Kyler Murray’s historic pace through 2 weeks: By the numbers
Sep 22, 2020, 8:56 AM | Updated: 8:58 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs for a touchdown as Washington Football Team free safety Troy Apke (30) misses the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
With what Kyler Murray is doing running the football, the Arizona Cardinals second-year quarterback is headed into rather uncharted territory.
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft makes his way into the MVP conversation, he’s bringing with him some impressive numbers two weeks in.
Here’s a look at some records to keep an eye on and his historic pace, by the numbers.
All statistics via Pro-Football-Reference
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500 & 150
Murray is the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to pass for more than 500 yards and rush for over 150 through the first two games of a season. He currently has 516 passing yards and 158 rushing yards.
14
The 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year is also the only quarterback in history to rush for two touchdowns of 14 yards or longer in consecutive weeks. Murray had a 22-yard score against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and followed that up with a 14-yard rushing touchdown and a 21-yard score on the ground in Week 2 over the Washington Football Team. He also accomplished that feat last year with a 15- and 22-yard rushing touchdown in back-to-back weeks.
3
Murray has three rushing touchdowns and 158 yards on the ground. At least three scores on the ground and 150 rushing yards through the first two games have never been done by an NFL quarterback prior to Murray this year.
7.5
Murray leads the league in yards per carry at 7.5.
1,206
The record for most rushing yards by a quarterback is 1,206, set by last year’s MVP Lamar Jackson. Murray through two games is on pace for 1,264.
544
Murray already has the franchise record for the most yards rushing by a Cardinals quarterback, with 544 as a rookie, a number he will surely top in 2020.
8
A season with double-digit rushing touchdowns has only been done eight times by a quarterback. Cam Newton has achieved it twice, and has the all-time record of 14 he set in 2011.
4,000
To transition into more dual-threat records, Murray is on pace for over 4,000 yards passing. That many passing yards with at least 500 rushing yards has happened just three times, and all recently, with Newton (2011), Russell Wilson (2015) and Deshaun Watson (2018).
10
That 4,000-yard threshold would mean a lot on its own, as only 10 quarterbacks have ever reached it in the second year of their career. The record, by the way, is pretty unattainable, at 5,097 yards set by Patrick Mahomes in 2018.
