Sep 19, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) dives for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Kyler Murray passed for three touchdowns, ran for another and accounted for 431 yards in total offense, and rookie Rondale Moore had seven receptions for 114 yards and a score as the host Arizona Cardinals exhaled with a 34-33 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Matt Prater kicked the eventual game-winning, 27-yard field goal with 4:25 to play, lifting the Cardinals to a 2-0 record.
Minnesota (0-2) had a chance to win on the final play, but Greg Joseph missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt wide right as time expired.
The Vikings intercepted Murray twice in the second half and had the Cardinals pressured into a fourth-and-5 from the Vikings’ 41 with 6:12 left, but Murray connected with Christian Kirk on a 35-yard fadeaway jump pass to convert, eventually setting up Prater’s final kick.
The teams traded punts before Minnesota got the ball back at its 23 with 2:09 to go. Kirk Cousins drove the Vikings to the Arizona 19 before the drive stalled with the Joseph miss.
Joseph connected on a pair of 52-yard field goals but also missed an extra point.
Murray was 29-for-36 passing for 400 yards while adding 31 on the ground.
Cousins finished 22-for-32 passing for 244 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings. Dalvin Cook rushed 22 times for 131 yards.
K.J. Osborn had five receptions for 91 yards and a TD to boost the Vikings, and Justin Jefferson caught six passes for 65 yards and a score.
Arizona led 24-23 at halftime, outscoring Minnesota 17-3 in the final 3:15 of the second quarter to take the advantage into the locker room. After Moore scampered out of bounds with one second left in the second quarter, Prater drilled a 62-yard field goal.
Murray and Cousins in the first half combined for more touchdown passes, five, than incompletions, four.
Minnesota regained the advantage, 30-24, just one minute into the third quarter as linebacker Nick Vigil intercepted a Murray pass and raced 38 yards for a touchdown.
Danielle Hunter registered three sacks for the Vikings, who lead the all-time series against the Cardinals 15-12.
–Field Level Media