THE STORY: Kyler Murray hasn't always been a fan of preseason games, and he hadn't even played in one since 2021.
Yet the quarterback was smiling Saturday night, after the Cardinals eventually beat the Chiefs, 20-17, at State Farm Stadium in their preseason opener. That was despite throwing an interception on the first of his two drives, the lone blemish on his eight passes.
"I really enjoyed playing tonight," Murray said. "Football is here again. It's the best time of year."
It's a vibe Murray has never really given this time of year. He hasn't exactly been disappointed not to be a preseason regular, in part because the competitor in him struggles to see the point of games in which the results do not count.
But coach Jonathan Gannon decided this was a year the starters needed to play. And they did against the Chiefs, the first-unit offense getting 18 snaps.
"(Kyler) is a ball junkie, so he loves to play football," Gannon said. "The team, not just Kyler, they understood why we were doing what we were doing tonight. They were excited about it … to play another team, to get lathered up and bang somebody else other than themselves."
Gannon didn't love how it started - a turnover on special teams, a touchdown allowed on a short field, a turnover by the offense -- but this is the time of year when the Cardinals can have such missteps. That's why preseason games are played.
Murray generated two good drives, although both stalled in the red zone. The first-down interception was thrown right to Chiefs defensive back Jaden Hicks, who had faded off his coverage of tight end Trey McBride and dropped into a zone ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr.
Gannon lauded the play by Hicks to even be in position for the play. Murray said he simply underthrew it – and emphasized that it was that kind of play, running laterally left with defenders bearing down on him, that can't be replicated in a practice.
"I've never really rolled out full speed (in training camp) like someone is going to tackle me," Murray said. "It's kind of weird to explain. But I am glad it happened. I would've hated for it to be New Orleans."
The Saints will be the season opener, when the games indeed will count.
Murray finished with 96 yards passing on 7-for-8 throws. He had 9 yards on two scrambles. His second drive ended in a field goal (although the Cardinals couldn't convert a third-and-1 to force a kick).
"I would say that's the best I've felt within the offense," Murray said.
Wide receiver Greg Dortch fumbled away the opening kickoff and then DeeJay Dallas fumbled on the next kickoff. The Cardinals kept Dallas' drop; the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes turned Dortch's into a 13-yard TD drive before Mahomes came out of the game after only three plays.
Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett looked sharp, leading the Cardinals to a touchdown drive right before halftime, finishing with a 1-yard TD strike to Xavier Weaver. Brissett also had a 43-yard TD dump pass to running back Emari Demercado.
The defense -- playing without Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat -- was put in a tough spot against Mahomes to open the game but forced a punt on the Chiefs' second possession before the substitutions began.
The Cardinals showed resilience, Gannon said, encouraging before heading to Denver next week for a joint practice against the Broncos. Between that joint work and the Chiefs game, Murray might be done with any more preseason games.
But Murray said he's "come to the realization" that he must come into a preseason start with a positive outlook. He certainly gave off that air Saturday night.
"I have fun," Murray said. "I had a lot of fun out there."
TURNING POINT: Chad Ryland crushed a 50-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter, which turned out to be the game-winning points.
HEALTH UPDATE: Tackle Christian Jones left the game with a knee injury, and wide receiver Trishton Jackson exited with a thumb injury. Gannon said linebacker Josh Sweat could've played in the regular season, but he was held out.
Sitting out the game aside from Sweat were DL Calais Campbell (veteran), OL Kelvin Beachum (veteran), DL Justin Jones (knee), OL Jon Gaines (thumb), and WR Semi Fehoko (groin).
