The play call was meant to be a straightforward run, aiming for about 5 or 6 yards as the Arizona Cardinals set up for a possible long field goal at the end of the first half. Emari Demercado had other plans.
The third-string running back sped off for a game-changing 53-yard touchdown, and James Conner added 107 rushing yards as the Cardinals delivered a strong 29-9 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
“That was a huge swing for us, him ripping off a 50-plus touchdown run right before halftime,” Conner said. “He’s so smooth and fluid with it. That’s one of his plays. He just put his foot down.”
With this victory, the Cardinals (5-4) have now won three games in a row for the first time in three seasons.
It was another tough loss for the Bears (4-4), who have now lost two straight games. They fell to Washington 18-15 last week on a last-second play and were hurt again as the clock was winding down against the Cardinals, this time at the end of the first half.
Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked six times, completing 22 of 41 passes for 217 yards. The Bears managed only 241 total yards. Williams left the field late in the game with an ankle injury, but both coach Matt Eberflus and the quarterback didn’t think it was serious.
Demercado’s surprising touchdown with just four seconds left gave Arizona a 21-9 lead at halftime. The Cardinals started their drive with 26 seconds to go after a Chicago field goal.
Kyler Murray made a few short passes before Demercado cut through the defense and sprinted down the right sideline for the touchdown, changing a close game into a much more comfortable lead.
Eberflus took responsibility for Demercado’s touchdown, explaining that he called a pass defense that put his players in a tough spot to make the stop.
“It’s just not good enough,” Eberflus said. “Not good enough by the players and coaches, the staff. Everyone’s involved.”
Demercado’s run was one of two major mistakes for Chicago’s defense late in the second quarter. The Cardinals were only ahead 7-6 with 3:40 left in the half and seemed ready to settle for a field goal when Chicago’s Gervon Dexter Sr. was penalized for trying to jump over a defender to block the kick.
This penalty gave Arizona a new set of downs, and they took advantage with Trey Benson’s 1-yard touchdown run just three plays later.
The Cardinals controlled the second half, increasing their lead to 27-9 with two field goals from Chad Ryland, including one from 55 yards. Arizona linebacker Zaven Collins recorded two of the team’s six sacks.
Murray completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards. “I’m not too worried about being over .500 or being 5-4,” Murray said. “I’m just focused on the next day and the next game. Today was good. We got a win. We’ve got to go do it again.”
Arizona took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when tight end Trey McBride ran for a 2-yard touchdown. Chicago’s Cairo Santos kicked three field goals in the first half, two of them from 53 yards. Rome Odunze caught five passes for 104 yards.
However, the Bears did not score in the second half and failed to reach the end zone all game.
“Expectations of myself are always going to be high, and they’re still high,” Williams said. “We still have nine games. We’ve just got to figure out the next step, how to get a win next week. This game’s over, can’t change it, but we can definitely change the future.”
Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was not in the starting lineup after a mistake he made last week, but he played for most of the game.
Stevenson apologized after turning his back and gesturing to the crowd with 2 seconds left when the Commanders snapped the ball for a Hail Mary that led to their 18-15 win last Sunday.
