Cardinals jump on Washington early to improve to 2-0

GLENDALE — Kyler Murray’s slippery, spectacular touchdown runs for the up-and-coming Cardinals are becoming a common occurrence.

So are the Arizona wins.

Murray’s dual-threat skills were on full display Sunday during the Cardinals’ dominant 30-15 victory over Washington.

The second-year quarterback threw for 286 yards and a touchdown, but the jaw-dropping moments came when Murray tucked the ball and ran, scrambling for two touchdowns that went for 14 and 21 yards.

Cardinals linebacker Devon Kennard enjoyed Murray’s show. He’s also happy to watch it from the sideline.

“I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that,” he said with a grin. “He causes a lot of problems.”

The Cardinals (2-0) jumped to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. They led 20-0 by halftime and 20-3 following the third. DeAndre Hopkins caught eight passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Zane Gonzalez made three field goals.

APTOPIX Washington Cardinals Football — Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson breaks up a pass intended for Washington receiver Terry McLaurin in the second half.
Darryl Webb / the associated press

Murray alleviated any doubt who would win early in the fourth quarter when he darted through the middle of the field — dancing right past safety Troy Apke in the process — for a 21-yard touchdown that pushed Arizona’s advantage to 27-3.

“As soon as I leave the pocket I survey the field,” Murray said. “Seeing how the blocks were set up, they were set up pretty perfectly.

“Once I get a guy 1 on 1, I like my chances.”

Washington (1-1) finally scored a touchdown with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter when Dwayne Haskins hit Terry McLaurin for a 24-yard score. It scored again when Antonio Gibson ran for an 11-yard touchdown to pull within 27-15 after the 2-point conversion failed.

By then it was too late for a rally. Washington came back from a 17-0 deficit to beat Philadelphia last week, but waited much too long to get going on Sunday. Haskins completed 19 of 33 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown.

“A new offense, a new scheme,” Haskins said. “Basically, on offense the whole team is under 25. It is a work in process. The biggest thing is come to work every day with your lunch pail and try to get better.”

Washington Cardinals Football — Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs for a touchdown as Washington free safety Troy Apke misses the tackle during the second half Sunday. “Once I get a guy 1 on 1, I like my chances,” said Murray, who threw for 286 yards and rushed for 67 more.
Ross D. Franklin / The Associated Press

In front of a fan-less State Farm Stadium, the Cardinals continued to look like a contender in the NFC West after finishing 5-10-1 last year. Kenyan Drake ran for 86 yards on 20 carries. Murray finished with 67 yards rushing.

“There was never a doubt in our mind that we’d start like this,” Hopkins said. “The team in the locker room we have is a lot of veterans, a lot of good young guys. To be 2-0 is what we expected.”

Arizona outgained Washington 244 yards to 96 in the first half as it built its 20-0 lead.

The Cardinals’ revamped defense had a big day, holding Washington scoreless until Dustin Hopkins hit a 24-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Arizona gave up the most yards in the NFL last season, but the defense has been solid in both wins. Free-agent signings linebacker Devon Kennard and defensive lineman Jordan Phillips had a sack each.

“It’s night and day,” Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury said of the defensive improvement.

The teams traded turnovers in an eventful first quarter. Murray’s pass into coverage was picked off by Landon Collins, giving Washington great field position at the Arizona 19. Three plays later, Haskins fumbled after getting hit on the arm by Phillips and Chandler Jones snagged the ball out of the air.

Arizona went three-and-out and had to punt, but got the ball right back when Steven Sims fumbled on the return. The Cardinals followed with a six-play touchdown drive capped by Murray’s 14-yard run.

The shifty second-year quarterback got some good blocking on the right side and then slipped between two would-be tacklers to coast into the end zone.

“We played two teams today, them and ourselves. That’s the truth of the matter,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said. “We hurt ourselves in that first half. We get into third-and-long situations and give up big plays. We take the ball away and we give it right back. We force a punt, we fumble the football. We can’t do those things.”

Hopkins caught his first touchdown pass with the Cardinals on their opening possession.

He was completely alone in the back of the end zone on third down and Murray hit him for the 4-yard score to make it 7-0.

Box score

Washington 0 0 3 12 — 15

Arizona 14 6 0 10 — 30

First Quarter

Ari—De.Hopkins 4 pass from K.Murray (Gonzalez kick), 9:09. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 4:22. Key Plays: K.Murray 13 run on 3rd-and-2; K.Murray 12 pass to De.Hopkins on 3rd-and-3.Arizona 7, Washington 0.

Ari—K.Murray 14 run (Gonzalez kick), :00. Drive: 6 plays, 40 yards, 2:44. Key Play: K.Murray 5 pass to Fitzgerald on 3rd-and-4.Arizona 14, Washington 0.

Second Quarter

Ari—FG Gonzalez 49, 11:29. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 1:57. Key Plays: K.Murray 54 pass to Isabella; K.Murray 3 pass to Edmonds on 3rd-and-21.Arizona 17, Washington 0.

