Tag: Arizona Cardinals

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NFL (American Football)

Arizona Cardinals Enter Critical Offseason Focused on Roster Upgrades and Playoff Push

Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray (NFL)

The Arizona Cardinals had an eventful 2024 season, showing promise early on but ultimately falling short of playoff contention. After briefly leading the NFC West, a late-season slump, including a 1-3 divisional record, exposed the team’s weaknesses. Quarterback Kyler Murray’s strong start gave fans hope, but inconsistencies in the running game and defensive struggles led to a disappointing finish. The Cardinals now face a crucial offseason with a clear goal—strengthening their roster to become true contenders.

Arizona enters the 2025 offseason with the fourth-highest salary cap space in the NFL and a plan to spend wisely. General Manager Monti Ossenfort has emphasized the importance of making strategic acquisitions that benefit both the present and the long-term future. While the team plans to be active in free agency, Ossenfort remains focused on retaining key players and ensuring sustainable success. The front office’s approach will determine whether the Cardinals can take the next step in a competitive NFC West.

Kyler Murray Must Improve His Consistency for Cardinals’ Success in 2025 Season

Murray’s performance was a defining factor in Arizona’s season. His early-season heroics kept the Cardinals in the playoff hunt, but his production declined as the season progressed. In the team’s final seven games, he threw nine touchdowns and eight interceptions, struggling in critical moments. While some blame falls on Murray, Ossenfort insists the entire team must improve. Consistency and execution, especially in close games, remain areas where the Cardinals need growth.

Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (NFL)

Despite the late-season struggles, the Cardinals remain fully committed to Murray as their franchise quarterback. Owner Michael Bidwill praised Murray’s dual-threat ability and stressed that many teams would love to have him. With two years in Drew Petzing’s offensive system, expectations are high for Murray to elevate his game. His dedication to offseason training is a positive sign, and the organization believes that with better support, he can lead Arizona to success.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Must Become a Key Offensive Weapon for Cardinals in 2025

One of the biggest questions from 2024 was the underutilization of first-round draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite being a highly touted receiver, he never fully developed chemistry with Murray, limiting his impact. Ossenfort remains confident in Harrison’s abilities and emphasizes that he is committed to improving. As the Cardinals restructure their offense, ensuring Harrison becomes a central playmaker will be a priority in 2025.

With cap space, a talented core, and a determined front office, the Cardinals believe they are close to competing at a high level. Bidwill expressed optimism that a few key offseason additions could push Arizona into playoff contention. The 2025 season represents a crucial opportunity for the franchise to prove that it can overcome its past inconsistencies and emerge as a legitimate NFC contender.

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NFL (American Football)

How likely is a Myles Garrett trade to the Arizona Cardinals?

Myles Garrett in the 1st half

The Myles Garrett trade rumors are heating up this offseason after he publicly asked to be traded from Cleveland last week.

Considering the Arizona Cardinals’ pass-rushing situation as they enter a big Year 3 under their current coaching staff, it makes sense that fans and media are speculating about a possible fit for Garrett.

But how likely is it that Garrett ends up with the Cardinals?

Looking at what a potential Garrett trade could cost and the state of NFL teams, Bill Barnwell didn’t rule out Arizona as a possible destination. He placed the Cardinals in the “unlikely but plausible” category, along with eight other teams.

The Cardinals have taken their time with their rebuild over the past two years. Coach Jonathan Gannon, known for his strong defensive mind, has come up with creative pressures to generate a pass rush during this period. But he took over a defense that ranked 24th in expected points added (EPA) per play in 2022, then saw it drop to last place in 2023, before improving to 22nd in 2024.

To move forward and compete for a playoff spot, Arizona needs a strong edge rusher. They’ll get BJ Ojulari back after the 2023 second-round pick missed the season with a torn ACL, and they might re-sign free agent Baron Browning after acquiring him in a midseason trade.

However, Garrett would be the type of big move that could really help push the defense to the next level. While an 8-9 record might not scream championship contender, it’s often not difficult to convince players to sign with Arizona.

It’s no surprise the Cardinals need more pass-rushing help after seeing Zaven Collins lead the team with just five sacks last season. Dennis Gardeck had three sacks in seven games before a torn ACL ended his season early.

The outside linebackers’ performance, combined with an injury-plagued defensive line, caused Arizona to finish 28th in pass-rush win rate with a 33% mark.

