Cardinals,Arizona Cardinals,cardinals vs lions,Kyler Murray,cardinals nfl
DETROIT (AFP) - Keeler Murray had nowhere to run and his passes often missed.
Murray's shaky performance helped the Detroit Lions stun the Arizona Cardinals 30-12 on Sunday.
The Cardinal (10-4) started the day lhe tied for the best record in the NFL, undefeated on the road and a win away from ending a six-year drought after the season ended.
Meanwhile, the Lions (2-11-1) were at the bottom of the league standings before the first strike and somehow looked like the team with more at stake.
"They were hungrier than us," Murray said. "They played stronger than us."
Arizona, who came out of Monday night's loss to the NFC Western rival Los Angeles Rams, missed their chance to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015 by defeating a team they would have preferred to beat by nearly two touchdowns.
"We didn't come prepared at all and it showed," Murray said.
The Cardinals could still win the post-season berth through Week 15, but they would need some other contenders to lose or tie.
In any scenario, Murray would have to play better.
The third-year quarterback was 23 of 41 for 257 yards with touchdowns and interceptions, which adds up to a 72.9 pass rating. The third-year professional has had a slightly lower rating twice this season, and the Cardinal lost both games to the Rams and Green Bay.
Murray couldn't get away from the hardcore lions when he tried to run, and finished 3 yards out over four moves, against a scheme laid out by defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
"We played hard against him and hit him and I think you saw the result of that," coach Dan Campbell said. "We needed to hit him up and pack him up, and AG put together a great game plan."
By the time Murray threw a touchdown pass, there was 4:40 left in the game and Arizona trailed by 15 points.
Detroit kicked a field goal in the next half, essentially sealing the win, and coach Cliff Kingsbury knocked out Murray and put Colt McCoy's reserve into the game.
In one of Ford Field's many surprises, Jared Goff was the best quarterback on the lawn. Gauff completed 21 of 26 passes for 216 yards with three touchdowns.
Craig Reynolds of Detroit ran for 112 yards and rookie receiver Amon-Ra St.
“Do you know the game we’ve been talking about all season? That’s what we knew we could do,” Goff said.
The Cardinals took their wide-body plane, complete with 28 reclining seats, to the game and were probably very comfortable en route to Motor City.
“They had a better sense of urgency from the start,” Kingsbury lamented.
Detroit opened the game with a 15-yard, 63-yard run that took 8:50 off the clock and finished with a field goal.
The Cardinals, who gained 17 yards on their first three possessions, finally started moving the ball late in the second quarter only to bring their driving end to the Lions 3 when an incomplete Murray pass fell into fourth.
Early in the third inning, Arizona settled for a field goal rather than going for it fourth and third in the Lions 11.
Detroit picked up a pair of first dips on the next drive to reach Arizona grounds before pulling back.
Next, corner back Amani Orwari stretched fully to catch a pass that Murray threw out towards A. Green, who did not return to the ball, returned it 50 yards. On the next play, Goff threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jason Cabinda to put the Lions ahead 24-3 and Arizona didn't fight much to get back.
Since the start 7-0, the Cardinals have lost four of their past seven matches.
"We can't let this thing spiral," said Zach Eerts, with a courteous end. "The momentum is real in the NFL, the good and the bad."
injury report
Cardinals: WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) went injured reserve on Saturday, and RB Chase Edmonds (ankle) activated for the first time in over a month. DeJordan Phillips (knee) and WR Rondale Moore (ankle) were injured against Detroit.
Lions: RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) has been inactive for the third game in a row and G Jonah Jackson (background) has not been allowed to play. Alex Anzaloni (shoulder) and LB Josh Woods (shoulder) were injured during the match.
