When a tie feels like a win. That should be the answer the Arizona Cardinals are giving this week when asked if it is alright to tie a game.
The Cardinals for three quarters had no business making this a game in the fourth quarter. Down 24-6 at one point, it suddenly clicked for rookie quarterback Kyler Murray and rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Murray, who couldn’t get his team past the 50-yard marker in the first half and struggled through the air, went 15-19 for 154-yards and 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. For the day he went 29-54 for 308-yards. He threw one interception.
He is the first rookie quarterback to not lose in his debut since David Carr in 2002. Sure he’d rather have won but it beats the alternative.
Now the Cardinals head east on Sunday to face the Baltimore Ravens. This should be a very good test to see where the team is now. Hopefully it doesn’t get ugly.