Garrett himself posted a 22% pass-rush win rate last year, which was tied for the fifth-best mark among edge rushers.

Myles Garrett celebrates after sacking Justin Herbert in the 1st half

What would a trade for Myles Garrett look like?

When considering what a trade for Garrett might look like, Barnwell pointed to a trade many in the Valley will remember: the DeAndre Hopkins-David Johnson trade.

Barnwell looked at players from the past 40 years who were named first-team All-Pro three times before being traded in their 20s and found the Hopkins deal, along with five other comparisons.

Hopkins was entering his 28th year and coming off a season with 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns. He had made his third straight first-team All-Pro appearance.

Although he wanted a new contract with three years left on his existing deal and eventually got more money from the Cardinals, the Texans gave up a superstar at a top position in his prime for a surprisingly low return. Ironically, this trade led to Watson wanting to leave Houston, which has now led to Garrett wanting to leave Cleveland.

While the Hopkins trade fits Barnwell’s criteria, the return Cleveland might get from a similar deal—trading a player Arizona was moving on from, along with a second- and fourth-round pick—doesn’t seem close to what Cleveland would ask for Garrett. This is even with the added possibility that the pass rusher would likely need an extension after the move.

At least the Cardinals are in the conversation.

While Barnwell has placed the Cardinals in the “plausible” category along with eight other teams, he has already ruled out 11 teams. On the other hand, Barnwell sees the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Commanders as the best fits for a potential Garrett trade.

Below those teams, he has four “maybe” teams: the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Chargers.

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NFL (American Football)

The hot Rams face off against the eliminated Cardinals in a rematch of a rare blowout defeat for Sean McVay

Josh Allen
Sean McVay (NFL)

When the Los Angeles Rams face the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, one team is aiming for a division title while the other is finishing a disappointing non-playoff season.

If you only saw their first meeting in Week 2, it would be surprising to know which team is which.

The Rams (9-6) have rarely been blown out during coach Sean McVay’s eight years, with seven of those seasons having winning records and playoff hopes. But that’s exactly what happened when the Cardinals (7-8) defeated them 41-10 in mid-September, marking the second-largest defeat of McVay’s career.

“We got our butt kicked, and it happened quick,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “It was one of those things that you don’t really want to experience, but it does happen from time to time, where before you blink, you’re almost out of it.”

The Cardinals’ 489-yard performance was one of coach Jonathan Gannon’s high points and one of McVay’s most disappointing losses. He had never lost in Glendale before, and his Rams’ biggest defeat was a 45-6 loss to Baltimore in 2019.

This loss might have been even worse than the one to the Ravens, who had a standout performance from Lamar Jackson during his MVP season.

The Rams had no answers for Kyler Murray, a quarterback they had been able to handle in previous years, while their offense did almost nothing against an Arizona defense that hasn’t been impressive.

Arizona Cardinals players celebrate after a touchdown

“It was a test of who we truly were,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “You were almost shocked how bad you played, and to go out and put on that type of performance, it was embarrassing, to be honest. To see what type of guys we are, we challenged them.”

Both teams’ situations have changed dramatically since September. The Rams have won eight of their last 10 games after their bye week, while the Cardinals have lost four of their last five, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Injuries have played a big role: The Rams are healthier now, while the Cardinals have lost several key players.

The Rams don’t necessarily have to beat Arizona at SoFi Stadium to win the NFC West, but they are eager to keep their momentum going for their season finale against Seattle (8-7).

Meanwhile, Murray and the frustrated Cardinals say they’re not focused on being spoilers in the rematch of their big win.

“Going into Week 2, we didn’t think that they were a bad team or anything like that,” Murray said. “I don’t think the mindset changes. Obviously, I think they’re playing better football, but no, I wouldn’t say that our mindset looking at them Week 2 versus now is any different. We still respect them.”

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Rams gaining momentum ahead of clash with struggling Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams players in the 1st half

The Los Angeles Rams are on a four-game winning streak and are playing some of their best football as they move closer to a possible NFC West title.

They will look to keep this momentum going when they face the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night in Inglewood, Calif.

Los Angeles (9-6) just won 19-9 against the New York Jets last week, despite trailing 9-6 going into the fourth quarter and being outgained by almost 100 yards. It was their biggest win of the season so far. Since their bye week, when they were 1-4, the Rams have won 8 of their last 10 games.

“You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” said Rams coach Sean McVay. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.”

