Cardinals are officially good following win vs. Dolphins

The Cardinals reached a milestone on Sunday. A ceremony of passage.

They’re formally a very good soccer staff.

Following a 28-27 thrilling highway win over the Dolphins, the Cardinals have received consecutive video games for the primary time since 2021. They’re a .500 staff instantly in competition for a NFC West title, a assured staff surging right into a tender stretch of schedule.

Go forward. Dare to consider.

What makes this victory completely different was their pathway to victory, and the maturity required. On a day when the Dolphins stuffed James Conner right into a locker for many of 60 minutes, the Cardinals discovered an alternate route. Kyler Murray performed elite soccer, lastly elevating a passing sport beforehand stuffed with low-flying birds.

It began with Murray’s persistence within the pocket and in his progressions. He’s clearly attempting to handle his quick-twitch nature to higher swimsuit creating routes. On Sunday, these efforts led to an actual reference to prized rookie Marvin Harrison, who produced six catches in seven targets, a lot of them spectacular, and lots of of them pivotal.

On a day when Conner was principally nullified, the Cardinals produced a pair of 100-yard receivers. Enjoying in MIA, Harrison was now not MIA. His efficiency paired with rising star Trey McBride like the right bottle of wine.

The Cardinals received this sport on resilience. They survived the emotional tsunami that got here with the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who carved up Arizona’s protection within the early going. And regardless of any whiff of a reliable cross rush to check the concussion-prone quarterback … regardless of the Dolphins dominating on third-down conversions … the Cardinals stored competing. They stored hitting arduous each time they’d the possibility. Budda Baker was beastly, as ferocious as I’ve seen him in years. And all of it paid off ultimately.

The Cardinals trailed 27-18 within the fourth quarter once they determined to plant their flag. Harrison got here up with a gutsy diving catch, so inconceivable that it was initially dominated incomplete. After a landing, the Cardinals protection got here up with a pivotal cease on demand, producing strain with a pair of dangerous, well timed and really sensible blitzes. After which Murray led his staff on a game-winning drive for the second time in as many weeks.

The ending was breathtaking and galvanizing. Kicker Chad Ryland was hoisted on the shoulders of joyous teammates. Earlier within the day, his 57-yard discipline aim helped the staff extract three factors from an unenviable 2nd-down-and-30 scenario. His closing kick was his third game-winning effort since becoming a member of the staff, capping a drive through which the Cardinals shook off a harmful holding penalty.

It was a snapshot of a soccer staff that had launched their star rookie, leveled their file and achieved one thing crucial on the highway.

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