Ari—FG Gonzalez 33, 1:49. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:03. Key Plays: K.Murray 10 pass to Fitzgerald; K.Murray 5 pass to Fitzgerald on 3rd-and-2; K.Murray 49 pass to Kirk; K.Murray 6 pass to Drake on 3rd-and-16.Arizona 20, Washington 0.

Third Quarter

Was—FG Du.Hopkins 24, 3:14. Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 4:55. Key Plays: Haskins 15 pass to S.Sims on 3rd-and-7; McKissic 13 run; Haskins 10 pass to L.Thomas; McKissic 11 run.Arizona 20, Washington 3.

Fourth Quarter

Ari—K.Murray 21 run (Gonzalez kick), 14:17. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 3:57. Key Plays: K.Murray 25 pass to De.Hopkins on 3rd-and-3; K.Murray 12 pass to Fitzgerald on 4th-and-4; Edmonds 5 run on 3rd-and-2.Arizona 27, Washington 3.

Was—McLaurin 24 pass from Haskins (run failed), 12:20. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:57. Key Plays: Haskins 26 pass to McLaurin; Haskins 10 pass to McLaurin; Murphy 13-yard defensive pass interference penalty.Arizona 27, Washington 9.

Was—Gibson 11 run (pass failed), 6:38. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 2:55. Key Plays: Haskins 14 pass to Inman on 3rd-and-10; Kirkpatrick 6-yard defensive pass interference penalty on 3rd-and-2; Haskins 1 pass to S.Sims on 3rd-and-6; Haskins 30 pass to S.Sims on 3rd-and-1.Arizona 27, Washington 15.

Ari—FG Gonzalez 28, :26. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 6:12. Key Plays: K.Murray 13 pass to Isabella; K.Murray 20 pass to Arnold; Drake 16 run; Drake 10 run; K.Murray 1 run on 3rd-and-3.Arizona 30, Washington 15.

A—0.

Was Ari

FIRST DOWNS 19 22

Rushing 7 8

Passing 10 13

Penalty 2 1

THIRD DOWN EFF 4-12 7-17

FOURTH DOWN EFF 1-1 2-2

TOTAL NET YARDS 316 438

Total Plays 60 73

Avg Gain 5.3 6.0

NET YARDS RUSHING 117 160

Rushes 23 32

Avg per rush 5.1 5.0

NET YARDS PASSING 199 278

Sacked-Yds lost 4-24 3-8

Gross-Yds passing 223 286

Completed-Att. 19-33 26-38

Had Intercepted 0 1

Yards-Pass Play 5.4 6.8

KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB 4-3-3 7-5-4

PUNTS-Avg. 6-47.3 4-49.3

Punts blocked 0 0

FGs-PATs blocked 0-0 0-0

TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE 60 5

Punt Returns 3-17 2-5

Kickoff Returns 3-42 1-0

Interceptions 1-1 0-0

PENALTIES-Yds 6-42 11-97

FUMBLES-Lost 2-2 1-0

TIME OF POSSESSION 26:15 33:45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Washington, Gibson 13-55, McKissic 8-53, Haskins 1-8, Barber 1-1. Arizona, Drake 20-86, K.Murray 8-67, Edmonds 3-4, Kirk 1-3.

PASSING—Washington, Haskins 19-33-0-223. Arizona, K.Murray 26-38-1-286.

RECEIVING—Washington, McLaurin 7-125, Thomas 4-26, S.Sims 3-53, Inman 2-17, Gandy-Golden 1-3, Baugh 1-2, Gibson 1-(minus 3). Arizona, Hopkins 8-68, Fitzgerald 7-50, Edmonds 3-9, Isabella 2-67, Kirk 2-57, Arnold 2-26, Drake 2-9.

PUNT RETURNS—Washington, S.Sims 2-16, Stroman 1-1. Arizona, Kirk 1-4, Isabella 1-1.

KICKOFF RETURNS—Washington, S.Sims 3-42. Arizona, Edmonds 1-0.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS—Washington, Pierre-Louis 10-5-0, Moreland 6-0-0, Bostic 5-2-1, Collins 5-0-1, Apke 5-0-0, Young 4-0-1, J.Allen 4-0-0, Darby 3-0-0, Ioannidis 3-0-0, Curl 2-0-0, Hamilton 2-0-0, Settle 2-0-0, Moreau 1-1-0, Sweat 1-0-0, Smith-Williams 0-1-0. Arizona, Campbell 8-2-0, Hicks 8-2-0, Banjo 6-3-0, Baker 4-1-0, Kennard 3-0-1, Peters 2-1-1, Reddick 2-0-1, Allen 2-0-0, Kirkpatrick 2-0-0, Phillips 1-0-1, Murphy 1-0-0, P.Peterson 1-0-0.

INTERCEPTIONS—Washington, Collins 1-1. Arizona, None.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.