The Rams have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay. Before he took over in 2017, the franchise had 13 straight non-winning seasons.

A strong running game led by Kyren Williams has helped quarterback Matthew Stafford during their December winning streak. Williams, a Pro Bowl selection last season, has a career-high 1,243 yards and 13 touchdowns on 303 carries, including 122 yards against New York.

Arizona (7-8) has lost four of its last five games and was eliminated from playoff contention with a 36-30 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers last week. The Cardinals might have to play their last two games without running back James Conner, who was injured in the third quarter against Carolina. He had 117 yards and a touchdown before going out with a knee injury.

Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon said on Monday that Conner wants to keep playing despite the injury and the Cardinals’ playoff hopes being gone. “If they’re healthy enough to play, they’ll play,” Gannon said. “We’re gonna play who we think gives us the best chance to win.”

Arizona Cardinals players celebrate after winning

Conner, who has a career-high 1,090 rushing yards, has never played a full season in his eight years in the NFL. He also has 410 receiving yards, close to his career-high of 497 in 2018.

Arizona right tackle Jonah Williams and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. were both placed on injured reserve with knee injuries on Tuesday.

Quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 202 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the loss to Carolina. He also rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown. Conner was his top receiver with 49 yards on four catches.

Gannon plans to play Murray in the last two games, including a home game against the San Francisco 49ers next week. “He gives us the best chance to win,” Gannon said. “He’s gonna play.”

Arizona safety Joey Blount (ribs) and cornerback Elijah Jones (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, while Conner was limited. For the Rams, right tackle Rob Havenstein (shoulder) was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday.

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NFL (American Football)

Big-man touchdown: Cardinals lineman Jonah Williams scores his first TD since middle school

Jonah Williams recovers a fumble for a touchdown in the 1st half

Everyone loves a touchdown by a big guy, and Jonah Williams is no exception.

The Arizona offensive tackle was in the right spot at the right time on Sunday, scoring his first touchdown since sixth grade during the Cardinals’ 30-17 win over the New England Patriots.

“That’s what I tried to do — I planned it, I practiced it,” Williams said, humorously. “It’s such a random play to get so much praise for.”

Williams earned the praise.

The starting right tackle was listed as questionable with an illness after what he called a tough night. Arizona’s trainers helped him recover enough to play, and the 6-foot-5, 312-pound player made one of the most important plays of the game.

Leading 3-0 late in the first quarter, the Cardinals drove the ball to New England’s 8-yard line. Arizona wide receiver Greg Dortch took a handoff and tried to reach the goal line, but fumbled while being tackled.

Williams, who had pulled from his right tackle spot, collided with Patriots defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale as he ran to the left side. He kept moving and jumped on the ball just before it rolled out of the end zone, preventing a touchback that could have been a crushing blow to the Cardinals’ hopes.

Jonah Williams recovers a fumble for a touchdown in the 1st half

Williams hesitated at first during his celebration, as officials were determining if he had recovered the ball in time. He finally celebrated after teammate Paris Johnson Jr. confirmed it was indeed a touchdown.

“I was like, what? How’s that work?” Williams said.

It’s understandable that Williams didn’t know how it felt, given it had been a long time since his last touchdown.

The last time? When he was playing for the Atlanta Colts at Murphey Candler Park in Georgia.

“I remember the hole opened up, it was 30-trap, the center climbed the linebacker, and I just hid behind him,” Williams said with a smile. “I almost got hogged by a nose guard — it was really embarrassing. That’s probably why it was my last chance to run the ball.”

Williams has not run the ball in years, but this first NFL touchdown was a nice reward for a player who has spent much of his career blocking in the trenches.

Williams grew up in Georgia before moving to Northern California in ninth grade. He was a five-star recruit out of Folsom High School and played three years at Alabama, earning third-team All-America honors before entering the NFL.

James Conner runs with the ball in the 1st half

The Bengals selected him 11th overall in the 2019 draft, but a shoulder injury ruined his rookie season. He started 10 games in 2020 before suffering a knee injury but became a mainstay on Cincinnati’s offensive line, starting 49 games over the next three seasons.

Williams signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals during the offseason but suffered another knee injury that kept him out for nine games. He returned to play on Nov. 24 against Seattle and has started the last four games, making a crucial play against the Patriots that keeps Arizona’s slim playoff hopes alive.

