This was no ordinary football match. This was a day when history was made. A glorious day of new beginnings and second impressions.
The Cardinals turned the tables on Sunday, defeating the Rams 41-10 at State Farm Stadium. For comparison, they hadn’t beaten the Rams in Glendale since 2014, when their opponent was still playing football in St. Louis.
Rejoice. This is no longer the story of hammer and nail.
“When you play hard and play for each other, good things happen,” Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said.
Marvin Harrison Jr. shook off his rocky debut in Buffalo with a stellar first quarter. Arizona’s prized rookie managed four catches, 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first 15 minutes. His first career touchdown was a rousing masterpiece in the back of the end zone. His second was a long throw after a perfectly timed play that allowed Harrison to cross the field and finish with an ambitious leap into the end zone.
The force-feeding of Harrison Jr. had a profound impact. Excited fans couldn’t help but wonder if they were witnessing a developmental milestone, the breakout game of their next Hall of Fame wide receiver.
And finally, Murray. His Houdini performance in the first quarter was breathtaking and worth the price of admission. His rushing touchdown pass to Elijah Higgins was reminiscent of his 2021 MVP candidacy. His overall performance was a strong refutation to those who think Murray is not the answer in Arizona.
“He was outstanding today,” said Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. “He’s a top player for a reason. You can put him against anyone. That’s my opinion.”
There’s no debate there. The Cardinals had a 199-13 yard lead in the first quarter. Their 28-point lead entering the third quarter was their largest lead since Week 6 of the 2020 season. All of their stars were on the same page and all of their stars contributed.
The Rams had problems. They were clearly weakened by injuries. Their weakened offensive line was no match for the Cardinals, especially Dennis Gardeck (three sacks). But this result is without a doubt one of the most dominant home games in recent times.
Cardinals sideline reporter Paul Calvisi coined a great phrase to describe the 2024 season: “September is the new August.” Translation: For teams that wrap their players in bubble wrap during the preseason, Week 1 is like a dress rehearsal and cannot be trusted.
Their encore was more promising with so many wins within a 60-minute game.
The Cardinals needed to prove they could beat the Rams. Gannon needed his first win against an NFC West opponent. The team needed to reverse its recent past and win the majority of its home games to regain home-field advantage at State Farm Stadium.
And before Murray can regain his status as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, he’ll have to step up in his own division, where he had a 5-17 record before Sunday’s game. He responded with a perfect quarterback rating (158.3) and 11.8 yards per carry attempt.
While Rams legend Aaron Donald enjoys his retirement, Murray suddenly looks like the best quarterback in the NFC West.
Missions accomplished. All of them.
Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
