BALTIMORE – Only one player in NFL history – Cam Newton -- had thrown for at least 300 yards in his first two NFL games, and Kyler Murray became the second Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
"A cool deal," Murray said, although his face showed anything but. "I wish we could've won the game."
Yards only mean so much. And after a 23-17 loss to the Ravens, it wasn't what the Cardinals (0-1-1) did on offense as much as what they did not do – get touchdowns when they had the chance.
A late one-yard David Johnson touchdown run got the Cardinals close, but three previous drives ended at the Baltimore 3, 4 and 3 with the outcome being Zane Gonzalez field goals – missed opportunities that ultimately doomed the Cards.
"We have to score in the red zone," said guard Justin Pugh, who played through an illness that nearly sidelined him for the game. "We felt like we had their defense where we had Detroit's (in Week 1)."
Murray was 25-for-40 for 349 yards, and both Christian Kirk (6-114) and Larry Fitzgerald (5-104) surpassed 100 yards receiving. But running back David Johnson, who missed a chunk of the first half after hurting his left wrist, gained only 14 yards on seven carries, and the Cards ran for 20 yards as a team on 11 attempts.
The Ravens (2-0) rushed for 182 yards, including 120 on 16 carries from quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson also threw two more touchdown passes and 272 yards. The numbers were skewed – yet if the Cardinals had converted a couple of their chances, the result could've been different.
And they knew it afterward.
"We have to execute better," Kirk said. "The red zone is tough. The field obviously shortens, and so does your playbook. We just have to be better down there."
The Cardinals were 1-for-4 in the red zone against Detroit before their 1-for-4 showing Sunday, and with a tie and a six-point loss, those statistics sting.
"I wish we would've done a better job overall as an offense finishing drives," coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "There are things to be learned from that."
"Play design, it starts there, and then I think we were a little bit off in our execution," Kingsbury added.
A quiet Johnson said he was fine health-wise, and deferring to Kingsbury on the idea that the Cardinals should run more when they get close to the goal line.
"Coach knows what he's doing," Johnson said. "He knows how to dial it up. No matter what (the play) is, we've got to get it in the end zone."
Even with the issues, the Cardinals still had the ball with four minutes on the clock and down six. But starting at their own 9, Murray had a near-intentional grounding, and the Cardinals were flagged for a hold and a false start before punting the ball away.
"It was loud as hell," Murray said, hampering the communication late.
An opening for a final drive was lost when Jackson found Marquise Brown deep for a 41-yard completion – despite tight coverage by cornerback Tramaine Brock – on third-and-11.
"I'm not cool with losing." Murray said. "We played hard, lost by six, and we had a chance to win. But we came up short."
It ruined the return of linebacker Terrell Suggs, who came back to play the team he was with for 16 years. Jackson's abilities mostly negated those of Suggs and fellow pass-rusher Chandler Jones – they combined for five tackles and no quarterback hits – and the Cards also got eaten up by a tight end for a second straight week. Mark Andrews, who is from Scottsdale, had eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown, with tight end Hunter Hurst also catching a TD.
"I really wanted to win this one," Suggs said. "But coming across the country, playing a good team … momentum is real. This was just a tough one."
The Cardinals do have back-to-back home games, starting with the struggling Panthers next week. They have shown improvement, especially offensively, from where they were. But touchdowns are crucial – pass up too many chances, and the Cardinals have tangible evidence it will cost.
"Once we get rolling, we're hard to stop," Pugh said. "I know we're headed in the right direction."
Images from the Cardinals' Week 2 game in Baltimore
OLB Cassius Marsh gets a sack.
Cardinals outside linebacker Terrell Suggs warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws to a receiver in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws to a receiver in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
Defensive tackle Corey Peters tried to corral Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
OLB Terrell Suggs breaks down the huddle
Cardinals wide receiver Damiere Byrd rushes the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
QB Kyler Murray warms up before the game.
QB Kyler Murray scrambles with the ball.
Ravens tight end Nick Boyle, left, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy (33) and outside linebacker Haason Reddick as he rushes the ball in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
CB Byron Murphy before the game.
RB David Johnson carries the ball.
Cardinals outside linebacker Terrell Suggs warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs with the ball.
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, left, celebrates his touchdown with teammate Willie Snead in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore.
WR KeeSean Johnson hauls in a 31-yard catch.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Damiere Byrd (14) dives as he rushes the ball in the first half.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, speaks with quarterback Kyler Murray in the first half of Sunday.
Ravens running back Justice Hill rushes the ball against the Cardinals.
Cardinals wide receiver KeeSean Johnson, right, catches a pass in front of Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr.
Cardinals wide receiver Damiere Byrd, right, rushes against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Anthony Averett, from left, inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor and defensive lineman Patrick Ricard.
Ravens running back Justice Hill, left, dives but is unable to score a touchdown as he is tackled by Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver KeeSean Johnson, left, tries to break free from Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr after making a catch.
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Cyrus Jones, right, rushes against Arizona Cardinals long snapper Aaron Brewer.
Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram, left, rushes past Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury watches the second half against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk rushes the ball in the second half against the Ravens.
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, left, tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as Jackson rushes the ball.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, embraces Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Terrell Suggs after Suggs tackled Jackson on a play in the second half.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, right, catches a pass in front of Baltimore Ravens strong safety Tony Jefferson in the second half.
Cardinals tight end Charles Clay (85) rushes against Baltimore Ravens linebacker Chris Board.
Baltimore Ravens defenders tackle Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) in the second half.
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown in the second half to make the score 20-15.
Kyler Murray sits on the Cardinals sideline in the second half.
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald rushes the ball in the second half against the Ravens.
Cardinals wide receiver KeeSean Johnson scores a two-point conversion in the second half to make the score 20-17 in the fourth quarter.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, rushes past Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker in the second half.
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, left, walks off the field after speaking with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, right, after the game. Baltimore won 23-17.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, shakes hands with Cardinals defensive back Chris Jones after the game. Baltimore won 23-17.
