Kyler Murray plays like the best player in the world in Cards win

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Maybe it was because Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray came back three plays after his helmet was knocked off on a sack to throw a perfectly placed, over-the-shoulder touchdown pass to wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to throw.

Maybe it was because Murray had two rushing touchdowns – one when he marched into the end zone after a masterful play-by-play and the other when he weaved between two New York Jets defenders for a score.

Maybe it was because he completed 17 consecutive passes, setting a new Cardinals franchise record. Or maybe it was because Murray became the first player in NFL history to complete 85 percent of his passes for 250 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Perhaps it was because of all this that coach Jonathan Gannon heaped praise on Murray after he led the Cardinals to a 31-6 win over the Jets at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, giving them their fourth straight win and their fifth in a row the last six games.

“I think the quarterback was the best player in the world today,” Gannon said. “And so kudos to him.”

On a Sunday afternoon under the roof, on a perfect fall afternoon in Arizona, Murray did little wrong. Even a fumbled snap in the second quarter went in his favor when the officials declared the play dead and replayed the down. After missing a pass to tight end Trey McBride in the end zone late in the first quarter, Murray didn’t miss another pass.

He ran for a one-yard touchdown on the next play after the Cardinals stacked the offensive line with three extra blockers to the right and then left guard Evan Brown moved to the right to add a fourth, leaving the Jets pondering the line Running back James Conner had the ball and went right. Except Murray made the play-action fake and let it run untouched to the left.

From there, Murray was 12 of 12 for 99 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter, 4 of 4 for 61 yards in the third quarter and 1 of 1 for six yards in the fourth quarter.

“The guys did a hell of a job up front,” Murray said. “My job was just to put the ball in their hands and let them do what they do and try to get finishes and that’s what I did today. I just try to keep it as simple as possible and the guys, they made plays.”

“They’ve been making plays for me all day and it’s great to go out and feel the way we felt today to be able to execute them. It felt like we had a good day offensively today no matter what they did.”

Murray completed 91.7 percent of his passes, the second-highest completion rate in Cardinals history behind Kurt Warner’s 92.3 percent in Week 2 of the 2009 season. It was the first time he completed 90 percent of his passes in the NFL, and that fourth time he completed at least 70 percent of his passes in a game this season.

Wide receiver Zach Pascal said Murray’s consistency has an impact on the rest of the team.

“You couldn’t ask for much better,” said left tackle Paris Johnson. “It’s exciting to have him back there in complete control of the game and his rhythm, especially up front.”

“I know all five of us were happy to have him in his rhythm and being able to make plays on his feet and in the air.”

When asked if this is the best he has played in a long time, Murray hinted at why he performs like this.

“I told you, this is the best I’ve felt,” Murray said. “Of course I say that all the time because the game is taken away from you and you’re in a system like this with the attention to detail.” [offensive coordinator] Drew [Petzing]The way he communicates it, there is no gray area.

“We’re on the same page and being in the system for Year 2, I just feel good about continuing to play well.”

Part of Murray’s success Sunday was because he didn’t have to do everything, Gannon said. But once Murray had the ball in his hands, Gannon described it as “electric.”

“When he has the ball in his hands as a defensive guy, every time he gets a snap, you keep his you-know-what,” Gannon said. “And I thought he was completely beside himself today.”

Murray also showed a side of him that isn’t often seen. On first-and-10 at the Jets 21, Murray was blindsided by a sack from Jets defensive back Quinnen Williams, causing Murray’s helmet to come off. The sight was frightening at first, leaving the 64,030 spectators uncertain about what had just happened to Murray. But the former Rookie of the Year came around again, put on his helmet, gave a thumbs up and kept going without missing a beat or play.

Murray said he was initially confused after the hit because he didn’t see Williams coming, but when he was on the ground he knew he had to secure the ball. Even after the game, Murray still didn’t know how to hold the ball.

“It happened so quickly,” Murray said.

But Murray said he liked the hit.

“I’m kind of glad it happened,” he said. “It felt good.”

He later clarified: “I don’t get the opportunity to get hit like that very often,” Murray said. “I don’t want to get hit that often, but it upset everyone in a way and I’m glad nothing bad came of it. So, yeah, it was a good thing.”

Gannon said it doesn’t “look good” when the quarterback gets hit that hard, but said the way Murray rebounded by throwing a dart to McBride two plays later and the touchdown pass on the next play to Harrison speaks for Murray’s toughness.

“I’m just talking about his resilience and his playmaking, his mental toughness, his competitiveness, his mental toughness,” Gannon said. “The guy is a baller.”

Showing that side of himself is another facet of the game for Murray, right tackle Kelvin Beachum said.

“He’s always been a competitor, but I think a lot of people haven’t seen that from him because he’s been able to see that live and in person,” Beachum said. “It’s special to be able to see that.”

With the Cardinals heading into the bye week at 6-4 in their last seven games, including four NFC West contests that ESPN Analytics has ranked as the fourth-strongest in the NFL, the offense has begun to take a different step, he said Pascal.

Gannon said, “The season starts now,” and Murray added that Arizona was “not happy.”

Beachum feels like the offense is headed in the right direction, even after its recent success.

“To be honest, I think there’s still meat on the bone, but I think we’re moving in the right direction,” he said. “I think this is a great place for us to go into the break now knowing that we can still clean up some things and then we have to get ready to continue this push to compete for the division title and find a way to achieve our goals.” name in the pot to be in the playoffs.