Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. searching for consistency after big Week 8

TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. broke out of his midseason lull in a big way during his team’s 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Reeling in six of seven targets for 111 yards and a touchdown, the South Beach showcase fit right in line with what Harrison — and just about everyone else — envisioned his NFL Sundays looking like.

The focus isn’t solely on the stats, but how he achieved them, with Harrison absolutely taking over late in the victory.

Before Sunday, that really hadn’t been the case.

Harrison deserves all the flowers for his impact on the game. Now, he’s got to prove he can follow it up with a similar performance against the Chicago Bears.

Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. had himself a game last week.

Now, it’s about stacking those kind of performances on a consistent basis. #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/ahDatjv1ca

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 30, 2024

“I feel good, but I think in this league everyone has to show flashes at some point,” Harrison said Wednesday. “The best players do it week in and week out and show consistency.

“That’s kind of where I’m at right now. I have a lot of confidence in my abilities and what I can do, but at this point it comes down to being consistent every week.”

The NFL is all about stacking days, and through much of 2024, that really hasn’t been the case for Harrison.

Before Sunday’s game, Harrison had surpassed the 100-yard mark just one other time (Week 2) in 2024.

And although he recorded four touchdowns in a three-game span earlier in the year, Harrison had been held out of the end zone for three straight weeks.

But as head coach Jonathan Gannon likes to reference, that’s in the past. He, quarterback Kyler Murray and the rest of the Cardinals are excited for what’s ahead for the young pass catcher, especially having a steppingstone like Sunday’s performance.

“I feel like that was a big game for him just confidence-wise,” Murray said Wednesday. “Seeing (Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey) on the other side. A good defense, one of the best defenses in the league, statistically.

“For him to be able to go out there and have that type of game as a rookie is very big. Those games are huge for a rookie. I think the sky’s the limit for him. To have a game like that and to be able to build upon that is huge.”

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s next chance at stacking games

Getting a similar game out of Harrison would be huge against a Bears team that is allowing the fewest touchdowns and 12th fewest yards (219.7 yards per game) to receivers in 2024. It’s also top 10 in fumbles forced (five) against receivers.

That’s not to say Chicago isn’t susceptible to getting burned by opposing wideouts. Just last week, Washington’s Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown combined for 198 yards and a score.

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