“That was an excellent play by him, just maxing out effort,” said Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon.

It’s a play Williams will certainly remember, especially since Arizona’s equipment staff saved the ball, perhaps to sit next to the one from his sixth-grade touchdown.

“I kept that one forever,” Williams said. “That’s my pride and joy.”

Williams may have been joking about the sixth-grade ball, but his first NFL touchdown will definitely have a place of honor, whether on a mantle or somewhere special.

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NFL (American Football)

Charbonnet rushes for a career-best 134 yards and two touchdowns as the Seahawks, leading the NFC West, defeat the Cardinals 30-18

Kyler Murray throws in the 1st half

In the final seconds of the fourth quarter, with the game already decided, Seattle’s defense kept up the pressure, chasing Arizona’s Kyler Murray across the field. Murray eventually slid to the ground for a sack as the clock ran out.

The Seahawks have proven they have a strong team. Now they are aiming to become even better.

Their 30-18 win over the Cardinals on Sunday shows they are heading in the right direction. Seattle (8-5) has won four straight games and holds a one-game lead in the NFC West.

“We didn’t want them to score,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said about the final play. “We want to be dominant. And you can’t just be dominant at certain times, you have to be dominant throughout the game.”

After a slow start, the Seahawks controlled the final 3 1/2 quarters. Zach Charbonnet rushed for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns, Geno Smith threw for 233 yards and a touchdown, and the defense made two key interceptions in the first quarter.

Coby Bryant celebrates his interception in the 1st half

The Seahawks completed a season sweep of the Cardinals. They have won seven straight games against their division rivals.

Seattle shook off an early deficit to lead 24-10 at halftime. Charbonnet broke a tackle at midfield and sprinted 51 yards for a touchdown with 2:36 left in the second quarter.

Charbonnet, 23, took advantage of a bigger role after starting running back Kenneth Walker III got injured. Charbonnet also caught seven passes for 59 yards.

“It’s tough to tackle that guy in the open field,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “He’s got speed and power.”

Smith completed 24 of 30 passes and wasn’t sacked.

“Dude, I thought the (offensive line) was phenomenal,” Smith said. “The way they played, we can win every game we play.”

The Cardinals (6-7) were hoping to share first place with a win, but instead, they’ve now lost three straight games and are fading in the playoff race. Murray threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw interceptions on back-to-back passes in the first quarter.

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ve had two picks in back-to-back games,” Murray said. “It’s on me. Just put it on me.”

The Cardinals got close, cutting the lead to 27-18 late in the third quarter with a 2-yard underhand pass from Murray to James Conner. Murray also ran for the 2-point conversion.

Arizona had a chance to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter, but Chad Ryland’s 40-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright. It was Ryland’s third straight game with a missed field goal.

“I’ve got to find some answers to get us going a little bit, because we haven’t played great the past couple weeks,” second-year Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “That falls on me. I’ve got to go back to the drawing board tomorrow, get these things corrected, put them in better position, and we’ve got to win a game.”

Jonathan Hankins and Boye Mafe celebrate after sacking Kyler Murray

The Seahawks took a 10-7 lead in the first quarter with back-to-back big plays on both defense and offense. Jones picked off Murray and gave Seattle the ball at the Arizona 19.

“It was kind of right to me, so I don’t know what he saw,” Jones said. “But it happens.”

Smith capitalized on the next play, finding Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 19-yard touchdown.

Murray was intercepted again on the next possession, this time by Coby Bryant. Seattle took advantage of the good field position with Charbonnet running for a 1-yard touchdown and a 17-7 lead.

It was a surprising turn of events for the Cardinals, who had controlled the early drives. They moved down the field on their opening possession, with Murray connecting with Michael Wilson on a perfectly executed play-action pass for a 41-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

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NFL (American Football)

The Cardinals’ rough stretch, combined with a sweep by the Seahawks, has significantly reduced Arizona’s playoff hopes

Seattle Seahawks players celebrates after a touchdown

The Arizona Cardinals had a tough stretch at the worst possible time.

Kyler Murray threw two interceptions that led to first-half touchdowns, and the Cardinals lost 30-18 to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

“Disappointing loss — didn’t play our best ball there,” said Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. “I’ve got to find some answers because we haven’t played great the past few weeks.”

The Cardinals (6-7) have seen a major change in less than a month.

In mid-November, Arizona was on top of the NFC West after a four-game winning streak. But now, after a three-game losing streak following their bye week, Arizona is in a tough position.

