ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury: We’re hard to beat when we don’t beat ourselves

Jan 3, 2022, 1:21 PM

Winner winner chicken dinner.

For the first time since Week 13, Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury got to give his team a victory speech.

Albeit taking place in a visitor’s locker room yet again, the third-year NFL play-caller took the opportunity to give credit where credit was due in Sunday’s 25-22 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Kingsbury gave a shoutout to safety — and fourth-string QB — Chris Banjo and running back Jonathan Ward for their pass and catch, respectively, on the converted fake punt.

The head coach called the RB’s reception “the best catch I’ve ever seen.”

Kingsbury then turned to his fellow Texas natives in quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Antoine Wesley, who teamed up for a pair of touchdowns on the day in their Lone Star State homecoming.

“I think he’s now 11-0 in Jerry’s World,” the head coach joked.

Actually, Kliff, Murray is now 9-0 (8-0 as a starter) in his football career at AT&T Stadium going back to his sophomore year of high school.

Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons was recognized for his 10 tackles and one forced fumble, while usual right tackle Kelvin Beachum received praise for his fill-in duties at left tackle with starting LT D.J. Humphries on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

“Kelvin Beachum hadn’t played left tackle in like three years, man,” Kingsbury said. “Showed up, blocked his (butt) off, shut them down. Great job.”

But despite snapping a three-game losing streak and picking up the Cardinals’ 11th victory of the season, the head coach hasn’t forgotten what his ultimate goal is and remains focused on keeping his team’s eyes set on that prize.

“When we don’t beat ourselves, we’re hard to beat. Everybody understand that? That’s what we did,” Kingsbury said. “Get back, enjoy this. We get back, we go to work. Alright? We go to work.

“We get hot rolling into the playoffs. That’s what this is about. We get hot rolling in. … Enjoy it. When we get back, it’s on alright? We get back, it’s on.”

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