game, the Rams faced a critical fourth down at Arizona’s 41-yard line. They opted for a screen pass to Cooper Kupp, who was stopped short by Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker, turning the ball over and setting the tone for a fiery home opener.
James Connor emerged as a standout player for the Cardinals, shining during their first possession. He moved the chains twice before Maserati Marv took over. Kyler connected with Harrison for a spectacular touchdown, putting the Cardinals up 7-0. A sack from Dennis Gardeck forced a three-and-out, sending the offense back out, and on the first play of the next drive, Murray connected with Harrison again for a stunning 60-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 just six minutes into the game.
The Cardinals’ pass rush overwhelmed Stafford, forcing another punt. Murray and Harrison struck again with a beautiful back shoulder catch, giving the Cardinals breathing room. Murray showcased his scrambling ability on a crucial third down, launching a pass to Harrison for 32 more yards. They methodically drained eight and a half minutes off the clock during their third drive, culminating in an Elijah Higgins touchdown.
The second half opened with a 24-3 lead, aided by a rushing attack that included a five-yard touchdown run from James Connor. With Cooper Kupp confirmed out for the rest of the game, the Rams struggled again, resulting in another three-and-out. Matt Prater capped off the following Cardinal drive with a 57-yard field goal.
The Rams finally put together a decent drive late in the third quarter, with Kyren Williams scoring their first touchdown, but they faced a daunting 24-point deficit in the final quarter, and the game ended with a surprising score of 41-1 in favor of the Cardinals. This performance sparked praise, with many considering it Kyler Murray’s best game ever.
Last season, the Cardinals finished 4-13, but they seem to have addressed many issues that plagued them, particularly the lengthy absence of Kyler Murray due to injury and a lack of weapons on offense. Yes, tight end Trey McBride stepped up, but the wide receiver corps was lackluster at best. Hollywood Brown led the team with 574 yards and four touchdowns, followed closely by rookie Michael Wilson with 565 yards. The departure of DeAndre Hopkins left a void, and the Cardinals, thanks to their poor record, earned the fourth overall pick in the draft.
They made a wise choice by selecting Marvin Harrison Jr., son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who lit up college football at Ohio State. He was hyped since becoming a starter in 2022, showing remarkable talent. While the three teams ahead of them addressed pressing needs at quarterback, the Cardinals seized the opportunity to draft Harrison, providing him with an elite quarterback—a rare advantage for a receiver picked so high.
Harrison was widely regarded as the most pro-ready wideout in the 2024 draft class. Despite limited preseason appearances, reports indicated his rapport with Kyler Murray grew during training camp. However, in week one, he had a disappointing performance with just one catch for four yards in a tight loss. This led to speculation about whether he would fit into the team’s offensive scheme.
In week two, though, Harrison silenced the doubters with an outstanding performance—130 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions, all in the first half. This showcased the big-play ability the offense had sorely missed over the past seasons.
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Back to the Cardinals: The transformation we saw from Week 1 to Week 2 is remarkable. In their narrow loss to the Bills, they managed to keep up with one of the strongest teams in the league, even leading 17-10 at halftime. Their defense executed well, forcing a strip sack on Allen and limiting the Bills to just three points until the half. While they didn’t win, they displayed promise.
In Week 2, the Cardinals showcased their potential on both offense and defense. If they can sustain this level of play, they will be a team that no one wants to face this year. Nick Rallis’s defense showed significant improvement, and the linebackers were particularly effective against Stafford, combining for five sacks, with Gardeck accounting for three of them.
Concerns lingered about the secondary after the departure of veteran Antonio Holmes, but they effectively contained a depleted Rams receiving corps, led by Budda Baker with 12 solo tackles. The offense is finally explosive, with James Connor averaging 4.6 yards per carry, Michael Wilson improving upon a solid rookie season, and Greg Dortch stepping up.
Kyler Murray has had a strong start, becoming only the second player in NFL history to achieve a perfect passer rating while throwing for over 250 yards and rushing for over 50. His ability to extend plays and improvise was on full display in Week 2, and he aims to dispel doubts about his attitude while guiding the team toward the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Given the current landscape of the NFC West, there’s no reason the Cardinals can’t contend for the division title. The Rams are struggling with injuries, currently sitting at the bottom of the division with an 0-2 record. The 49ers, after a surprising upset, find themselves at 1-1, while the Seahawks lead at 2-0 with uninspiring victories.
In a division that appears weaker than in recent years, now is the perfect time for the Cardinals to make an unexpected run at the title—something they haven’t achieved since 2015. At the helm is Jonathan Gannon, who joined the team after the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss. While he wasn’t a popular hire, his success in Philadelphia, where the Eagles ranked highly in defense, made him a sought-after candidate.
Gannon’s strategy focuses on limiting explosive plays from opposing offenses, and his experience makes him a significant asset for the Cardinals as they aim to rise in the NFC West.
