Field Level Media
18 Oct 2021, 05:10 GMT+10
The Arizona Cardinals remained the lone unbeaten team in the NFL by rolling past the host Cleveland Browns 37-14 on Sunday.
Kyler Murray completed 20 of 30 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns and DeAndre Hopkins hauled in a pair of scores as the Cardinals (6-0) cruised despite the absence ofhead coach Kliff Kingsbury, who missed the game to COVID-19 protocol. It was the Cardinals' fifth straight win against the Browns (3-3).
Cleveland, which dropped its second straight, entered the game reeling from injuries and got more bad news throughout.
The Browns played without lead running back Nick Chubb and starting tackles Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr. During the game, quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder), wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) and running back Kareem Hunt (calf) all sustained injuries. Hunt did not return after his injury early in the fourth quarter.
Mayfield finished 19 of 28 for 234 yards and two touchdowns, but had three turnovers -- two fumbles and an interception -- and sat out the final five minutes. Donovan Peoples-Jones had four catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
The Browns had rushed for 150 or more yards in each of their first five games, but were held to 73 rushing yards on 19 carries. Cleveland finished with nine penalties for 88 yards and gave up five sacks.
Mayfield lost his second fumble of the day and J.J. Watt picked up his first sack of the year on the same play in the third quarter. The Cardinals cashed in the turnover with Murray's 9-yard touchdown to Hopkins for a 30-14 lead.
Cleveland tried to answer, but a fourth-down pass from the Arizona 7-yard line was dropped by Beckham with 12:06 remaining.
Murray threw his fourth TD with 4:48 left on a 14-yard strike to A.J. Green.
The Cardinals dominated the first half and scored on each of their five possessions, but settled for a modest 23-14 lead at the break. Murray found Christian Kirk with a 21-yard touchdown pass to cap the first series, then dropped in a 13-yard score to Hopkins for a 14-0 lead with 14:49 left in the half.
Mayfield's first sack-fumble and his interception to Arizona's Robert Alford resulted in Matt Prater field goals of 36 and 51 yards for a 20-0 Cardinal lead with 9:29 left.
Mayfield got Cleveland on the board with an 11-yard touchdown to Peoples-Jones while Arizona added a third Prater field goal, from 33 yards out with 46 seconds left.
But Cleveland ended the half with Mayfield's 57-yard Hail Mary that People-Jones hauled in to cut the margin to 23-14 at the break.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Arizona Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Arizona Herald.
More InformationFRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Elon Musk's success has been built on government subsidies. Without...
(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images) The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated right fielder Corbin Carroll from the 10-day...
(Photo credit: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News / USA TODAY NETWORK) Four-star wide receiver Kaydon Finley has committed to Notre...
(Photo credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) The Colorado Rockies have yet to win a home series this season, but they still have a chance...
(Photo credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images) San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb grew up dreaming about pitching at Sutter Health...