Cardinals pull out bag of tricks to set up TD vs. Colts
Dec 25, 2021, 8:26 PM | Updated: 11:55 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Antoine Wesley pulls in a touchdown pass as Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, rear, defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Trailing 12-6 at halftime against the Indianapolis Colts, the Arizona Cardinals needed a spark to get some momentum going.
After forcing the Colts to punt on their opening drive of the second half, the Cardinals created just that thanks to their special teams unit.
With Christian Kirk back deep to field the punt, he drifted to his left trying to track the ball where the Colts followed suit.
To Indianapolis’ surprise, the punt landed in the hands of Byron Murphy Jr. on the other side of the field, who then did the rest.
Trick or Treat on Christmas! pic.twitter.com/DRoQLAA5JS
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 26, 2021
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The Cardinals started their ensuing drive with some more trickery, as head coach Kliff Kingsbury dialed up a pass to quarterback Kyler Murray on a throw back from Kirk.
The trickery set up the Cardinals for the go-ahead score, as Murray dropped a dime to receiver Antoine Wesley for the 24-yard score.
Defensively, the Cardinals stepped up on the Colts’ next offensive drive, forcing a turnover on downs from the Cardinals’ side of the field.
Arizona couldn’t hold onto the momentum, as the Colts would storm back to score a touchdown the following drive.
The Cardinals fell to the Colts, 22-16.
However, a Vikings, Saints or Eagles loss in Week 16 would clinch Arizona’s first playoff berth since 2015 — snapping the second-longest postseason drought in the NFL.
