Cardinals’ Kingsbury: Kyler Murray portraying MVP-like tendencies
Nov 16, 2020, 5:13 PM | Updated: 5:31 pm
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs for a first down against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury isn’t one to get into the MVP discussion when there are games still be played.
But after Sunday’s 32-30 come-from-behind win over the Buffalo Bills, the head coach provided his two cents when it comes to quarterback Kyler Murray in said talks while on with Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta.
“Yeah I think so,” Kingsbury said when asked if Murray should be considered in the MVP race Monday. “If I had my way for the next 10 years, him and Patrick Mahomes would just share the MVP. Just be done with it.
“Each week he’s given us a chance to win with his play, whether it’s running the football, throwing the football, leading. That’s what MVPs do in this league. Anybody that has watched us has seen what he’s been doing or how he’s been making plays. It’s been fun to be around.”
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It’s not hard to see where Kingsbury’s coming from after Murray’s late-game heroics in Week 10.
Down four with 11 seconds left, Murray and the Cardinals needed 43 yards to pay dirt. With the pass rush bearing down, Murray scrambled out to his left, avoiding a Bills defender in the process. With nowhere else to run, Murray heaved the rock downfield. Waiting on the other end was the massive mitts of DeAndre Hopkins, who outmaneuvered three Bills on his way to securing the bomb for the go-ahead score.
The dagger marked Murray’s fourth fourth-quarter comeback and fifth game-winning drive of his career.
“Just a phenomenal play, not many people on this planet can first escape like he did and then kinda be able to stop his body and get that ball up and put that type of loft and accuracy on it and drop it down in there. It was just an incredible play that very few people can make and he found a way to get it done.”
It capped off yet another impressive showing from the second-year signal-caller, who finished with 245 yards passing to go along with the touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 61 yards and two more scores.
With Week 10 in the books, Murray’s completed 212 of his 311 pass attempts (68.2%) for 2,375 yards and 17 touchdowns in nine games played.
It’s been his running game, though, that’s set the QB apart from the rest, with Murray adding another 604 yards and a team-leading 10 scores on the ground. He trails only Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (12) in rushing touchdowns this season.
He’ll look to stay in MVP form when the Cardinals travel to Seattle on a short week to take on the Seahawks.