The Seahawks (8-5) have won their fourth straight game, keeping a one-game lead in the division over the Los Angeles Rams, who won 44-42 against the Buffalo Bills.

Arizona’s loss to Seattle dropped them two games behind the Seahawks, who also hold the tiebreaker, with only four games left.

“It’s tough, obviously, when you lost to a divisional opponent, but we’ve still got four games left, still got a lot of ball left,” said Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson.

Arizona started strong against Seattle, scoring on their opening drive when Murray connected with Michael Wilson for a 41-yard touchdown pass.

But after that, the Cardinals struggled, losing their seventh straight game in this series.

Seattle was able to contain the usually dangerous Murray, holding him to just 16 yards rushing on three carries and preventing him from extending plays. Murray finished the game with 259 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-38 passing but threw two key interceptions.

Jonathan Hankins and Boye Mafe celebrates after sacking Kyler Murray

The two interceptions came at important moments, just like last week’s loss. The first pick came with Arizona leading 7-3 in the first quarter. Murray tried to hit Marvin Harrison Jr., but didn’t see Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who intercepted the ball and returned it to Arizona’s 19. Geno Smith then threw a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the next play.

Murray threw another interception on his next pass. This time, Coby Bryant picked him off, setting Seattle up at Arizona’s 46-yard line. Five plays later, Zach Charbonnet ran it in for a touchdown to put Seattle ahead 17-7. Murray also threw two interceptions last week in a 23-22 loss to Minnesota.

“I feel like I let the team down today — self-explanatory,” Murray said. “I can’t do that.”

It wasn’t just Murray’s mistakes.

After Charbonnet broke off a 51-yard touchdown run, Arizona converted a fourth-and-1 from their own 29 late in the first half, only to have it wiped out by a holding penalty on left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. The Cardinals had to punt, and they trailed 24-10 at halftime.

Arizona showed some life late in the third quarter, cutting Seattle’s lead to 27-18 with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Murray to James Conner and a 2-point conversion. The Cardinals later had a chance to get within six after driving to the Seattle 21, but Chad Ryland missed a 40-yard field goal.

Arizona’s defense also struggled, allowing Seattle to rush for a season-high 174 yards, with 134 yards from Charbonnet, and giving up 409 total yards.

“Ultimately, all three phases couldn’t pull it together,” Gannon said.

Now, the Cardinals are running out of time.

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NFL (American Football)

Aaron Jones Overcomes Fumbles to Score Game-Winning Touchdown in Vikings’ Win Over Cardinals

Aaron Jones Overcomes Fumbles to Score Game-Winning Touchdown in Vikings' Win Over Cardinals
Aaron Jones Overcomes Fumbles to Score Game-Winning Touchdown in Vikings' Win Over Cardinals

Aaron Jones, a key player for the Minnesota Vikings, found himself in an unusual situation during a game against the Arizona Cardinals. Known for his reliability, Jones made a rare mistake by fumbling twice in the first quarter. The second fumble, which was recovered by the Cardinals, led to him being benched by head coach Kevin O’Connell. Jones’ struggles were compounded by the fact that, prior to this game, he had only fumbled 15 times in over 1,600 career touches. This game, however, marked the fourth fumble in just 49 touches over the past three games, which included a previous rib injury that may have impacted his ball security.

Despite his early struggles, O’Connell did not lose faith in Jones. After his benching, Jones was primarily used in passing plays and given another chance to prove himself. Although he dropped a potential touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, O’Connell reassured him that he would be called upon again if the opportunity arose. “We’re coming right back to you,” O’Connell told him, instilling confidence in Jones despite his earlier mistakes. This belief would come to fruition in the game’s final moments, highlighting the coach’s trust in Jones’ ability to contribute when needed most.

Aaron Jones Overcomes Fumbles to Score Game-Winning Touchdown in Vikings' Win Over Cardinals
Aaron Jones Overcomes Fumbles to Score Game-Winning Touchdown in Vikings’ Win Over Cardinals

As the game reached its critical moments, with the Vikings trailing 22-21 and facing a 2nd-and-2 at the Cardinals’ 5-yard line, O’Connell called a play designed for Jones to be a key target. Quarterback Sam Darnold delivered a pass to Jones in the right flat, and Jones made a crucial catch, running it into the end zone for a touchdown with just over a minute remaining. This game-winning score capped an emotional comeback for Jones, who had endured a turbulent game but redeemed himself at the most important moment.

