The Arizona Cardinals offensive unit didn’t miss a beat with Colt McCoy taking over for an injured Kyler Murray in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers.
For the better part of last week, fans of the Arizona Cardinals spent most of their time worrying about the Week 9 availability of their star quarterback. Kyler Murray had injured his ankle during a heartbreaking loss to the Green Bay Packers, and he was in danger of missing the team’s divisional rematch with the San Francisco 49ers.
As things turned out, the concerns of those who follow the Cards were completely unwarranted. Arizona believed that veteran Colt McCoy could lead the squad past the 49ers, and the backup signal-caller managed to come through for the franchise in a big way.
An outstanding game plan by head coach Kliff Kingsbury, combined with some clutch performances by a host of Cardinals, resulted in an impressive 31-17 victory over San Francisco. It was a triumph that wouldn’t have been possible, however, without the steady play and leadership of the 35-year-old McCoy.
Arizona Cardinals record eighth win with Colt McCoy leading the offense
McCoy led the Redbirds to their first score of the day in the opening quarter, following a fumble by 49ers tight end George Kittle. The 6-foot-1, 212-pounder completed three consecutive passes during a nine-play, 57-yard drive that was capped off by a 13-yard touchdown scamper by running back James Conner.
On the Cards’ next possession, McCoy completed four more of his throws during an eight-play, 80-yard jaunt to paydirt. A 21-yard screen to Conner on a 3rd down and 18 kept the drive alive, and a short toss to wideout Christian Kirk on the very next play went for 17 yards. A one-yard scoring plunge by Conner put Arizona up by a score of 14-0 with 39 seconds left in the first quarter.
One possession later, the Cardinals added to their lead when they went 85 yards in 14 plays, culminating in a 26-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The big play on the drive was a picture-perfect bomb down the middle of the field from McCoy to Kirk that was good for 50 yards.
Three plays into the second half, the Cards (and Conner) struck again. The 26-year-old ball-carrier took a short pass from McCoy and turned it into an electrifying 45-yard score that gave “Big Red” a 24-7 third-quarter advantage.
Just minutes later, Arizona recorded their final touchdown of the contest when second-year pro Eno Benjamin scored his first NFL touchdown from 21 yards out. McCoy completed four short passes on the offense’s last scoring march of the day.
It was one heck of a performance by McCoy, the 12th-year professional out of the University of Texas. It’s sure nice to know that the Cardinals are capable of winning football games, whether Murray is available or not.