The Arizona Cardinals improved to 2-3-1 with a 34-33 shootout win over the Atlanta Falcons at home in Week 6. It was their second straight win of the season after three consecutive losses.
What did we learn in the win?
Red zone woes fixed
The Cardinals, who were 1-of-6 scoring touchdowns in the red zone last week against the Bengals, turned that around against the Falcons. They had four red zone trips and scored touchdowns on three of them. The only time they didn’t get was at the very end of the first half when they elected to kick a field goal with seven seconds left in the half on third down rather than running one more play on offense.
The offense exploded in the first half
The Cardinals finished the game with 442 yards of offense and 34 points, but it was especially good in the first half. They scored 20 points and piled up 300 yards of offense in the first half, building a 20-10 lead. They were 5-of-6 on third down and had several big plays, and Kyler Murray had only three incompletions.
Kyler Murray was spectacular
Murray had a nearly flawless game. He was not sacked and he did not turn the ball over. He completed 27-of-37 passes for 340 yards and had three touchdown passes. He also rushed for 32 yards as well, including the game-clinching five-yard play for a first down at the end of the game. He spread the ball around, completing passes to nine different players.
David Johnson did his thing
Kliff Kingsbury was impressed by the way Johnson battled through another game where his back had issues, although Johnson himself claimed the back was fine. He wasn’t big in the running game, gaining only 34 yards on 12 carries, but he finished with 102 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving). He now has had over 100 yards from scrimmage in four of the team’s six games and all three of its non-losses.
Chase Edmonds continues to impress
Edmonds again was productive. He had five rushes for 34 yards, and two catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. He continues to prove he is an important weapon on the team.
Matt Ryan picked apart the Cardinals defense
Ryan was unstoppable. As good as Kyler Murray was, Ryan was better. he completed 30-of-36 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns. He did not have any turnovers and was sacked twice. He had nearly as many touchdown passes as incompletions. In fact, two of his incompletions were throwaways. He had as many touchdown passes as he did targeted incompletions. Like Murray, Ryan completed passes to nine different players.
The defense had no answers for almost anything the Falcons did
The Cardinals couldn’t stop the pass — Matt Ryan threw for 356 yards, and Arizona forced zero turnovers. They still have zero interceptions this season. The Cardinals have failed to keep any team under 100 rushing yards all season, and the Falcons continued that streak. They had two sacks but really pressured Ryan very little.
Wide receiver Julio Jones had eight catches for 108 yards. Tight end Austin Hooper led both teams with eight catches for 117 yards and scored a touchdown.
The Cardinals finally won at home
The Cardinals picked up their first victory at home since an 18-15 win on Oct. 28 of last season over the San Francisco 49ers. It was their only home win of 2018.
The Cardinals were fortunate
The Cardinals had several breaks. Falcons kicker Matt Bryant missed an extra point that would have tied the game with 1:53 left. Trent Sherfield’s 38-yard catch might not have been a catch, but they ran a play quickly enough before it could be challenged. Damiere Byrd appeared to fumble after his 58-yard catch, but the review did not overturn it. Kyler Murray’s 5-yard rush to pick up a first down and allow the team to kneel out the clock was ruled a first down but might not have been enough.
Another lead given up
Against the Bengals in Week 5, the Cardinals had a 14-point they blew before getting the game-winning field goal. Against the Lions in Week 1, they had a three-point overtime lead they gave up, leading to a tie. Against the Falcons, they built up a 17-point lead. Only Matt Bryant’s missed extra point saved them from another meltdown.
This is a concern, although Kliff Kingsbury says it isn’t. He chalked it up to two veteran quarterbacks with teams that play hard and make a run.
One of these weeks, they will lose a game because of it if they don’t get it fixed.
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