Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury downplay heated argument

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Each Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Kyler Murray downplayed a heated trade that cameras caught within the second quarter Thursday night time following their 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints that snapped an eight-game dwelling shedding streak.

Cameras confirmed Murray strolling to the sideline, repeatedly mouthing “Calm the f— down” to Kingsbury with 2:32 left within the second quarter after Arizona known as a timeout to reset its subsequent play.

“The clock was working down and we could not have gotten off the play that we had been attempting to run,” Murray mentioned. “So, it was, I suppose it is my fault. I will take it.”

Murray continued to have phrases for Kingsbury as he walked to the sideline, the place broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins acted as a peacekeeper and obtained in between the quarterback and the coach.

“He is actual animated over there on the sidelines generally,” Murray mentioned.

When requested if Kingsbury was yelling in his ear by way of his helmet’s headset, Murray mentioned no.

“I simply see the antics,” Murray mentioned.

Kingsbury known as it a distinction of opinion earlier than attempting to carry levity to the scenario.

“He mentioned I did not look good on TV appearing that fiery,” Kingsbury quipped. “I do not know, guess it is a Gen Z factor. ‘You are on TV so relax.’

“I like exhibiting emotion.”

Murray mentioned Kingsbury is “often chill … till Sunday.”

Cardinals rookie working again Keaontay Ingram scored from the 2-yard-line on the subsequent play after which working again Eno Benjamin, who rushed for a career-high 92 yards, ran within the two-point conversion to tie the sport at 14.

“We’re good,” Murray mentioned. “We’re gonna make it proper. We ended up scoring in order that was good. However, yeah, that is all I used to be saying, simply relax.

“Does not faze me or I do not assume it fazes him. We’re simply attempting to win. Within the second sort of factor. After that we’re good.”

Stated Hopkins: “Each of these guys wish to win. I like to see that. truthfully, I like being part of a staff that two individuals are devoted and that centered on successful and clearly you are gonna butt heads. I am not married however from what I hear that is like a wedding.”

That landing was the start of a 102-second streak that modified the course of the sport. The Cardinals intercepted Saints quarterback Andy Dalton on back-to-back drives and returned them each for touchdowns to take a 14-point lead at halftime.

The primary interception was by cornerback Marco Wilson, who grabbed the ball out of midair after broad receiver Marquez Callaway bobbled it. He returned it 38 yards for the landing. Cardinals linebacker Isaiah Simmons picked off Dalton with a one-handed seize on the Saints’ subsequent offensive collection and sprinted to the top zone for a 56-yard landing.

“That was for everyone on the market who mentioned I can not catch,” Simmons mentioned. “That one-handed proper there, remembering what my coach advised me on that play name. He is been emphasizing precisely what I did, so having the ability to execute it accurately is sweet. As soon as I caught it, I knew it was go-time and I did not assume anyone was going to catch me — I knew [Chris] Olave was quick as hell however I feel he was on the opposite aspect of the sector, so I knew I used to be good.”

By time Simmons scored, simply 1 minute and 42 seconds of sport time had elapsed and the Cardinals had put 22 factors on the board to take a 28-14 lead at halftime. Their 28 factors practically matched the 29 factors Arizona had scored in whole within the first half in its first six video games of the season.

Arizona additionally had a 3rd interception when cornerback Antonio Hamilton, in his second sport again from struggling second-degree burns on his ft in August, picked off Dalton in the long run zone late within the first quarter.

Thursday marked the return of broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who missed the primary six video games of this season after violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug coverage. He additionally missed the final 5 video games of final season with an MCL harm.

In his first sport in 311 days, Hopkins had 103 yards on 10 catches after he was focused 14 instances. It was his fourth time hitting each marks in the identical sport as a Cardinal and the primary time since Oct. 25, 2020.

“Spent loads of time within the offseason getting ready for this second,” Hopkins mentioned. “Clearly, I knew what I used to be up in opposition to being out six video games.

“The principle purpose is to win. So, for me, if I had 10 catches and 10 yards if we’d have gained a sport I might nonetheless be very [ecstatic].”

Thursday’s win was the primary time the Cardinals gained at dwelling in 361 days, a feat Murray known as “loopy.”

They snapped their shedding streak due to 42 factors, essentially the most they’ve scored beneath Kingsbury, who was employed in 2019, and essentially the most since Week 17 of the 2016 season.

“Excited for the fellows, little doubt,” Kingsbury mentioned. “Positively been one thing they’ve needed to reply about for a very long time and particularly to do it coming off couple losses and going into an extended day off for the sport, I feel it got here at a very good time.”