The Arizona Cardinals had everything going for them on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. They rolled up 489 yards of offense with Kyler Murray throwing three touchdown passes and having a perfect passer rating.
Marvin Harrison Jr. had four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and James Conner rushed for 122 yards and a score.
Meanwhile the defense held the Rams to 245 yards, including running back Kyren Williams to 25 rushing yards on 12 carries. They sacked Matthew Stafford five times, with Dennis Gardeck leading the way with three.
They started fast, dominated and finished strong and got their first home win over the Rams in a decade.
This is how it went down.
Cardinals get 4th-down stop
The Rams started on Arizona’s side of the field after Blake Corum had a 41-yard kickoff return, but the Cardinals got a turnover on downs after Kyren Williams ran for nine yards on first down. He was stopped for a loss and then, after a challenge by Jonathan Gannon on a completed pass that would have given the Rams a first down ruled the play incomplete, Budda Baker tackled Cooper Kupp on fourth down short of the line to gain.
Marvin Harrison Jr. TD! Cardinals 7, Rams 0
MARVIN HARRISON JR.'S FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN HAS ARRIVED pic.twitter.com/EFquDWaM8V
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024
James Conner had runs of 16 and 13 yards, and Kyler Murray scrambled four six more, but Murray found the rookie Harrison in the back of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown pass, Harrison’s first NFL touchdown.
Gardeck sack forces 3-and-out
On the Rams’ second drive, the defense showed up. Dennis Gardeck sacked Matthew Stafford on third down to end the drive and force a punt.
ANOTHER MARV TD, A BOMB! Cardinals 14, Rams 0
Marvin Harrison Jr. we love you pic.twitter.com/GE6a9vVabw
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024
The second TD for Harrison was even better than the first. Greg Dortch returned the Rams punt to the 40 and Murray threw a bomb to Harrison, who got behind the L.A. defense, for a 60-yard touchdown.
Cardinals 21, Rams 0
Harrison went over 100 yards for the game in the first quarter with a 33-yard reception and the Cardinals went on a 99-yard touchdown drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Higgins. Murray moved, dodged and spun, and he threw a dart to the back of the end zone.
THE MURRAY MAGIC IS STRONG TODAY 🪄 pic.twitter.com/FYDZCoSRNH
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024
Cardinals 21, Rams 3
The Rams got on the board but were held to three points with a stop in the red zone. Demarcus Robinson had a 42-yard catch when Budda Baker lost the ball in coverage, and Julian Okwara was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but Zaven Collins got his first sack of the season on third down, forcing a 29-yard field goal.
Cardinals 24, Rams 3
The Cardinals answered right back with three more points after a 40-yard drive. Murray ran for 17 of the yards, setting up a 48-yard field goal with 5:09 left in the half.
4th-down goalline stand to end 1st half
The Cardinals punted the ball back to the Rams with under two minutes left in the half and Matthew Stafford led them down the field for a goal-to-go situation. Arizona’s defense held.
They stuffed Williams on one play, Stafford threw an incomplete pass, Budda Baker tackled Williams for a loss on a pass play and then the Rams, going for it on fourth down, threw an incomplete pass out the back of the end zone. Star Thomas was initially flagged for pass interference but the officials picked up the flag for being an uncatchable pass, and that is how the half ended with the Cardinals leading 24-3.
Cardinals 31, Rams 3
The Cardinals started the second half rolling on offense. Behind the legs of Conner, who had a 22-yard run, and Murray, who added a 26-yarder, they extended the lead to 31-3 as Conner ran in for a five-yard score.
It was the seventh straight game Conner has scored a touchdown, tying the franchise record for the longest such streak.
Cooper Kupp hurt
Kupp injured his ankle and was announced as doubtful to return. he had four receptions for 37 yards in the first half.
Cardinals 34, Rams 3
Matt Prater’s 57-yard field goal after the Rams went three-and-out extended the lead to 31 points. Krys Barnes was credited with the Cardinals’ fourth sack of the game on third down.
Cardinals 34, Rams 10
Stafford led the Rams on a 70-yard drive in eight plays. Kyren Williams scored from four yards out.
Cardinals 41, Rams 10
Even bad things go right for the Cardinals. James Conner, inside the five, fumbled the ball, but Trey McBride recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
Dennis Gardeck’s 3rd sack is a strip sack
Gardeck had his third sack of the game and forced Stafford to fumble. L.J. Collier recovered the football. Mack Wilson was ejected for taunting so the Cardinals took over at their own 37.
Kyler Murray’s day ends with perfect passer rating
Clayton Tune replaced Murray after the fumble recover to play the final 7:59 of the game. Murray finished the game 17-for-21 passing for 266 yards and three touchdowns for a perfect 158.3 passer rating. He also had five rushes for 59 yards.
Rookie guard Isaiah Adams, center Trystan Colon and tackle Jackson Barton entered the game as well.
Clayton Tune turnover
Tune fumbled the ball after Emari Demercado and Trey Benson got the offense into the red zone. Braden Fiske recovered with 4:16 remaining.
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