Cruising Cards confident, face big test Thursday vs Packers
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — It’s a play that would have haunted the Arizona Cardinals in previous years: Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. was called for a taunting penalty after a third-down defensive stop, giving the Houston Texans a chance to continue their drive.
This version of the Cardinals wasn’t bothered a bit.
Three plays later, linebacker Markus Golden sacked Davis Mills, stripped the football and recovered it, and the Cardinals went on to score a touchdown on the ensuing drive on the way to a dominant 31-5 win over the Texans on Sunday.
“Guys don’t blink defensively,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “They’ve got great leadership. They know. Those taunting penalties are so subjective now, as we all know. So, he got up, he was excited. It happens. But those guys, they just keep stepping up whenever bad things happen.”
Plays like Golden’s are a big reason the Cardinals
( 7- 0) remain the NFL’s only undefeated team. They’ll get one of their biggest tests of the year when they host the Green Bay Packers (6-1) and reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers on Thursday night.
The Cardinals aren’t whining about the short week. The way they’re playing, they can’t wait to get back on the field.
“You’ve got to be excited for games like this,” Gold
en said. “Especially on a Thursday night, you get to go against the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, a great player, so we’re excited about that.
“I love Thursday games, especially coming off wins like this.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Last week’s trade for Zach Ertz looked like a genius move in the veteran tight end’s first game with
the Cardinals. The threetime Pro Bowler made a spectacular one- handed grab in the first quarter and scored on a 47-yard touchdown in the second half, which was the longest of his career.
Ertz not only fills a need for the Cardinals after Maxx Williams went down with a season-ending knee injury, but he’s an improvement, particularly in the passing game.