Cardinals earn red zone touchdown on Kliff Kingsbury’s fourth down call

Oct 6, 2019, 10:50 AM | Updated: 8:30 pm

CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 06: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals dives into the end zone to score a touchdown during the first quarter of the NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)

(Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)

BY TOM KUEBEL

Arizona Sports

Red zone scoring was a problem that general manager Steve Keim told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Doug & Wolf needed to be solved.

In the Arizona Cardinals’ second drive of the game, they solved the problem.

Showing off the wheels 💨@K1‘s second rushing TD in two games. pic.twitter.com/XmAEutsdqb

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 6, 2019

It took a fourth-down gamble by head coach Kliff Kingsbury who sent rookie quarterback Kyler Murray on a naked bootleg around the left end, but they found it.

It took the 5-foot-10 Murray a tough finish, dragging a tackler at the end of the run, to earn the touchdown.

The Cardinals came into the game ranked No. 30 in red zone touchdown scoring, converting for six points on just 35.71% of their trips this season, according to teamrankings.com.

Arizona crossed the goal line on a fourth-and-two from the six yard line on the play.

It capped off a nine-play, 68-yard drive and produced a big sigh of relief for head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

The plunge gave the Cardinals a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is stopped mid-air on a running play in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback B.W. Webb (23) breaks up a pass to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, above, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) celebrates his field goal kick with offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (74) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback B.W. Webb (23) breaks up a pass to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (29) scores a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (29) runs for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback B.W. Webb (23) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Auden Tate (19) catches a touchdown pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) catches a pass before running in a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) runs in a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) boots the winning field goal in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) meets with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, left, after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) celebrates after making the winning field goal in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Trent Sherfield, left, is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Nick Vigil (59) and cornerback William Jackson (22) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (29) runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Alex Erickson (12) lies on the field with an apparent injury in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, speaks with quarterback Kyler Murray, left, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, left, speaks with head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray looks to throw in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor works the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) leaps in for a touchdown against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback William Jackson (22) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) boots an extra point alongside placeholder Andy Lee (4) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs the ball past Arizona Cardinals linebacker Brooks Reed (50) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) hands the ball to running back Joe Mixon (28) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) takes a knee on a running play against Arizona Cardinals linebacker Brooks Reed (50) and defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Randy Bullock (4) boots a field goal alongside punter Kevin Huber (10) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes to running back David Johnson (31) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

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