Cardinals 17-15 Chargers (Oct. 21, 2024) Game Recap

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona’s Kyler Murray rolled out to his left before turning on the Jets, beat a Chargers defender on the sideline and then punched idle for a spectacular 44-yard touchdowncasually holding the ball with one hand as if it were a backyard game.

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon admitted his players aren’t taught to protect the ball that way.

Then again, Gannon didn’t teach Murray how to run like that either.

“Until he fumbles, I’ll let him ride,” Gannon said with a wry grin. “It was a pretty spectacular game.”

Murray ran for the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter, then led the Cardinals on a drive that set up Chad Ryland’s 32-yard field goal as time expired, and Arizona rallied for a 17-15 victory on Monday night about Los Angeles.

Cameron Dicker hit his fifth field goal of the night – this one from 40 yards – to give the Chargers a 15-14 lead with 1:54 left. But the Cardinals (3-4) quickly moved into field goal range, helped by an unnecessary roughing call on Cam Hart that cost Los Angeles (3-3) 15 yards.

Arizona followed with a blistering 33-yard catch and run from James Conner, who finished the game with 101 yards on the ground and 51 yards receiving. Conner’s big win ultimately set up Ryland’s short field goal and a celebration from the Cardinals. Conner gave an excellent speech to the team on Sunday night and backed up those words on Monday.

“That’s exactly how the season went,” Conner said. “As captain of this team, that’s the job description. I was just trying to rally the troops.”

It was a frustrating night for the Chargers’ offense, which gained 395 yards but failed to reach the end zone. Justin Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards. It was coach Jim Harbaugh’s first loss on Monday night, leaving him 1-6 in his career.

Dicker kicked field goals of 59, 50, 28, 47 and 40 yards, the first of which set a franchise distance record.

The Chargers came into the game with one of the NFL’s best defenses and had another good night, but the offense typically couldn’t execute when it mattered most. Los Angeles has gone 16 straight offensive drives without a touchdown.

“I thought we did a lot of good things, but we have to score in the red zone,” Herbert said. “That’s the biggest takeaway from today’s game. We have a great kicker, but we need to make our defense and special teams better. We have to get points.”

Murray ran his spectacular touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter to take a 14-9 lead. It was Murray’s second long touchdown run in three weeks after he scored on a 50-yard dash against San Francisco.

“It feels good to just get the ball into the end zone,” Murray said. “I wish we could have done more tonight, but a win is a win.”

It was also Murray’s 20th career game with a touchdown pass and run.

Murray completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Dicker’s 28-yarder late in the third quarter gave the Chargers a 9-7 lead. Los Angeles regained possession after stopping Cardinals backup quarterback Clayton Tune on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1. The Cardinals sometimes use Tune in low-yardage situations because he is taller than Murray.

Arizona scored on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Greg Dortch in the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead into halftime. It was Dortch’s first touchdown catch of the season.

Dicker made two field goals for the Chargers in the first half, including the 59-yarder. It was the longest kick of Dicker’s career, having previously taken two from 55 yards.

Los Angeles missed two great chances early in the first quarter.

On Arizona’s opening drive, Murray’s pass was deflected by Khalil Mack and intercepted by Teair Tait. The 304-pound defensive lineman ran downfield but was pulled from behind by Conner before Arizona’s Michael Wilson recovered the fumble.

Then, on the Chargers’ first drive, Herbert hit Jalen Reagor for a 42-yard gain, but Arizona’s Starling Thomas stripped Reagor and the ball bounced into the end zone for a touchback.

“It was a game with a lot of near misses and close calls,” Harbaugh said. “Both teams played well. It came down to a lot of details, not just one piece.”

Injuries

Chargers: OLB Joey Bosa (hip) and TE Hayden Hurst (groin) were inactive.

Cardinals: CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (neck) left the ball in the first half. LB Dennis Gardeck (knee) left in the third quarter.

Next

Chargers: Host New Orleans on Sunday.

Cardinals: At Miami on Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl