Kyler Murray hasn’t started a game at Levi’s Stadium in four years. In a 24-20 win to open the 2020 season, Murray guided the Cardinals on a nine-play, game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. He passed for 230 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 91 yards and a touchdown.
That year, Arizona finished ahead of San Francisco in the NFC West as the 49ers battled another Super Bowl hangover. Could that happen again? As Murray and the Cardinals (1-3) prepare for a return to San Francisco (2-2) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX), one person believes so.
Former Super Bowl defensive back Jason McCourty said Thursday morning on ESPN’s Get Up that Murray’s Cardinals can do more than simply finish ahead of the 49ers. But before they do that, they have to start by outplaying Brock Purdy and the 49ers this week.
“Then, it’s time to start to consider the Arizona Cardinals as division winners in the NFC West,” McCourty said. “It’s an opportunity. Kyler Murray has had games this year so far early on where he looks like an MVP-type candidate. If he’s able to continue to raise the level of his game, this team follows, and we’re really going to have to consider them as contenders in that division.”
Murray has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight games and, no question, has one of the NFL’s best rookie wide receivers in Marvin Harrison. The quarterback’s touchdown-to-interception ratio (6.0) is second in the league behind Joe Burrow (7.0).
Since returning from an ACL injury in November last season, Murray is 4-8, having completed 251 of 376 attempts (66.8 percent) for 2,576 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, a 93.8 passer rating. Also in that span, he has 60 carries for 408 yards (6.8 avg.) and three touchdowns.
Seattle, meanwhile, leads the division at 3-1. Arizona has a Week 11 bye before closing the season with division assignments in four of its final seven games. In that difficult stretch, Cardinals get the Seahawks twice over a three-week span and a second game against the 49ers in the season finale.