GLENDALE — The Arizona Cardinals offense needed little time to get going against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Behind the same type of complementary football the Cardinals put on tape in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears, Arizona was quick when it came to getting an advantage early.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and running back James Conner were big in that department.
Despite New York’s struggles against the run, Murray and Arizona took to the air to kick things off, with the signal caller just missing Michael Wilson before connecting with Marvin Harrison Jr. for 18 yards.
Then it was Conner’s time to shine.
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After picking up seven yards on his first carry of the day, the running back flashed his pass-catching ability behind a 45-yard catch and run to New York’s 1-yard line.
Had it not been for Conner’s “butt cheek” (as explained by the refs) hitting the ground before the goal line, the starter would have gone the distance.
Luckily for the running back, he didn’t come away empty handed on the six-play, 70-yard scoring drive, getting the rock two more times before finding the end zone from a yard out.
The offense continued to pour it on the second time around, too.
Rattling off another 70-yard scoring drive — this time on nine plays — Arizona used a blend of run and pass before Murray took it in himself from one out. The Jets defense never had a chance, as made evident by the QB’s midplay celebration.
A Sunday stroll into the end zone 🤩
📺: #NYJvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/XVrWLMzmqC
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 10, 2024
And you know what’s better than two 70-yard scoring drives? Three 70-yard scoring drives.
Despite a monstrous sack deep in Jets territory, Murray and the offense didn’t blink on the 10-play drive.
A big part of that was thanks to tight end Trey McBride, who hurdled a defender for a first down before picking up another six plays later to move the chains.
Harrison cashed in on the tight end’s efforts the very next play with a nine-yard touchdown catch.
As for Murray, the franchise signal caller blew by his Week 9 mark of 154 passing yards in just two quarters of with 199 yards and the score on 17-of-19 passing.
Entering play Sunday, the Jets were one of the stingiest teams against the pass, averaging the second-lowest yards allowed with 158.2.
And while Arizona’s final drive of the first half didn’t go the distance for a touchdown, the Cardinals still added to their lead with a 37-yard field goal courtesy of Chad Ryland.
On top of going up 24-6 early on, Arizona also kept its goal-to-go streak alive and now is 16-for-16 on the year.
Cardinals defense still streaking
The offense wasn’t the only unit to keep extending its streak on Sunday.
After holding opponents to zero touchdowns the past two home games, the Cardinals are trending toward a third with zero end zone trips allowed through two quarters.
Leading the way for the unit is veteran safety Budda Baker, who entered the game needing nine tackle to reach 100 on the year.
He currently paces the team with four.
In his first start with veteran Jalen Thompson sidelined with an ankle injury, rookie safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is holding his own behind a pair of tackles.
Catch the rest of Cardinals-Jets on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 and ArizonaSports.com.