Rapid Reactions: Cardinals post comeback win vs. Dolphins

The Arizona Cardinals knocked off the Miami Dolphins, 28-27, on a game-winning Chad Ryland field goal on Sunday to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since October 2021.

Here’s how our hosts and editors at Arizona Sports are taking to the Cardinals advancing to 4-4 on the season with a chance to take sole possession of first place in the NFC West.

Vince Marotta, co-host of Bickley & Marotta Mornings: One word. Three letters. Wow.

That’s all I can muster after an improbable 28-27 win for the Cardinals in Miami.

OK, that’s not all I can say. Nobody would want to read that.

This was a sturdy win, especially considering the Arizona defense could not get off the field on third downs — Miami converted 11-of-15 in the game. But the last one, a 3rd-and-9 at the Cardinals’ 47 was thwarted by a well-timed blitz of Tua Tagovailoa that forced an incomplete pass to Devon Achane. That necessitated only the second Dolphins punt of the game, effectively handing Kyler Murray to be the hero, and the sixth-year quarterback looked very comfortable in filling that role.

On a 3rd and 4 at the Miami 27, Murray patiently waited for a gap and exploded for a 7-yard run that moved the chains and forced Miami to use their timeouts. And when you’ve got Chad “Walkoff” Ryland at kicker — a game winner is a given.

But Murray’s performance came down to more than that play. He once again played turnover-free football, but more importantly, got the Cardinals’ dormant passing game going against one of the best pass defenses in the league. We had to wait until Week 8, but Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. were clicking. Harrison was outstanding in this game. He had a beautiful diving touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone on a route were he ran all the way across the field and beat Jalen Ramsey. He had another diving catch on a huge third down in the fourth quarter that was initially ruled incomplete, but Jonathan Gannon challenged it and replays showed it was a completion. Five plays later, James Conner crashed into the end zone from two yards out to cut the Miami lead to two.

Harrison also made several contested catches in the game — something that hadn’t happened with any consistency all season long.

Trey McBride continues his ascension to star-level with 9 catches for 124 yards.

Most importantly, the Cardinals have FINALLY won two straight games for the first time under Jonathan Gannon, and the first time since December 2021. And they’re 4-4 through eight games.

With the deficiencies on defense (and a growing injury list) it will be hard to continue this run, but seeing the Cardinals offense play to its potential for the first time in a while was very, very encouraging.

Dave Burns, co-host of Burns & Gambo:
This win is the model and the vision so many Cardinals fans had of their team this year: Be elite offensively behind a good and still-improving quarterback, a bruising running back, an instantly elite wide receiver and a rapidly ascending tight end. Don’t just lean on that unit; you must demand their greatness to overcompensate for a defense that has more construction zones than our valley freeways. It is the only path, and on Sunday, the Cardinals walked it.

Kyler Murray – and not just because he threw for over 300 yards for the first time in two years – had another one of those games where you can see the no-doubt franchise quarterback. Getting there has never been a problem for Kyler. Staying there has. The Kyler/Marvin Harrison Jr. punch finally landed and it was a bell ringer. Harrison and Trey McBride were the duo we have all been dreaming of. The offensive line has survived their injuries to keep Kyler clean. And Chad Ryland is the in-season acquisition that hopefully convinces Monti Ossenfort he should go make another one to help out his defense.

Because the defense could use it. Of course, there are always individual standout plays and players (looking at you Budda) but anytime you give up 11 of 15 on third downs you’re asking for it. They got that one stop when they needed it most on a send-the-house blitz and the Cardinals offense took that gift and made the most of it. Ossenfort needs to get ambitious; a mid-season acquisition via a trade won’t dramatically change the equation but it will help. Halfway home on the 2024 season this team has shown they’re worth it. But even if Ossenfort does the blueprint is unchanged. The burden of proof will fall on Murray, Harrison, Conner and Drew Petzing to be great. It’s the only way.

John Gambadoro, co-host of Burns & Gambo: What a gut check win for the Cardinals.

Kyler Murray finally threw for 300 yards (307 to be exact) with all but 79 of them coming in the second half. When the Cardinals absolutely had to have plays, Kyler delivered. This was Kyler at his best in the second half.

The pass to McBride for 37 yards that set up the field goal that made it 13-10. The 3rd and 6 to Dortch for 8 yards followed by a beautiful 22-yard TD strike to Marvin Harrison Jr. that made it 20-18. The 3rd and 4 pass on a huge blitz by Miami that he perfectly laid up for Harrison Jr. for 16 yards which set up the touchdown that brought Arizona within 27-25.

Then after a huge stop by the defense, Kyler took over at his own 11-yard line with 5:01 left and brought them down the field for the game winning field goal. After a holding penalty put them in a first and 20, he hit MHJ for 17 yards. On the drive, he ran for a first down on a 3rd and 4 in which he again found a way to make players miss – Marcus Maye especially.

This was the special Kyler Murray we expect to see. This win may very well put the Cardinals in first place. It certainly ended the Dolphins season. With Tua back, Miami had to have this win. But now they are 2-5 and there is no coming back from that. For Arizona we are looking at playing meaningful football games in the second half of the season!

Kellan Olson, co-host of Arizona Sports at Night:  That was the Kyler Murray game a lot of us have been waiting for. The Cardinals’ passing attack carried them to a win today. The defense was mostly bad, and while the running game was able to pick up a few key runs, it was not the backbone of the offense. Murray was terrific all game, finding a brilliant rhythm between short, intermediate and deep throws. The mix of that and his usual stellar work improvising and running was a treat to watch.

The potential of having a wideout-tight end duo like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride finally came to fruition eight games in. Both reached the 100-yard mark, the first time Arizona has had a duo do that in over three years. Harrison at long last appeared to find a rhythm and made some outstanding individual catches, looking the part of a top-five pick. McBride has been rolling for the last couple of weeks and can undoubtedly be cemented as one of the best tight ends in football.

Murray had a relatively clean pocket to work with most of the afternoon, including some key completions when he had all day to throw. The offensive line continues to be the unsung hero of this team and it’s hard to believe how well it keeps playing despite the starters on the right side being out.

This was the first time since Week 2 of 2022 that a high-level Murray performance carried the Cardinals to a win. Those were his late heroics in Las Vegas against the Raiders, and if you want a more complete effort as opposed to a second half flurry, you have to go back to 2021. Murray is more than capable of doing this a couple of times a year, a.k.a. establishing himself as a bonafide top-10 quarterback. We’ll see if he can do more of it this year, because this football team will need it.

Tyler Drake, Cardinals reporter and co-host of the Cardinals Corner podcast: 

Well, well, well.

After failing to stack wins since 2021, the Cardinals got it done in a big way against the Dolphins. Despite a rough first half, Arizona dug in behind quarterback Kyler Murray, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride.

You know why the Cardinals managed to pull this one out? Because they finally utilized Marvin Harrison Jr. in the second half! The No. 4 overall pick lived up to his price tag for a second time this year with a touchdown and 111 yards on six catches.

Earlier in the week, Harrison said his NFL start hadn’t been what he envisioned. I’m sure Sunday’s performance fits that mold.

As for McBride, he celebrated National Tight Ends Day in style behind nine catches for 124 yards. He continues to be the most consistent pass catcher Arizona has and continues to build his relationship with Murray.

There’s still plenty to clean up even with the win. Among the biggest is the continued deficiencies on third down that still plagued the Cardinals on both sides of the football throughout most of the matchup.

All eyes now turn to Seattle’s matchup with Buffalo. A Seahawks loss puts the Cardinals squarely in first place out west. Exciting times!

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