The Arizona Cardinals have a talented offense led by dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray, and while they've been a little inconsistent, they are starting to come into their own.
The Chicago Bears are reeling after last week's heartbreaking loss, and on Sunday, they'll be without starting safety Jaquan Brisker. Nickel Kyler Gordon and defensive end Montez Sweat are both questionable. Chicago's top-ten defense could be due for a letdown, so head coach and play-caller Matt Eberflus will need to cook up a good game plan.
On her latest Making Monsters podcast, Taylor Doll spoke with Darren Urban, who writes for the Cardinals' official team site, so you know he knows his stuff. Darren gave us the skinny on the Cards before these two teams play on Sunday. He said their defense has some problems, especially in rushing the passer, but on offense, the Cardinals are pretty good.
“I think In a lot of ways he’s [QB Kyler Murray] coming off his best game of the season when he played Miami. He’s had two excellent games this year, the game earlier against the Rams and against the Dolphins and that doesn’t mean he played poorly (in the other games). I think in a lot of ways, some of the things he has not been able to do this year might have less to do with him in particular. I’ve seen this guy his entire career; the big thing, like you said, is getting over that ACL; he looks fantastic. He by himself probably avoided 5 sacks last weekend in Miami.”
Murray tore his ACL towards the end of the 2022 season, and this year he's running better than at any time in his career.
Urban also talked about Arizon'a wide receivers.
“Michael Wilson isn’t a guy that a lot of people around the league are gonna know, and he’s only in his second year. He’s still learning a lot of stuff, but the kid's from Stanford, and I can tell you he’s one of the smartest guys that I’ve ever come in contact with and one of the reasons they love him so much isn’t just because his receiving skills, it’s the fact that he’s willing to do the dirty stuff.”
Rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. is building rapport with Murray, and last week he had a career-high six receptions.
“He’s handled it well; the kid is incredibly mature for his age. Now this was really a breakout game [last week vs Miami]. He had the 4 catches for 140 yards against the Rams in week two, and everybody thought that was it, and then it never really came to, and he had no catches against Green Bay, got a concussion, and he’s been just OK, but he hasn’t made that huge burst onto the scene like you saw from Jamar Chase or Justin Jefferson.”
The Bears can't sleep on the Cards' running game because Urban said “James Connor is really the heart and soul of this offense.”
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