Jones reflected on his roller coaster of a game, acknowledging the emotional toll it took on him. “This wasn’t my best day,” he admitted, but he also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of his teammates and O’Connell. The confidence his coach showed in him, especially after the earlier mistakes, helped Jones regain his composure and focus. O’Connell’s belief in Jones, even when things weren’t going well, played a crucial role in the running back’s ability to step up when the Vikings needed him most.

The win, which improved the Vikings’ record to 10-2, was significant not only for its importance in the NFC North race but also for Jones’ personal redemption. The Vikings now remain in close competition with the Detroit Lions for first place in the division. Despite his early mistakes, Jones’ resilience in the face of adversity proved invaluable. His ability to overcome a rough start and score the game-winning touchdown underscored not only his physical skill but also the emotional fortitude that enabled him to bounce back from a difficult situation.

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NFL (American Football)

The Vikings’ defense has seen a significant improvement this season thanks to the relentless efforts of Jonathan Greenard

Jonathan Greenard reacts in the 1st half

Jonathan Greenard was exhausted, struggling to catch his breath and drinking water on the sideline late in the game, after chasing Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray around relentlessly. He had been battling an illness all week, but now the game was on the line.

The Cardinals faced a critical fourth down in the final seconds on Sunday, trailing by one point, and Greenard needed a quick rest.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell allowed defensive coordinator Brian Flores to see the formation Arizona was sending out before calling a timeout.

The Vikings really wanted Greenard, who had been ill all week, back in the game.

Kevin O’Connell (NFL)

“‘You ready to go? You ready to go? You ready to go?’” O’Connell asked, smiling later while reflecting on how rare it was to call a timeout just to rest a defensive player. “No doubt, he was going back on the field and going to have a really impactful snap.”

Greenard returned to the field and helped apply enough pressure on Murray to force him into a rushed throw, which was intercepted by Shaquill Griffin to secure a 23-22 victory, extending Minnesota’s winning streak to five games.

“He’s playing some high-level football. I don’t know where we’re at with postseason accolades, but he should be in the conversation for a number of those,” Flores said. “I feel like I say this every week: We’re lucky to have him.”

Greenard is tied for fourth in the NFL with 32 pressures, according to Sportradar tracking. He’s also tied for fourth with 10 sacks.

“He’s always popping off the tape, no matter what week it is,” teammate Harrison Smith said. “Especially in crunch time.”

These statistics only show part of Greenard’s impact on the Vikings, who made him their top priority in free agency this year once it became clear that Danielle Hunter was out of their price range.

Greenard has become one of the league’s most effective edge rushers after four injury-plagued seasons with Houston. He’s also been crucial to Minnesota’s success in defending the run, contributing to the NFL-leading average of just 81.3 rushing yards allowed per game.

“The underrated part is just the all-down aspect of the physicality, setting edges, playing blocks and making some plays at or behind the line of scrimmage that set up his chances to then rush the passer,” O’Connell said.

“He’s played a ton. We’re trying to be aware of just how much he’s played and see if we can give him some spurts here and there where we can kind of keep his play count where we want it, but at the same time he’s one of our best players. As I like to call him, he’s the closer.”

This nickname was particularly fitting against the Cardinals.

On one play, Greenard was pushed wide on his rush by left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., but he managed to reach out with his left hand to just graze the ball, knocking it loose. Murray fell on it to keep possession, but the sack put the Cardinals in a difficult third-and-13 situation.

Kyler Murray is tackled by Jonathan Greenard in the 2nd half

On the next play, Greenard moved inside to maintain a clear view of Murray, one of the NFL’s most elusive quarterbacks. Pressure from Patrick Jones caused Murray to scramble, but Greenard was in perfect position to limit the run.

As Murray hesitated, trying to juke Greenard and cornerback Byron Murphy for more yardage, Greenard closed in and tackled him inbounds, forcing the Cardinals to burn a timeout. It was a 3-yard gain. Afterward, Greenard connected the play back to his offseason training.

“If your tongue ain’t on the ground after your workouts, I feel like you’re not doing enough, especially the guys on the quarterbacks,” Greenard said.

With the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium roaring, Greenard bent over and requested to be subbed out.

