By the numbers: A look at the Cardinals’ hot 4-0 start to 2021
Oct 4, 2021, 10:08 AM | Updated: 10:20 am
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Four games in and the Arizona Cardinals are yet to see a loss blemish their record.
The Cardinals moved to 4-0 on the year with an impressive 37-20 win over NFC West foe Los Angeles Rams.
The offense was balanced and the defense came up big against one of the top offenses in the NFL.
The Cardinals enter Week 5 as the talk of the town, being the first team to reach four wins this season.
A closer look at the Cardinals nearly a quarter into the season, by the numbers:
1
Entering play Monday, the Cardinals are tops in the NFL in both points (140) and total yards (1,762).
2
Quarterback Kyler Murray is making a serious case for MVP through four games, second behind only Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal caller Tom Brady (1,356) in passing yards with 1,273.
Behind Murray’s arm, Arizona has the fourth-best passing offense.
3
Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy has played lights out this season, recording three interceptions through four contests.
Murphy is the first Cardinal since safety Ken Greene (1980) to record three interceptions over four games. Only Jimmy Burson (1965) and Pat Fischer (1964) had more over that span with four apiece.
4
The Cardinals have turned the ball over four times this season in the form of Murray interceptions.
But after three straight games with a turnover, Arizona played a clean game against Los Angeles.
5
The Arizona Cardinals are just the fifth team in NFL history to record at least 30 points and 400 yards in each of their first four games to start the season.
6
While Murray has shown off his arm, the team’s rushing attack has fared well early on this season.
Through four games, Arizona’s ground game is sixth in the NFL in yards per game with 136.5. The Cardinals are tied for second with the Carolina Panthers in touchdowns with seven, trailing only the Cleveland Browns (9).
7
Murray has spread the wealth around to seven different pass catchers this season, four of which have at least 211 yards and a touchdown.
20
Running back Chase Edmonds, not wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins (17) or A.J. Green (15), leads all Cardinals pass catchers with 20 receptions this year.
Hopkins, however, has found pay dirt three times, while Green leads all Cardinals pass catchers with 248 yards.
76.1%
Murray continues to hit his mark, completing 76.1% (102-of-134) of his throws through four games. He paces the league in that category, ahead of the likes of Dallas’ Dak Prescott (75.2%) and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (72.9%).
He’s the first Cardinals player in team history to record a completion percentage of at least 75% in three consecutive games.
268
Murray has thrown for at least 268 yards in each of the team’s first four games for the first time in his career.
23
Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons paces the team with 23 tackles. He’s also tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (2) with linebacker Chandler Jones.