Kyler Murray was “numb” at the end. And frankly, that's probably how a lot of Cardinals fans were too before their team held on against the Panthers on Sunday. Two weeks in a row hoping the defense can hold on to a game that seemed to be in control, that's going to take something out of you.
Before the game, a fast start by the defense against a young quarterback on the road should've been everything. You get a strip-sack TD from your high-profile edge signee, that's how you pray it's gonna play out.
"Shoot. It was blackboard," linebacker Josh Sweat said afterward. "I didn't think it was going to be that clean. I just had to get my arm around and get it."
"They were depending on me to make it, and it was meant for me to make it," he added.
Truth. Sure, the Baron Browning interception only turned into three points, and the Cardinals have to get those last five yards to make it seven, but let's be honest, once it got to be 27-3, that missed opportunity meant nothing.
"It was the start we wanted to have as a defense," Browning said.
That will be needed every game, at least until the Cardinals' offense begins clicking much more. That likely gets harder depending on the status of the top three cornerbacks getting hurt – "Our job is solutions, so we'll figure out the solution," Jonathan Gannon said – but it's where the Cardinals are at the moment.
-- Calais Campbell tied Larry Fitzgerald on the all-time games played list at 263 and did it with a flourish thanks to his two sacks. He also is up to 30½ sacks all-time in the building, surpassing Chandler Jones and his 29.
"I was pretty gassed at the end of the (Saints) game, but I gave everything I had," Campbell said. "You can train all you want to, but playing football is the only way to really get in shape. Today, I was much better. I felt much better. … I had to tell myself, 'Pace yourself. Pace yourself.' That's a little bit of a humbling experience as an older player."
-- Calais is on track for 17 sacks. Not sayin' just sayin'.
-- What the heck is it about Cardinals-Panthers? This felt right at home with a series that has featured Tim Rattay-Vinny Testaverde, Ryan Lindley in the playoffs, Jake Delhomme six turnovers, Carson Palmer six turnovers, Pat P punt returns, Cam Newton going off as a rookie, etc., etc.
-- Kyler Murray was asked about his interception, and he feigned ignorance that it even happened, saying "what pick?" when the question was asked. "I don't remember that."
"I'm just going to act like it didn't happen," Murray said with a slight smile. He did say he was trying to throw it away when he was hit.
-- Right before the interception, Murray did one of his Kyler specials, avoiding linebacker Christian Rozeboom as he came up the middle untouched and weaving his way out of trouble somehow en route to an improbable 31-yard gain that Next Gen Stats said covered 67.49 yards of actual running.
-- Marvin Harrison Jr. only had two catches on five targets – which I'm sure will be a topic – but one play that isn't a stat will be how he drew a 38-yard pass interference call down to the Carolina 5 on third down in the first quarter. Would've been nice to punch it in for that 14-0 lead, but the Cardinals eventually settled for a field goal.
-- Greg Dortch had a 29-yard punt return to set up the TD right before halftime, after a big 22-yard return last week. He had been hopeful better defense this season would create more punt return chances, and he is making the most of them.
-- The Panthers ran 77 offensive plays. The Cardinals ran 48. The Cardinals have won both their games despite not reaching 300 yards of offense in either game.
-- Cornerback Will Johnson popularized the "turnover buffs" sunglasses when he was at the University of Michigan, and they made their first appearance with the Cardinals on Sunday.
-- James Conner was held to less than 40 yards rushing in back-to-back games for the first time since before Jonathan Gannon arrived.
-- Conner did have a two-yard TD run, however, and it was a legit jumbo package. Tight ends Travis Vokolek and Trey McBride were in the game, offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum was in as a "tight end," and offensive lineman Jon Gaines II played fullback.
-- The last word goes to Campbell:
"In my 18 years, it's hard to be angry after a win. I've been on teams where we are a better team, we're supposed to win, and we end up losing it late, so anytime you win in this business, I'm going to celebrate the win, always. … Now, I'm going to definitely try to light a fire under guys and just continue to control what we can control and work on the things we can get better at. Hopefully, we can find a way to continue to win the ball games."
That's it for tonight. Big one in San Francisco next week, and yes, the Cardinals have some injuries but the Purdy-Kittle-Aiyuk-less 49ers certainly aren't gonna care.