“I just wanted to show that I’m running my tail off to that football. It just so happened that he cut back and I was like, ‘Oh, perfect,’” Greenard said. “That was tough.”

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NFL (American Football)

The Vikings secured their fifth consecutive win, coming from behind to defeat the Cardinals 23-22 thanks to Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings players celebrate in the 2nd half

The Minnesota Vikings struggled to find their offensive rhythm for much of the game. Aaron Jones had another early turnover, but the team stayed focused and didn’t give up.

Sam Darnold’s second touchdown pass of the second half went to Jones with 1:13 left, giving the Vikings their first lead. The Vikings came back from a 13-point deficit to beat the Arizona Cardinals 23-22 on Sunday, securing their fifth straight victory.

“Sam has been absolutely huge for us in these moments where everybody needs him,” said coach Kevin O’Connell.

Darnold threw for 104 of his 235 yards in the fourth quarter, facing a tough Cardinals defense that registered five sacks. These sacks kept the Vikings out of the end zone until Darnold found Johnny Mundt for a touchdown with 1:17 left in the third quarter. That was the second offensive touchdown scored by the Vikings against Arizona in 15 quarters.

Darnold had a similar clutch performance last week against Chicago, going 6 for 6 for 90 yards in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal.

“Dude, I’m just going to continue to do my job every single day, and I’m just going to keep it that simple,” Darnold said. This game marked his seventh win as a starter, setting a new career high.

Sam Darnold celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass in the 2nd half

Kyler Murray’s two interceptions in the fourth quarter led to the Cardinals’ defeat. Despite a strong start, the Cardinals (6-6) fell behind the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

On the final drive, Jonathan Greenard sacked Murray, forcing the Cardinals to burn two timeouts. On fourth down, the Vikings pressured Murray into a desperation throw, which Shaquill Griffin intercepted. Earlier, Byron Murphy picked off Murray’s risky throw under pressure at the Minnesota 32, setting up a third field goal by Parker Romo.

“We went backwards on the last drive,” said Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. “That was brutal.”

Justin Jefferson was a key contributor, with seven receptions for 99 yards, including a critical catch on fourth-and-6 from the Arizona 34 to keep the winning drive alive.

The Vikings (10-2) stayed one game behind Detroit in the NFC North, scoring on their final three drives, covering 187 yards on 23 plays.

“That’s a good team over there,” Murray said. “We had a chance to put them away, and we didn’t.”

The Cardinals led 9-6 at halftime despite gaining 228 yards of offense. They relied on safe throws and inside runs once in scoring range.

“They couldn’t do the conservative stuff forever,” Greenard said. “We knew at the end of the game they had to go and try to score.”

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NFL (American Football)

Kyler Murray’s errors in the final moments lead to the Cardinals squandering their lead in a loss to the Vikings

Kyler Murray walks off the field after the game

For most of the first three quarters on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals were in control, largely thanks to strong play from quarterback Kyler Murray.

But the Minnesota Vikings made a comeback, scoring 17 points in their final three possessions to win 23-22. Some of the blame for this collapse falls on Murray.

With the loss, Arizona (6-6) dropped to second place in the NFC West, one game behind Seattle. They will face the Seahawks at home next week.

Murray threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr., putting the Cardinals ahead 19-6 with 4:37 left in the third quarter. At that point, Murray had completed 24 of 32 passes for 206 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions, plus five carries for 40 yards.

Kyler Murray speaks in the news conference

However, the focus shifted to Murray’s performance in the fourth quarter, where he completed 6 of 12 passes for 51 yards and two interceptions, leading to a passer rating of 21.9. After the Vikings matched Harrison’s touchdown with one of their own, the Cardinals tried to run some clock and add more points. Instead, just four plays later, Murray gave the ball back to Minnesota.

In the second play of the fourth quarter, Murray was forced out of the pocket and threw a desperation pass toward the sideline. It was intercepted by Byron Murphy Jr. at the Vikings’ 32-yard line.

“I was trying to throw the ball away, so that’s on me,” said Murray, who had already led four drives that stalled in the red zone during the first three quarters.

Minnesota turned the interception into a field goal, cutting Arizona’s lead to 19-16 with 11:08 remaining.

Murray then led the Cardinals on a 66-yard drive over 16 plays, burning 7:48 off the clock. But after reaching the Minnesota 5-yard line, Murray was called for intentional grounding, part of 10 penalties against the Cardinals totaling 96 yards, which pushed them out of the red zone. Chad Ryland’s fifth field goal of the day gave Arizona a 22-16 lead with 3:20 left to play.

