Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins lead Cardinals to 4th-quarter comeback
Sep 13, 2020, 4:29 PM | Updated: Sep 14, 2020, 11:18 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
The Arizona Cardinals knocked off the reigning NFC Champions in their 2020 season opener.
Behind a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and late defensive stops by Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy, Arizona beat the San Francisco 49ers 24-20.
In the fourth quarter, Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray scored a 22-yard rushing touchdown and receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a 33-yard reception that set up a one-yard touchdown by Kenyan Drake to give the Cardinals the lead.
It took a single game for Hopkins to provide a talent that Arizona has been missing in recent years. The possession receiver is crafty and agile with the ball, able to slip through defenders and put on bursts of speed.
“I said it to friends, to family, to coaches, he just has that feel,” Murray said of Hopkins. “He’s obviously had a great career up until this point, he’s been great in college. He’s always been great and there’s a reason for that. He’s got a knack for being open and even when he’s not open he can catch anything.”
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On 16 targets, he had a career-high 14 receptions for 151 yards. Five of his receptions came on the two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.
“I knew we had something special from the day I walked into this building,” Hopkins said after the game. “Just seeing the work and how Kyler and this team worked. I’ve been around a lot of great people and honestly Kyler works like it’s his last day on this earth.”
Murray finished 26-for-40 with 230 yards, two total touchdowns and an interception. He rushed for 90 yards on 13 carries.
The 49ers got the ball back with five minute to go, so the Cardinals’ defensive needed to follow up that offensive effort.
San Francisco rolled down the field quickly, but in the red zone, Arizona stood firm.
Peterson had an excellent pass break-up in the end zone, and Byron Murphy knocked away two passes, one of which gave the ball back to the offense with 33 seconds to go, ultimately clinching the game.
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