Cardinals QB Kyler Murray sets record for fastest on-run completion
Dec 15, 2021, 11:23 AM
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray looks for running room against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Tracking data in the National Football League is going on just six years old, but Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s record set Monday against the Los Angeles Rams deserves its roses anyway.
Because it’s downright disgusting.
When Murray connected on a 23-yard throw to A.J. Green in a 30-23 loss to Los Angeles, he was traveling at 18.1 mph. That’s the fastest on-the-run throw completed since Next Gen Stats launched in 2016, according to Zebra Technologies’ newsletter.
Kyler Murray… HOW?!
pic.twitter.com/Q3FO9dhrXO— PFF (@PFF) December 14, 2021
Even more ridiculous is that Murray scrambled 40.6 yards before firing the ball mid-sprint to perfectly find Green’s hands — and with a Rams defensive back challenging him on the high-point grab.
Here’s what that looked like from a player tracking viewpoint.
Kyler Murray was running 18.1 MPH at the time of throw on this 23-yard completion to A.J. Green.
That's the fastest on any completion ever tracked by NFL Next Gen Stats (since 2016). pic.twitter.com/UaV2lV28kn
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) December 14, 2021
Murray finished the game going 32-of-49 for 383 yards, plus seven rushes for 61 yards. He did not record a touchdown and suffered four sacks and two interceptions.
It was the first time a player had accumulated 444 passing and rushing yards combined — that is a career-high for Murray — without a score since current Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford posted 445 combined yards in 2012 for the Detroit Lions.
