We’re underway in Arizona, where the Cardinals are desperate to get right in the NFC West while hosting the Chargers. Both Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray have struggled to see their talents translate to efficient football this year, but they have a chance at redemption to cap Thanksgiving weekend. Murray is coming off a hamstring injury, while Herbert is fresh off a close loss to the rival Chiefs in prime time. Both flashed in the first half of Sunday’s matchup, with Herbert tossing a pair of touchdowns — one to a wide-open DeAndre Carter — and Murray scoring a pair of his own, including one on the ground.
Neither team is officially out of the playoff picture, but a loss would have major implications in both conferences. So which one is poised to step up: Murray, on his own turf, back under center for the first time in weeks? Or Herbert, on the road with his supporting cast still banged up? Either way, this one’s must-see TV, with the two sides going into the break within three points of each other. Stay tuned here throughout the matchup for live updates and analysis.
Date: Sunday, Nov. 27 | Time: 4:05 p.m. ETLocation: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+Follow: CBS Sports App Odds: Chargers -3, O/U 48.0 (courtesy Caesars Sportsbook)
Kyler Murray with a slight limp going off the field after a pitch to James Conner leaves him on the ground. Then Matt Prater boots a 49-yard field goal try wide left, so the Cardinals’ lead remains three. Conner is already up to 98 yards carrying the ball, and Murray has had his way, too, picking up 56 on seven carries. The difference in this game is really the turnovers: Arizona has two, and still leads by three, but could/should probably be up multiple scores. Chargers have held the ball for just 13 minutes.
Kelvin Beachum is involved in some pushing and shoving as the Cardinals try to get points on the board before halftime. In the end, Kyler Murray gets it done with his legs, taking off on a 5-yard scramble that looked more like a 20-yard sprint. Speed kills, and he’s got it. Arizona is back on top, 17-14, with halftime around the corner.
The big plays continue. This time Justin Herbert moves left after facing pressure in the pocket, basically side-arms one downfield, and DeAndre Carter is waiting all alone, hauling in the pass and then gliding untouched into the end zone for the score. Chargers now lead it 14-10 after their second passing TD. Bittersweet, though, as tackle Trey Pipkins is injured on the play.
He already has a forced fumble today. And now @DerwinJames did this 🔥📺: #LACvsAZ on CBS📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/zq8Igx8Ckq pic.twitter.com/cbLXYvSnca
Kyler Murray has generally been on the mark today, but he just had an extremely ugly finish to the Cardinals’ latest series. Scrambled around and flung it deep, with no one in sight, on second down. Held the ball loosely with his left hand on a scramble near the sticks on third. Then put one up for DeAndre Hopkins on fourth-and-1, only for it to land right in the hands of the tight-covering Derwin James. That’s the second time James has had his hand on a turnover today.
Keenan Allen into the end zone on the short pass for the TD, and all of a sudden we’ve got a ballgame! Chargers cut the deficit to three points. What a huge play by Michael Bandy earlier in the series to recover the Josh Palmer fumble and keep the drive alive.
Josh Palmer makes another big grab, confirming him as the Chargers’ newest/steadiest No. 1 wideout, but then disaster strikes, as Trayvon Mullen punches the ball out at the last second. Refs rule it a loose ball, and Arizona jumps on it. Fortunately, an official review reveals that Michael Bandy, Palmer’s fellow wideout, actually possessed the fumble first. So the Chargers keep the ball and avoid the critical error.
Kyler Murray single-handedly preserves another scoring drive for Arizona. Faces heat from off the edge and on the interior, then manages to escape on a scramble to the right before wisely throwing it away. Live to play another down. Then Matt Prater nails it from 43 yards out to extend the Cardinals’ lead. It’s now a 10-0 ballgame. Chargers have yet to show much life.
A whole quarter down, and the Chargers cannot move the ball. Justin Herbert is 2 of 6 for a whopping 19 yards. Just four rushes, meanwhile, for Austin Ekeler and Isaiah Spiller, who have combined for all of eight yards. Cardinals are playing with conviction, it seems, out of the gate. James Conner has been busy and finding holes, while Kyler Murray certainly has brought some pop to the passing game after last week’s tough start for Colt McCoy.
Massive finish to the Cardinals’ second drive, with Murray zipping one over the middle on a free play thanks to the Chargers’ offsides penalty, and Hopkins doing the rest:
Nothing doing for the Chargers on offense so far, which isn’t necessarily surprising, even though it is disappointing. Justin Herbert or not, L.A. has struggled all year to be an efficient attack. Two drives, 18 total yards. Arizona, meanwhile, is moving with Kyler Murray back under center, failing to do so on its first possession only because of James Conner’s fumble. Murray starts 6 for 6, hitting DeAndre Hopkins and Robbie Anderson (!) for early big gains.
With Mike Williams inactive for the Chargers, keep your eyes on Josh Palmer once again. He’s been a favorite target for Justin Herbert with or without Williams and/or Keenan Allen on the field. At least eight catches and 10 targets in three of his last four games, and he’s fresh off a two-touchdown outing vs. Kansas City. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are in the bottom half of the NFL in terms of pass defense, so they could be vulnerable against the wideout.
source: CBSSports.com
