Cardinals’ James Conner punches in team’s first TD of season vs. Chiefs

The Arizona Cardinals got off to a rough start to open Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, falling behind 23-7 at the end of the first half.

Quarterback Kyler Murray and running back James Conner had a response on the team’s second series of the game, running an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a 2-yard Conner rushing touchdown.

Nose for the endzone.@JamesConner_ x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/xXJF2WY6oc

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 11, 2022

With the score, Conner continued his dominance as a goal-line dynamo from last season. He finished with 15 rushing and two receiving touchdowns in 15 games in 2021.

The score was Arizona’s first of the season and came at a much-needed time as Kansas City ran 18 plays to the Cardinals’ three before the scoring drive.

Murray finished the half 9-of-15 for 88 yards and no scores. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was a stellar 21-for-28 and 223 yards and three scores in the air.

The Arizona defense showed little resistance to stop the Chiefs in the first half, surrendering 318 total yards.

Kansas City also scored on all three of its first possessions, holding 18:59 time of possession in the first half. Arizona forced its first punt of the game on the Chiefs’ fourth offensive possession with 3:03 remaining in the half.

The Chiefs recorded 19 first downs to the Cardinals’ seven. Kansas City is also 3-for-5 on third and fourth down conversions to Arizona’s 1-for-6.

Arizona is set to receive in the second half. Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.