The Arizona Cardinals came away in Week 1with a 27-27 tie against the Detroit Lions. It wasn’t great but it was much better than the loss it looked like it would be, especially when they were down 24-6 early in the fourth quarter.
There were studs and duds in the game on Sunday for Arizona. Who were they?
Stud: WR Larry Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald showed yet once again why he is a legend. He caught eight passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. His 41-yard catch with 13:46 remaining in the fourth quarter ignited the offense. His 45-yard catch in overtime set up the field goal that put them in the lead for the first time. He continues to come up big in the biggest moments.
Stud: K Zane Gonzalez
Gonzalez, who didn’t miss a kick in the preseason, was perfect again in the season opener. He made all four of his field-goal attempts and the kicks all looked great.
Dud: LB Joe Walker
Walker started in place of Haason Reddick but was overmatched. He got beaten badly by Lions rookie tight end T.J. Hockensen on a big play. He finished with five tackles but that was it. None were for a loss. He didn’t break up any passes. He ended up playing less than Reddick.
Stud: OLB Terrell Suggs
Suggs is another ageless wonder. He was disruptive against the Lions. He had a pair of sacks. He forced a fumble. He had two tackles for loss of his five total tackles. He also hit Matthew Stafford one other time. He finished with seven sacks in 2018. He already has two.
Stud and dud: CB Tramaine Brock
Brock saved the game but also botched a couple of plays. He broke up the pass from Matthew Stafford to Kenny Golladay in the end zone in overtime that would have ended the game. The Lions would have won were it not for that play. However, Brock messed up a coverage earlier in the game that caused Danny Amendola’s 47-yard touchdown catch. He also dropped a would-be interception with five seconds left in overtime in field goal range.
Stud: WR Trent Sherfield
Sherfield was fantastic on special teams. He had two special teams tackles. One came in the first quarter on a punt that stopped James Agnew for a negative return. Sherfield also recovered Agnew’s muffed punt. He downed the punt in overtime inside the five-yard line.
Stud and dud: QB Kyle Murray
Murray was awful for three quarters. Then he was masterful. Here are the numbers:
He made some poor decisions. The interception was bad. He was sacked five times. On multiple occasions, he should have thrown the ball away. He didn’t show off his running ability much, rushing only three times for 13 yards.
But he made some dynamic downfield throws late in the game. He wasn’t rattled and brought the team back.
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