GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyler Murray surveyed the field for a moment before getting absolutely clobbered by Jets linebacker Quincy Williams, who hit Murray so hard from the blind side that the quarterback's helmet flew off and landed several yards behind him.
The Cardinals' sideline froze. The home fans gasped in horror.
Then, Murray got to his feet — a little smirk flashing across his face — and kept on playing some of the best football of his life.
Arizona won its fourth straight game by racing to a big lead and easily handling the New York Jets in a 31-6 victory Sunday. Murray threw for 266 yards and a touchdown and also ran for two scores in another stellar performance, picking apart a Jets defense that was ranked No. 2 against the pass this season.
“The quarterback was the best player on the planet today,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said.
The Cardinals (6-4) scored touchdowns on four of their first five drives and never trailed.
Murray completed 22 of 24 passes — including a franchise-record 17 in a row during one stretch — spreading the ball around to James Conner, Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. The Cardinals quarterback also ran for 21 yards.
“I just try to keep it as simple as possible," Murray said. “The guys, they made plays for me all day. It's great to go out there and feel the way we did today. No matter what they did, we had a good day offensively.”
Conner had five catches for 80 yards. Harrison caught the sixth touchdown pass of his rookie season. The Cardinals' defense didn't allow a touchdown for the third straight home game.
New York (3-7) has lost six of its last seven, failing to build off the momentum of last week's win over the Texans. Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 35 passes for 151 yards. Breece Hall ran for 52 yards.
“They were not prepared to play, we didn't execute even close to our standard,” Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “That falls on my shoulders, 100%. I didn't do a good enough job getting these guys ready.”
Ulbrich dropped to 1-4 since replacing Robert Saleh, who fired on Oct. 8 and the Jets sitting at 2-3.
Arizona rolled to a 24-6 lead by halftime after Chad Ryland made a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. It capped a dominant two quarters that saw the Cardinals have a 239-85 advantage in total yards.
Murray completed 17 of 19 passes for 199 yards before the break.
New York had a chance to get back into it early in the third quarter, but the Cardinals put together a goal-line stand, forcing a fumble by Rodgers on fourth down to end the threat.
“I thought (the defense) really stepped up,” Gannon said. “I liked the plan a lot. It was well executed, a bunch of guys are making plays, and I thought our mode of play was on display. We'll grade the tape hard, but there's not going to be a lot of loafs, but our guys are humming.”
Arizona iced its win on the ensuing drive, with Murray tip-toeing through the Jets’ defense for a spectacular 12-yard run and a 31-6 lead. It capped an efficient 10-play, 88-yard drive.
The Cardinals took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive when Conner ran for a 1-yard touchdown. Two plays earlier, the running back caught a short pass and ran for 44 yards to get down to the 1.
Murray ran for a 1-yard touchdown for a 14-3 lead with 2:54 left in the first quarter.
Murray’s third TD drive was arguably his most impressive. The quarterback got drilled by Williams on a first-and-10 play at the Jets 22, but never seemed fazed, grabbing his helmet and getting right back into the huddle.
“I was standing up one moment,” said Murray, who admitted it was one of the hardest hits he's taken in his career. “And on the ground the next moment.”
Laughing off the frightening play, he made a crucial third-down throw to McBride and then found Harrison on a fade route in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown, making it 21-6 midway through the second quarter.
New York had to settle for two field goals in the first half. Spencer Shrader connected from 25 and 45 yards in his Jets debut.
“Had some chances to make it close early,” Rodgers said. “Just disappointing.”
Injuries
Jets: LB CJ Mosley (neck) was among the team's five inactives. ... DB Brandin Echols left with a concussion. ... LT Tyron Smith (neck) left in the first half.
Cardinals: Starting S Jalen Thompson (ankle) missed his first game of the season. He was one of six inactives.
Up next
Jets: Return home to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Cardinals: Enter their bye week and won't play again until Nov. 24 on the road against the Seahawks.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
David Brandt, The Associated Press
