Arizona Cardinals make great fourth quarter comeback to tie Lions

The Arizona Cardinals tied the Detroit Lions but almost fees more like victory

What just happened?  Getting ready to write this one off down 24-6 in the fourth quarter, the Arizona Cardinals finally showed some life on both sides of the ball and found a way not to lose the season opener.

The Cardinals looked lifeless and confused on both sides of the ball in the first half.  They went to halftime down 17-3.  The third quarter wasn’t much better.  However did things change in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Kyler Murray finally found a rhythm on offense.  After struggling for two plus quarters, he found a way to throw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

He threw an early interception but you still couldn’t tell how he felt.  He and most of the team didn’t show much emotion.  However they showed plenty in the fourth quarter.  They didn’t give up.

After kicking a third field goal, the Cardinals were down 24-9.  Then got the ball back and Murray threw his first touchdown of the season to running back David Johnson.  Score was 24-16 all of a sudden.

Then Detroit started falling apart.  Poor time management, calling a timeout on a play Detroit had a wide open screen pass for a first down and more.  However it was erased and they failed to convert on the next play.

Then the Cardinals took the ball down the field and and Murray looked calm and comfortable throwing a touchdown to receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who came up as big as he ever has.  Fitz caught eight passes for 113-yards in addition to the touchdown.

But the Cardinals still had work to do.  Murray hit receiver Christian Kirk for a two-point conversion.  It was a great play call and conversion.

The game went to overtime at 24-24.  Both teams traded field goals, but the Cardinals had a chance to finish it with first and goal on their first overtime drive.  They fell short.

It looked like the Lions would drive right down and score a touchdown but the defense clamped down inside the Cardinals 20 and forced a Matt Prater field goal. Still, one more chance for the Cardinals.

They stalled on their last drive at the Detroit 47-yard line.  The Cardinals couldn’t afford to take a chance there that close to mid-field and punted the ball.  They pinned the Lions offense deep inside their own territory.

Not enough time left on the clock to help Matthew Stafford produce any kind of drive.  He threw the ball away as time expired. For the Cardinals, this had to feel like a win and certainly had to feel like a loss for the Lions.