Kyler Murray shines for Cardinals in season-opener vs. Titans

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was magnificent during his team’s opening-day victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Fans of the Arizona Cardinals got a very limited look at quarterback Kyler Murray during this year’s preseason. Turns out, the lack of summertime playing time didn’t hurt the first-overall pick of the 2019 draft in the least.

Murray showed how unimportant the NFL’s exhibition contests are by making mincemeat out of the Tennessee Titans defense during Arizona‘s regular-season opener.

The 5-foot-10, 207-pound Murray accounted for five total touchdowns (4 passing,1 rushing) during the Cards’ 38-13 Week 1 triumph. It may be too early to say for sure, but the 24-year-old could very well be named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week for what he accomplished on Sunday.

Outstanding performance from Kyler Murray lifts Arizona Cardinals to victory

An absolutely incredible play by Murray got the Cardinals off to a sizzling start halfway through the first quarter. Facing a third down and goal from the Tennessee five-yard line, the mobile passer scrambled out of the pocket and found wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins at the back of the end zone for a score. The spectacular touchdown increased Arizona’s lead to 10-0 with 8:11 to go in the first quarter.

A couple of possessions later, Murray and Hopkins hooked up once again. Staring at a second down and five at the Titans’ 17-yard line, the Redbirds’ signal-caller found his number-one target for another score. The squad now led 17-0, and were well on their way to an impressive opening weekend win.

On the very next possession, Murray registered another Cards touchdown, this time with his legs. A pretty run to the right pylon on a second down and goal put “Big Red” up by a score of 24-6 with 1:44 left until halftime.  A beautiful play-fake froze the Tennessee defenders, giving Murray more than enough time to find his way into the end zone.

Murray topped off his remarkable day with two scoring strikes to wideout Christian Kirk. The first was a picture-perfect heave off of the Texas native’s back foot in the third quarter that gave the Cardinals a 31-13 advantage. The next one occurred just over seven minutes later when Kirk hauled in a heavily-contested 11-yard touchdown toss from the red-hot Murray.

On the day, Murray completed 21 out of his 32 throws for 289 yards and the four scores through the air. There also was an ill-advised interception by the former Heisman Trophy winner early on in the second half. Murray also scampered five times for 20 yards (including the rushing touchdown) to top off his outstanding performance.

If one were to hand Murray a grade for his clash with the Titans, an A+ would certainly seem suitable. It was an incredible start to the 2021 campaign for Arizona’s dynamic quarterback, and his best may still be yet to come.

(Statistics provided by ESPN.com)