Cardinals, rookie QB Murray set to host slumping Falcons

Rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, who led the Arizona Cardinals (1-31) to their first victory of the season this past Sunday, will face the Falcons (1-4) on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.

Murray drove Arizona down the field to set up a winning field goal in a 26-23 win over the Bengals. Murray, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft, hit RB David Johnson up the left sideline for a 24-yard gain. On second-and-6 from the Bengals’ 39, Murray broke loose for a 24-yard gain to get his team in field-goal range.

“As long as he protects himself, we want him to do whatever it takes to win the game,” coach Kliff Kingsbury said.

Murray rushed 10 times for 93 yards and one TD vs. the Bengals. “I thought he did a nice job of that,” Kingsbury said. “When things were there he took them. We also had several called runs that he maximized.”

Murray completed 20 of 32 passes for 253 yards without a touchdown or interception. He had a passer rating of 87.1.

The Cardinals opened the season with a 27-27 tie against the Lions before losing at Baltimore (23-17) and against Carolina (38-20) and Seattle (27-10). Against the Bengals, Murray was under control with the game on the line.

“He doesn’t change at all,” Kingsbury said. “He wants the ball in his hands.”

On the season, Murray has completed 126 of 201 passes (62.7%) for 1,324 yards with four interceptions, four TDs and a passer rating of 80.1. He has rushed 28 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

“I have to continue to do a good job of putting him in position to be successful,” Kingsbury said. “You see the speed. You see the accuracy as a thrower. If we can get him comfortable, I think the sky is the limit.”

It was just the second time the Cardinals surpassed 500 yards in the past 11 seasons as they finished with 514 against the Bengals. The Falcons defense gave up 592 yards against Houston and mobile quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The Cardinals suffered some injuries against the Bengals. Johnson’s back tightened and he may not be available against the Falcons. If Johnson can’t play, Chase Edmunds would get most of his snaps. CB Tramaine Brock suffered a shoulder injury, and the Cardinals were already down two starters at that position: Patrick Peterson (six-game suspension) and Robert Alford (leg injury/injured reserve). Also, WR Christian Kirk has an ankle injury, and the Cardinals are thin along the offensive line.

“When you lose your starting right tackle (Marcus Gilbert) prior to the season ... that puts you in a bit of a hole,” Kingsbury said. “Then to lose another one ( Jordan Mills) that came in and was starting.” Kingsbury said he didn’t want to get down to his fourth- or fifth-string tackles.

The Cardinals defense is led by Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs. Jones played 62 snaps (93%) and Suggs played 51 (76%) against the Bengals.

DT Corey Peters, DE Brooks Reed and Alford are the former Falcons on the Cardinals roster.

BRYAN WOOLSTON / GETTY IMAGES Cardinals rookie QB Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall pick, earned his first win this past Sunday against the Bengals. Murray led the Cardinals to the winning field goal in the fourth quarter.