Cardinals strike fast vs. Bills behind heavy dose of James Conner
Sep 8, 2024, 10:33 AM | Updated: 11:33 am
Running back James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up before the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Bengals defeated the Cardinals 34-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals wasted little time in their season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, putting up 10 unanswered points in just over a quarter of action.
After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Cardinals set the tone early on in the drive behind playmaking running back James Conner.
Conner did it both through the air and on the ground, getting the first six touches of the drive.
That included a pair of catches, one going for 22 yards on a second-and-seven look.
RELATED STORIES
The drive nearly came to an end, though, with quarterback Kyler Murray unable to pick up a first down on third and 13. But a Buffalo roughing the passer call gave the Cardinals a new set of downs that they would not take for granted.
Going Conner’s way once more for a five-yard run before taking a sack, Murray capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Wilson.
FIRST ONE OF THE SEASON GOES TO @mikewilllyy!! pic.twitter.com/cmVZyuNJ3i
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 8, 2024
Arizona’s first drive of the year went 70 yards in 13 plays for the score and took 7:13 off the clock.
Aside from Conner and Wilson, Greg Dortch also came down with a catch in the opening possession.
Arizona’s defense picked up where the offense left off, with Roy Lopez strip-sacking Josh Allen four plays into Buffalo’s opening drive. Cardinals newcomer Justin Jones recovered the rock.
The offense couldn’t find pay dirt for a second straight time, but did see a Matt Prater 29-yard field goal go through the uprights.
The Cardinals wouldn’t be held out of the end zone for long, though, ripping off another 13-play scoring drive that spanned 71 yards and 7:07. And while he didn’t see nearly as many touches, Conner made the most of the one he got, turning it into a three-yard TD.
Before Sunday, Arizona hadn’t scored on each of its first three offensive possessions of a season since 2006 against the San Francisco 49ers.
