Arizona Cardinals defender Kyler Murray (1) throws against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, December 20, 2020, in Glendale, Arizona (AP Photo / Ross D. Franklin)
After winning the first 16 points of the game in the first quarter, the Arizona Cardinals found resistance since then, in a 33-26 victory at State Farm Stadium, which reached the final game.
The Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday reduced their deficit in the next two periods, when their debutant defender, Jalen Hurts, found a rhythm and a certain confidence in the second beginning of his career.
Without their original point guard, Cameron Johnston, the Eagles tied the game at 26-all during a third quarter, which included a 23-yard gain on 3rd-and-29 and then a 4th-and-6 converted game. Hurts limited that possession, safely pulling the Cardinals, Budda Baker, into the final zone.
But, faced with the advantage blown, Arizona turned to its best player. DeAndre Hopkins managed to catch and run 44 yards to a third down, with 9:35 left in the game, and in the next third down he made a 20-foot touchdown shot to put Arizona ahead 33-26 .
This pass gave defender Kyler Murray his first pass of 400 meters.
He completed 27 of 36 passes for 406 yards, three touchdowns and an interception to compensate for 338 yards and three Hurts scores.
The Cardinals defense, which struggled to curb the Eagles’ attack, played late in Philadelphia’s possession from the second to the last. The Eagles had first and 10 on the Arizona 11-yard line with three minutes left, but the sacks of Dennis Gardeck and Leki Fotu set up 3rd and 21st.
Hurts’ pass to the tight Dallas Goedert Strait hit the grass in the third down, and Arizona safety Chris Banjo broke another shot area in the fourth down to give Arizona the ball with a 1:55 burn.
Philadelphia used the remaining three timeouts, while Arizona cooked just half a minute off the clock of its next owner before betting. Hurts moved the ball from his team’s 22-yard line to Arizona 31 before two more breakouts in the final zone sealed the Cardinals’ victory.
Hopkins finished the day with nine catches for 169 yards and a score.
Zach Allen led the Cardinals defense with 11 approaches, a sack and a defending pass.
