Don’t discount James Conner and the Cardinals based on their 3-4 record. Judging by the strength of the NFC North, the most likely ticket to the NFC playoffs is a division title. And Arizona, which has the best record (2-0) in its muddled division, might sneak into the postseason using the same formula it deployed in a significant 17-15 win over the Chargers Monday night.
“This was a massive game for Arizona,” said former NFL player Leger Douzable on CBS Sports HQ. “With San Francisco dealing with all the injuries they have – will Christian McCaffrey ever actually come back, maybe around November; we’ll see what the future holds for that. You talk about the Rams being beat up in their own right, receivers hurt on that team. Seattle’s kind of been Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde when it comes down to, yes their offense can consistently put up points but the defense gives it up as well. They’re right in the thick of this thing.”
The Cardinals were in the thick of victory all night Monday. Arizona didn’t get a perfect evening from Kyler Murray, but the Cardinals did get a perfect play. It came on the second snap of the fourth quarter when Murray dropped to pass, slipped out of pressure and broke contain around the left side. Gliding to a 44-yard touchdown that put Arizona ahead 14-9, Murray held the ball like Spud Webb approaching a dunk. His ball-carrying style isn’t broken, according to Jonathan Gannon, so the coach doesn’t see a need to fix it.
“Until he fumbles, I’ll let him ride,” Gannon said with his trademark smile. “That was a pretty spectacular play.”
Gannon also got a pretty spectacular play from cornerback Starling Thomas, who saved a first-quarter touchdown by forcing a touchback on Jalen Reagor fumble at Arizona’s 3-yard line. That effort set the tone for a fantastic effort by Gannon’s defense, which following Thomas’ forced fumble held the Chargers out of the red zone until late in the third quarter when Cameron Dicker’s 28-yard field goal put Los Angeles ahead just before Murray’s touchdown. Despite Justin Herbert’s 349 passing yards, the Cardinals didn’t give up a touchdown and limited the Chargers’ ground game to just 59 yards.
And as Murray and Marvin Harrison try to answer a liability that doesn’t seem to be evaporating – the rookie had just three catches on six targets for 21 yards – the inspirational rock of the offense is unquestionably Conner. The Arizona running back had 101 yards on 19 carries and exploded for 33 yards on a middle screen late in the game that forced the Chargers to burn their final timeouts and set up Chad Ryland’s game-winning 32-yard field goal.
“Really love what I saw from James Conner,” Douzable said. “It seemed like at the end of the game, he was really telling his coaching staff, ‘Put the game into my hands. I’m going to get us to the finish line.’”
If the playoffs are over Arizona’s finish line, Conner will be key. The Cardinals travel to Miami (2-4) for the return of Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
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