Cardinals are officially good following win vs. Dolphins

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

They’re formally a superb soccer group.

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

Go forward. Dare to imagine.

What makes this victory totally 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 making an attempt to handle his quick-twitch nature to raised 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. Taking part in in MIA, Harrison was 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 authentic cross rush to check the concussion-prone quarterback … regardless of the Dolphins dominating on third-down conversions … the Cardinals stored competing. They stored hitting laborious each time that they had 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 after 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 group on a game-winning drive for the second time in as many weeks.

The ending was breathtaking and provoking. Kicker Chad Ryland was hoisted on the shoulders of joyous teammates. Earlier within the day, his 57-yard discipline purpose helped the group extract three factors from an unenviable 2nd-down-and-30 state of affairs. His ultimate kick was his third game-winning effort since becoming a member of the group, capping a drive wherein the Cardinals shook off a dangerous holding penalty.

It was a snapshot of a soccer group that had launched their star rookie, leveled their report and completed one thing crucial on the street.

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