The Arizona Cardinals did exactly what they wanted to do when they played the Philadelphia Eagles. With all engines firing, an emboldened Kyler Murray guided his team to a fourth 35-31 win at Lincoln Financial Field. A last-minute prayer ended up an interception, allowing the Cardinals to hang on.
Bottom line: the Arizona Cardinals are all in on Kyler Murray.
The win looks to have sealed the deal for Arizona’s beleaguered quarterback. Coach Jonathan Gannon, is a self-professed believer all season long, or so he says.
The Arizona Cardinals are all in on Kyler Murray.
“There is no doubt,” Gannon said, still chuckling. ‘“Number 1”’ is our franchise quarterback.”
Courtesy – azcardinals.com.
Jonathan Gannon has high praise for his QB
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 2, 2024
For all rabid Cardinals fans, it is worth noting that since Murray returned in Week 10 against the Houston Texans, his numbers on the field are pedestrian. He’s 13th in passing touchdowns, 25th in yards per attempt, and ranks 16th in passing yards. Still, fans should be willing to look deeper at their “franchise quarterback”.
Murray is still only five-foot-ten-inches tall. It’s a detrimental height for any quarterback who sits at the top of the depth chart. Also, he can be erratic and bail out of the pocket when pressured. He too often relies on his mobility and will throw the ball up for grabs or completely overthrow a receiver.
One positive is his accuracy and velocity to throw deep or into tight windows. That has improved significantly. Murray has excelled and stayed disciplined in the scheme, meaning he is not proving to be a deterrent to the team. With better body language and a willingness to stick to the play that’s called, Murray seems to be a player worth sticking with.
It is a mixed blessing of sorts. While it’s been widely reported that Monti Ossenfort and his team have no necessary “allegiance” towards Murray, timing in the draft can be everything. The 2024 NFL Draft is quarterback-rich. Talent from coast to coast, and one generational talent from USC. Fans could reasonably speculate that not taking advantage of this talent could be an opportunity missed.
It’s All On Kyler Murray Now
With all that said, should Murray begin to falter next season, he won’t have any excuses. Missed wide-open passes, poor execution, and poor body language will indicate that Murray is back to doing what he is best known: for checking out.
Cardinals fans will get to see if Arizona’s win in Philadelphia was a fluke or an indication of what will come in 2024. If the Cardinals can beat a desperate 8-8 Seattle Seahawks team, Arizona will have some momentum and “good feelz” heading into the offseason. At the very least, they will beat the preseason conventional wisdom of anywhere from zero to four wins in 2023.
Will that be enough for fans who have seen Kyler Murray struggle more than he has not? Murray is a transcendent multi-sport athlete drafted in the first round of the NFL and MLB. What he has not shown is the ability to be, by definition, a franchise quarterback. He is not like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, or even Josh Allen. Murray is more like the “little quarterback that could, but simply hasn’t”. At least he still has time to prove the critics wrong.
Main Image: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
