Patrick Peterson crossed up by DeAndre Hopkins for Cardinals’ 1st TD

Sep 19, 2021, 1:50 PM | Updated: 5:02 pm

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Minnesota Vikings with wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

An extra bit of attention was always going to be on Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson in his first game in Arizona since leaving the Cardinals.

But from a strict perspective on just the game, if there was anyone to spotlight defensively on the Cardinals’ first touchdown of the afternoon on Sunday against Minnesota, it was Peterson.

On 3rd-and-10 from the Vikings’ 15-yard line in the red zone, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn’t have any initial options when he looked downfield.

From there, Murray improvised, looking to scramble right before turning around and heading left.

That is the side of the field where Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins was being covered by Peterson, and as Murray spun out to go left, so did Hopkins.

That crossed up Peterson, who looked like he was ready for Hopkins to keep heading toward the center of the end zone.

Instead, Hopkins went toward the pylon, and Murray found him wide open for the touchdown.

That K1 to Nuk connection 🔥@K1 x @DeAndreHopkins pic.twitter.com/80OelN4AM1

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 19, 2021

The dots tell the tale of Peterson losing track of the one guy not to lose track of in the Cardinals passing game.

Murray to Hopkins dots! Love seeing Murray spin out of the pocket.

(NFL Next Gen Stats) pic.twitter.com/Tlujk76sN8

— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) September 19, 2021