Arizona Cardinals (6-4) – New York Jets (3-7): 31-6
The Arizona Cardinals and Kyler Murray look like a team looking to make the playoffs. Currently leading their division, Jonathan Gannon's (HC) men inflicted a correction on the New York Jets. Jeff Ulbrich (HC, Jets) thought he had found the formula last week, New York is far from it.
The Cardinals offense crushed the Jets defense. New York still doesn't know how to tackle and Arizona took the opportunity to advance 406 yards, winning 28 first attempts with a blatant 4/6 on third attempt.
The Cardinals defense… crushed the Jets offense. This first conceded only 207 yards, inflicted 3 sacks and recovered the ball twice after failed fourth attempts. Once again, she did not concede any touchdowns on her field. Youth is bright in the desert.
The great architect of this victory is above all Kyler Murray. After a quiet game against the Bears, he responded more than present with 17 consecutive completed passes (franchise record), 2 missed passes in the entire game for 3 touchdowns in total. (22/24, 266 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 carries, 21 yards, 2 touchdowns on the ground).
Kyler Murray prepares for flag football
Kyler Murray is in Olympic form. He who announced that he was not closed to the idea of playing in the next Olympic Games for the South Korean flag football team, used the first half to show his talent.
A portfolio that includes everything a modern quarterback brings to a team. Calmness and control to respect the game plan and throw short passes cleanly. More aggression in small windows, especially for his tight end Trey McBride (4 receptions, 71 yards).
But also mobility, as evidenced by his running touchdown scored while walking. And finally a “clutch” factor in tense situations like on complicated third attempts or on his touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. (5 receptions, 54 yards, 1 touchdown). 24-6 at halftime.
You also need a dose of character. Once again, the demonstration is made by the quarterback who after taking a huge sack from Quincy Williams (LB, Jets) in the second quarter, gets up, smiles and responds with two sublime passes.
Finally Kyler also showed his liveliness. His hooks were torture for New York defenders unable to catch him. In the middle of the third quarter, the quarterback slides like an eel into the end zone to confirm the score (31-6).
“QUINCY WILLIAMS LEVELING MURRAY. » – Spero Dedes pic.twitter.com/7J3pxq13bd
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 10, 2024
Jeff Ulbrich has no solutions
More than that, the New York green franchise may wonder, in the same way it did with Saleh, if the interim coach is the problem.
The Jets defense is unrecognizable. Symptomatic of poorly coached squads, the players make a series of missed tackles and are unable to regain a bit of momentum. Second glaring argument, the penalties are raining down in favor of the Jets defense, especially in the first half. And when it comes to finding a solution, Ulbrich has nothing better than “we have to play our football”.
Missed tackles and penalties, two elements that were less common among the Cardinals. Diligent and cohesive, Jonathan Gannon's men achieved a meeting in line with their last outings. Everyone remains doubtful about their intrinsic talent, but on the field they are fighting behind Budda Baker (6 tackles including 1 sack) and the intriguing Garrett Williams (6 tackles, 1 pass defended). The Cardinals defense has not conceded a touchdown in its last three home games.
Veterans and youth, the passing of the baton
Aaron Rodgers (22/35, 151 yards, 1 lost fumble) and his attack therefore did not exist against a young Arizona defense. The forty-year-old quarterback was far from his past rank. But he wasn't helped either. The performance of the offensive line is particularly catastrophic. It is she who brings the strip sack on Aaron Rodgers in their only viable drive and already last chance at the start of the 3e quarter-time (24-6).
Be careful, Aaron Rodgers also has his share of mistakes. Davante Adams (6 receptions, 31 yards) had some poor passes to sink his teeth into. And when he got them he didn't know how to catch them. Garrett Wilson had more success (5 receptions, 41 yards) in the logic of succession.
The passing of the baton between the old and the young is also visible in the use of the Cardinals' running backs. James Conner, the hammer of the running game, scored his touchdown (12 races, 33 yards, 1 touchdown, 5 receptions, 80 yards) but he left the workload to rookie Trey Benson (10 races, 62 yards). Good news if Arizona wants to qualify for the playoffs. The rest of the best elements without losing level is important, moreover it was the replacements who finished the game for the second time in a row.
