Oh my heavens.
All seemed lost for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals defense, which played admirably in the second half, gave the offense multiple chances to put the game on ice. Instead, the No. 1 ranked unit sputtered, giving MVP-candidate Josh Allen another chance at redemption. The result was a beautiful touch pass to Stefon Diggs to take the lead 30-26 with roughly 30 seconds left.
It looked as if the Cardinals were going to lose back-to-back heartbreakers to fall 5-4. It was going to mark the second week in a row that they failed to capitalize on a chance to take first place(albeit off tiebreakers) in the NFC West.
Then, Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins did the impossible.
With 11 seconds to go, Murray narrowly escapes trouble and throws a prayer to DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins, with three Pro-Bowl level defensive backs covering him, comes down with the ball to win it for the Cardinals.
Since moving to Arizona, the Cardinals have had some amazing moments. This is undoubtedly one of the best.
From the 2008 playoff run to Larry Fitzgerald’s 2015 overtime winner against the Packers, the 2020 ‘Hail Murray’ rightfully belongs in that conversation. The sheer improbability of a hail mary alone makes this extraordinary, but the amount of defensive talent surrounding Hopkins on the play only adds to that.
The ‘Hail Murray’ has undoubtedly sent MVP discussions in the direction of Kyler Murray, as well as Offensive Player of the Year votes for DeAndre Hopkins.
We won’t know the full impact of this play until the end of the 2020 season, but for now, it grants the Cardinals an opportunity to take a one-game lead over the Seahawks with a win on Thursday.
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