Heat on Murray sparked comeback against Cards
Sacking Kyler Murray is next to impossible, the disruptive quarterback having been dropped 22 times on 497 pass attempts entering the weekend.
The 5-10, 205-pound Murray makes a living out of making defenders look bad, particularly the big bodies up front.
The Eagles learned how that felt after Murray sprinted through them for an eight-yard touchdown on the way to a 16-0 Cardinals lead and eventually a victory Sunday. To their credit, the Eagles didn’t give in, and though they were on the wrong end of a 33-26 decision, getting after Murray allowed them to outscore the opposition, 26-17, after the opening salvo. The game was tied at 26 entering the final frame.
Murray passed for 406 yards and three touchdowns, one each to DeAndre Hopkins and the great Larry Fitzgerald.
But the Eagles made Murray work for it. Murray fumbled twice, once on a strip sack by blitzing defensive backs Michael Jacquet and Nickell RobeyColeman in the first half.
It was the 16th straight game the Eagles recorded a sack, the third-longest in the league.
Jacquet spun Murray around, and while the quarterback was wrapped up on top of him, Robey-Coleman gathered the ball. That set up the first of two Jalen Hurts touchdown passes to Greg Ward getting the Eagles within 26-20 by the intermission. Kevon Johnson, basically signed out of a tires business, also played tough although he the incomparable Hopkins elevated over him for the winning touchdown grab.
Robey-Coleman notched 10 tackles, Jacquet seven. Linebacker Alex Singleton led the Eagles with 11 stops.
“I tip my hat to those guys,” safety Jalen Mills said. “Also, Kevon as well. You already know that coming into this game Kyler is going to force feed those receivers regardless of if we had injuries at our cornerback position or not. (Hopkins) is a top-three receiver in this league right now and you know he’s going to make some catches, some crazy catches.”
The Eagles got two takeaways, Hopkins fumbling the ball away. Hurts had three fumbles, but the Eagles recovered them all.
The Steelers, who play Monday, lead the NFL with 45 sacks. The Eagles and Rams are next with 44 apiece. The Steelers have recorded a sack in an NFL record 70-straight games.
The Eagles (4-9-1) need to get after Andy Daulton in Texas next week where they oppose the Cowboys (5-9). Washington (6-8) leads the NFC East and hosts the Panthers (4-10) next weekend. The Giants (5-8 before last night) play the Ravens (9-5) in Baltimore.
“We’ve got a little light left at the end of the tunnel,” Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said. “We’re just hoping that somebody messes up next week and we do what we have to do and let it come down to that last game. And hopefully, we’re the ones with that shirt
on at the end. The disappointing part is we had an opportunity today to go ahead and we didn’t capitalize on it.”
Said Mills, who had five tackles, “At the end of the day we’ve got to watch the film and make the corrections.
“We’ve got another heavyweight fight coming up this next week.”
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Eagles tight end Richard Rodgers (shin) and defensive end Josh Sweat (wrist) exited in the first quarter with injuries.
Punter Cam Johnson was KO’d after his first punt in the third quarter.
Kicker Jake Elliott took over and punted once, a 35-yarder.
Johnston’s absence didn’t help on an unsuccessful PAT, as he’s the holder. Just the same, Johnston would have struggled scooping up the groundball snapper Rick Lovato sent to backup holder Zach Ertz.
That PAT would have given the Eagles a 27-26 lead entering the fourth quarter.
From that point on, Doug Pederson said he was inclined to go for two points. That proved to be the last Philly score.