The Vikings responded with a nine-play, 70-yard drive, ending in a touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones. The extra point gave the Vikings their first lead of the game. They left 1:13 on the clock, giving the Cardinals — with all three timeouts — a chance to drive into field goal range.

However, Murray’s struggles continued in the final minutes. On the second play of the drive, Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard knocked the ball out of Murray’s hands in the backfield. Murray fell on it, but the play resulted in an 8-yard loss, the Vikings’ first sack of the game. On third-and-13, Murray ran for 3 yards but burned 8 seconds and failed to get out of bounds, as Greenard chased him down.

Jonathan Greenard tackles Kyler Murray in the 2nd half

“It just so happened that he cut back, and I was like, ‘Oh, perfect,’” Greenard said.

On fourth down, Murray tried to throw to Harrison on the right sideline, but Minnesota’s Shaq Griffin intercepted the pass, sealing the win for the Vikings. Last week, Arizona’s four-game winning streak ended in a 16-6 loss to Seattle, where Murray had a pick-6.

“I’m sure he’ll want some plays back, but I thought he made plays with his legs, the touchdown pass, a couple conversions in there,” said coach Jonathan Gannon. “I thought he played well enough to win.”

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NFL (American Football)

Coby Bryant’s touchdown stands out in a strong performance by the Seahawks’ defense during their 16-6 victory over the Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks players celebrate after a touchdown

Coby Bryant returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown, and Leonard Williams had 2 1/2 sacks as the Seahawks dominated Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Seattle won 16-6 on Sunday, moving into a tie for first place in the NFC West.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught six passes for 77 yards and scored the first offensive touchdown against the Cardinals (6-5) in three weeks. However, it was the defense that made the difference for the Seahawks (6-5) against their division rivals, who had their four-game winning streak ended.

“I thought he was dominant,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said about Williams. “I knew he played great and then I looked at the stat line and I realized he played out of his mind.”

Williams finished the game with six tackles and four quarterback hurries for Seattle, which has now beaten Arizona six times in a row. The teams will play again in two weeks.

Trey McBride reacts after an incomplete pass in the 2nd half

The Cardinals had been averaging over 29 points per game in their last three games, but the Seahawks held them to 298 total yards and just 49 yards rushing, while also sacking Murray five times.

Williams said the team has been coming together since a leadership meeting following their bye week two weeks ago. He mentioned that the Seahawks decided the rest of the season would be a playoff push, and he woke up Sunday feeling positive about the team.

“I think that made it just crunch time for us,” Williams said. “We just understood the urgency of getting the job done.”

Geno Smith threw for 254 yards, with one touchdown pass and one interception for Seattle. Murray threw for 285 yards, and tight end Trey McBride had 12 catches for 133 yards.

Seattle led 7-3 midway through the third quarter when Arizona went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seahawks’ 40-yard line. Murray was forced to scramble right, and then threw the ball over defender Devon Witherspoon and his own receiver into the hands of Bryant, who ran it in for a touchdown, putting Seattle up 13-3.

“I don’t think I’ve ever run that fast,” Bryant said after scoring, adding, “I know I’m going to get fined, so hopefully Marshawn saw it,” referring to his celebration, which resembled Marshawn Lynch’s “Beast Mode” dive into the end zone.

Murray managed to drive the Cardinals to the Seattle 4-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but they had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Chad Ryland. Arizona had scored touchdowns on 16 straight goal-to-go situations before this game. Ryland missed a field goal with about 40 seconds left that would have set up an onside kick attempt.

Leonard Williams celebrates in the game

“Obviously, it’s a hostile environment,” Murray said. “We just didn’t execute, did not execute at a high enough level to win that game.”

Smith-Njigba set up his touchdown by catching a pass on a shallow cross and sprinting 46 yards to the Arizona 4-yard line. Two plays later, he caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Smith, giving Seattle a 7-3 lead at halftime. It was the first touchdown allowed by the Cardinals’ defense since the fourth quarter against Miami three weeks ago.

Arizona’s James Conner, who came into the game with 697 rushing yards, was held to just 8 yards on seven carries. It was Seattle’s best defensive performance of the season under first-year coach Macdonald, who had previously lost his last four home games.

“Coach was in his bag this week,” Witherspoon said.