Following Sunday’s miraculous victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Cardinals must travel to Seattle a mere four days later.
The Arizona Cardinals have not swept the Seattle Seahawks since the 2009 NFL season. On Thursday, however, they’ll have the chance to break that unfortunate streak.
The Cardinals’ struggles against Seattle have primarily come at home, which they were able to overcome with a 37-34 Week 7 victory this year. Their successes against Russell Wilson’s ball club have been in Seattle.
Since 2015, the Cardinals are 4-1 at CenturyLink Field. Their lone loss was their infamous 2018 ball club(that loss secured the Cardinals’ starting quarterback in Thursday’s matchup- Kyler Murray).
The NFC West currently sits at a three-way tie for first place in terms of record at 6-3. Given the Cardinals 2-0 division record, they are technically in first place. Still, that spot could be gone with a loss to the Seahawks this Thursday.
It’s a pivotal game for both sides. Let’s dive in.
In what is being deemed the ‘Hail Murray’, the Arizona Cardinals defeat the Buffalo Bills one a last second prayer to DeAndre Hopkins.
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.
The Cardinals are facing a difficult opponent in a seemingly must-win game to keep pace for first place in the NFC West
Last Sunday was disappointing for the Arizona Cardinals.
Their quarterback, Kyler Murray, was unstoppable all day. His offensive unit only punted once when WR Andy Isabella went backwards and lost the first down.
Still, the Cards found a way to lose, the guilty suspects being a depleted defense and kicker Zane Gonzalez. Vance Joseph’s defensive unit was playing without its CB2, CB3, and CB4. As a result, he failed to get creative and put any pressure on Tua Tagovailoa.
This week should be different, however. Byron Murphy and Dre Kirkpatrick are set to return to the lineup against Buffalo. Had they not been ready to come back, the Cards likely would have had a very tough tine again.
So, following last week’s loss, this game becomes very crucial. If the Cardinals lose, they will travel to Seattle in four days at 5-4. That is a much different record than the 5-2 they held going into their bye. Securing the win against Buffalo is paramount to move up to 6-3 going into Seattle.
If the Cardinals go 2-0 in the next week and a half, they will be first place in the NFC West. They must find a way to get it done.
Arizona’s Kyler Murray and Seattle’s Russell Wilson are early favorites to take home the NFL MVP award. Who, if either, will end up taking home the award?
Through two weeks of the season, NFL fans and analysts are already making their MVP award predictions. While there are quite a few right now, it’ll narrow down to about two or three candidates by midseason. Two of the very popular picks to this point are division rivals — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
For the Cardinals, Murray has been often compared to Wilson. Their similar playing style and stature on the field make them an easy comparison. Coming out of the draft, Murray’s pro comparison was Wilson himself.
Both Murray and Wilson are trying to lead their teams to the top of the gauntlet that is the NFC West. Heading into week 3, three teams are 2-0, with the last place team being the defending NFC Champion 49ers. Should the division crown fall to Murray’s Cardinals, or Wilson’s Seahawks, MVP votes will come rolling in. To this point, the West is the consensus best division in the game.
Comparing Murray and Wilson’s supporting casts:
It’s no secret that the young & rapidly ascending quarterback has won the MVP award the last two seasons in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, While Mahomes won the award seemingly by midseason in his year, Jackson was very much going toe-to-toe with Russell Wilson on a weekly basis at one point. Despite Wilson and Jackson’s similar 2019 campaigns, Wilson did not receive a single MVP vote. The takeaway here — the voters of the Associated Press love the young & new stars.
Big-name players do two things for a football team. They help a team win games and they create media attention. Arizona and Seattle both have their share of these players.
Wilson’s Seahawks are no stranger to household names. Seattle’s offensive supporting cast currently consists of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Chris Carson and Greg Olsen.
Murray’s supporting group is highlighted by DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Kenyan Drake.
Both quarterbacks obviously have their fair share of talent and players that receive plenty of media coverage. Arizona and Seattle each made a blockbuster trade this offseason in DeAndre Hopkins and Jamal Adams. Those moves already made them two of the most talked-about teams in the offseason. That has carried over into the season.
To conclude here, Arizona and Seattle have both been talked about heavily and are receiving the sort of attention a team with an MVP-candidate needs, so that their player may take home the award.
Two Elite Dual-Threat Quarterbacks:
The NFL loves their mobile quarterbacks, with Wilson and Murray being two of the best. To this point, Murray has been better with the rushing attack, with Wilson being the better passer.
The MVP winner needs highlight-reel plays. Being a part of a good football team is not enough. Both quarterbacks have given plenty of those in just two games.
Russell Wilson makes a perfect throw to DK Metcalf for the 54-yard TD! #Seahawks
Here, Russell Wilson drops a perfect 54-yard bomb right over the head of the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore. In terms of highlight-reel plays, that will certainly do.
Through two weeks, Kyler Murray has the following stats:
66.7% completion percentage
516 passing yards
2 passing touchdowns/2 interceptions
158 rushing yards
3 rushing touchdowns
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson’s passing statistics are ridiculous:
82.5% completion percentage
610 passing yards
9 touchdown passes/1 interception
68 rushing yards.
Murray’s passing touchdown numbers will need to improve to compete with Wilson’s on paper. Both teams have had similar games to this point. They each handled a mediocre team(ATL for Wilson, WAS for Murray). Wilson and Murray also each embarrassed an elite defense(NE for Wilson, SF for Murray).
Media Hype & Conclusion:
Both the Cardinals and the Seahawks have had a promising start to the 2020 season. With the way the NFC West is going down, it may be the Arizona-Seattle matchups themselves that have the most impact on the MVP award, as well as division standings.
NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger has selected Murray as his MVP choice in 2020. More and more analysts are beginning to believe in Arizona’s second-year quarterback.
Former NFL Pro Bowl punter and talk show host Pat McAfee also calls Murray the “Next Great QB.”
If Wilson’s current pace continues and Murray continues to improve each game, there may very well by an MVP race in the NFC West.
Analyzing the betting odds to be named the NFL’s 2020 MVP, with a look at whether Kyler Murray is worthy of a bet this season.
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Do you think Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has what it takes to win the 2020 NFL MVP? Below, we are taking a look at MVP futures odds for the 2020 NFL season. Let’s examine his chances, the BetMGM NFL futures odds around it happening and whether or not Murray is worth a bet.
Eleven players – all quarterbacks – have better odds, while Murray shares his odds with New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley, Tennessee Titans RB Derrik Henry and Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.
Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield, Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff and projected first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft Joe Burrow make up the next tier at +4000.
Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL MVP? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!
Kyler Murray‘s 2019 stats
Murray finished his 16-game rookie season with 3,722 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He added 544 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.
He led his team to a 5-10-1 record and took home the 2019 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Is Kyler Murray worth a 2020 NFL MVP bet?
Before free agency, Murray was already one of the best longshot bets to win the 2020 NFL MVP. He was significantly better in the second half of his rookie season and the Cardinals were a more competitive team. With Monday’s trade acquisition of WR DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals now have one of the better wide receiver corps in the NFL with Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk.
If the Cardinals can upgrade their offensive line during the 2020 NFL Draft, which they are expected to do at pick No. 8, Murray could put up monster numbers in head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him account for 40 or more touchdowns as the Cardinals should be one of the higher scoring teams in the NFL.
If Arizona can flirt with a playoff berth and Murray can put up these type of numbers, then he is an excellent bet at +3300. Expect the odds to fall as the Cardinals upgrade their offensive line and more people get behind the second-year quarterback making a leap in 2020. He’ll likely enter the 2020 season as a much heavier favorite.
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