Cardinals QB Kyler Murray tosses 3 touchdown passes in Pro Bowl
Feb 6, 2022, 4:21 PM | Updated: 5:39 pm
Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals looks to throw the ball in the first quarter of the game against the AFC during the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on February 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NFL season might be over for 30 of the 32 teams, but that doesn’t mean Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray wasn’t playing football on Sunday.
The 2022 Pro Bowl took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas this year, and Murray and Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries got the start on offense for the NFC.
With 11 minutes to go in the second quarter and the NFC trailing the AFC 22-13, Murray used his legs to evade the “pressure” and tossed a 19-yard TD pass to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
.@MikeEvans13_ MOSSED HIM.@RandyMoss | @Buccaneers
📺: #ProBowl on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/Nmf6WcClQ3 pic.twitter.com/szJ8d6sxro— NFL (@NFL) February 6, 2022
Murray hit Dallas Cowboys wideout and former Oklahoma Sooners teammate CeeDee Lamb in the end zone on the two-point conversion to bring the NFC’s deficit to just one at 22-21.
Just like old times.@k1 ➡️ @_CeeDeeThree pic.twitter.com/tfEzs3zgbt
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 6, 2022
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The aforementioned “pressure” refers to the fact that there is no tackling or sacking of the quarterback allowed in the Pro Bowl, as nobody wants to sustain an injury in a meaningless All-Star exhibition game.
For those that are fans of the modern-day NFL with high-powered, high-scoring offensives, this Pro Bowl has probably made you sick to your stomach.
That’s because there were a total of eight turnovers (five interceptions, three fumbles), seven of which took place in the first half and led to three defensive touchdowns. And unfortunately for Murray and Co., the Cardinals QB may have set the trend for the game, as he threw a pick-six on just the sixth snap of the ballgame.
But Murray bounced back in the fourth quarter, leading the NFC on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown pass to Atlanta Falcons rookie tight end Kyle Pitts to cut the AFC’s lead to 41-28.
Something about the name 🤷♂️
Kyler to Kyle for 6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/pznRS9jpnC
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 6, 2022
The Cardinals QB brought his team back within one score with under three minutes to go in the game on a five-yard pitch and catch to Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.
Something about the name 🤷♂️
Kyler to Kyle for 6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/pznRS9jpnC
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 6, 2022
Murray finished the day — a 41-35 AFC win — with 160 yards, three touchdown passes and one INT on 18-for-27 (67%) passing, one of which was to teammate James Conner. The Cardinals running back finished with three rushing yards on three carries and two receptions for 13 yards, while linebacker Chandler Jones registered one pass defensed.
However, it was also blatantly obvious on the day that some players were trying harder than others. Just take a look at what Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt thinks about the contest:
I’ve seen walk-thrus more intense than this 😂#ProBowl
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 6, 2022
But that’s not to say that guys weren’t having fun out there, especially Cardinals safety Budda Baker after he was carted off the field in Arizona’s Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 17.
Who has moves better than @buddabaker32? pic.twitter.com/xjBaAtcuhj
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 6, 2022
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