Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins scores 1st opening quarter touchdown of season

The Arizona Cardinals got the first-quarter monkey off their back with a 22-yard strike to wideout DeAndre Hopkins vs. the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Arizona had struggled mightily in the first quarters of games through eight weeks, getting outscored 58-9 in the opening period.

After Seattle hit a field goal on the opening drive of the contest, the Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray orchestrated a masterful drive of their own.

Murray went a perfect 5 of 5 for 49 yards and 21 yards rushing, including a third-and-five run for 21 yards. The drive was capped off by the play to Hopkins where he got matched up with a linebacker on a crossing route over the middle.

That @K1 to @DeAndreHopkins connection 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lwtb8npIXB

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 6, 2022

Hopkins added to his 22 catches for 262 yards and one touchdown grab in the previous two weeks. But he closed with four catches and 36 yards and the score in the 31-21 loss to the Seahawks.

The Cardinals also got out to a hot start on the opening drive in the Week 6 game in Seattle when they drove 76 yards but settled for a field goal on the five-yard line and did not score an offensive touchdown in the game.

A big part of Arizona’s success on Sunday’s drive was going 2-for-2 on third down with Murray’s run and the touchdown grab.

The Cardinals trail the Seahawks after the first quarter up 10-7.

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