Kyler Murray shows it all as the Cardinals become a juggernaut

Ten games. That’s how long it took for the Arizona Cardinals to develop into an offensive juggernaut that looked as good on the football field as it did on paper.

Six years. That’s how long it took for Kyler Murray to grow up, get solid in the pocket, and become a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Arizona.

Pinch yourself. It’s all happening now.

The Cardinals picked up their fourth straight victory with a stunning 31-6 win over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sunday. They begin their bye week as a first-place team with a Cinderella story, alone at the top of the NFC West. They have won their last two games by 45 points and have not allowed a touchdown in their last three games at State Farm Stadium.

They’re starting to look dangerous.

Against the Jets, the Cardinals won all the crucial downs and made all the big plays. They scored touchdowns on their first three possessions. Trey McBride overcame another defender. Budda Baker is playing at full throttle. And Murray delivered one of the most ruthless performances of his career.

The Cardinals’ quarterback made a shot, the centerpiece of an aggressively brilliant game plan that rattled New York’s overworked, overwhelmed coaching staff. The Jets obviously expected the efficient quarterback, who handed the ball off to James Conner and came into the game with a modest 11 touchdown passes and three interceptions. They received a tiger unleashed.

Murray was dynamic and unflappable. He had the zen of a warrior and his charisma was impeccable. He threw a touchdown and ran for two more. He completed 22 of 24 passes, including 17 in a row, breaking Carson Palmer’s team record. If not for Lamar Jackson, he might have declared his MVP candidacy on Sunday. As a consolation prize, he might have played against Rodgers straight into retirement.

In the blinding storm of brilliance, there was one series that stood above all else:

Murray absorbed a devastating blindside hit from the Jets’ Quincy Williams. The impact was so violent that it dislodged Murray’s helmet and threw him two meters through the air. And yet the damage was nil.

On 3rd-and-10, Murray stood firm in a dirty pocket and moved the chains with a precise strike to McBride. As if the near-beheading never happened. And then he threw an exquisite touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. that only maestro quarterbacks can execute.

If you still don’t believe in Murray, what else do you have to see?

Unfortunately, Murray has a complicated history in Arizona. He was trolled, mocked and criticized. He is the subject of endless and tiresome jokes about his short stature and affinity for video games. He has been a polarizing figure in Arizona for too long.

On Sunday, Murray evened his record to 9-9 since returning from a serious knee injury, but right now he’s far more than a .500 quarterback. He grows into a powerful, deadly, smart and mature leader who can beat you however you want. The kind of quarterback that can take a good team to the mountaintop.

Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

Follow @danbickley