Kyler Murray returned to home to Texas, and made sure -- once again -- it was as if he never left.
The Cardinals quarterback helped end a three-game losing streak by playing like he had pre-streak -- the guy in the MVP conversation -- Sunday in the Cardinals' 25-22 victory over the Cowboys.
Murray remains undefeated in eight lifetime starts at AT&T Stadium (9-0 in games his teams have played there), dating back to quarterbacking at Allen High School. Only Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (30) and former Cowboys signal-caller Tony Romo (27) have earned more wins in the Cowboys' home.
"Coming home, I feel like I can't lose," Murray said. That's the mentality; that's just how I feel. Again, though, it's about coming out and executing. I don't know what it is, whether it's the great fans, the stadiums. But when you play at Cowboys stadium, it's a big game. That's the feel around it."
Murray completed 68 percent of his passes for 263 yards, two touchdowns with no interceptions for a passing rating of 105.5. The last time Murray earned a passer rating of 100 or higher was Week 13, his return from a three-week ankle injury and the last time the Cardinals won.
One reason for Murray's success came from having a clean pocket. Left tackle D.J. Humphries was out with Covid, but according to Pro Football Focus, only right tackle Josh Jones allowed a sack and gave up just one pressure against one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.
"I think we kicked too many field goals, but when you don't turn the ball over and play clean, you give yourself a chance," Murray said. That's something we did well today."
Murray's 44 rushing yards on nine carries meant Murray joined Cam Newton as the only players in NFL history to have 11,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in his first three seasons.
But stats aside, the highlight of his night came at the end of the game.
When Prescott connected with wideout Amari Cooper for a touchdown, the Cardinals' lead shrunk to just three points.
With 4:32 left in regulation, Murray understood the assignment of finishing the drive and not giving the NFL's No.1 offense the ball back with a chance to win the game.
Murray used his arm and legs to create plays and run the clock out on the Cowboys, with Murray taking three knees to close out the win. Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Murray checked into some of the calls to keep the drive going.
"That was huge," Kingsbury said. "We knew we had kept the defense on the field a long time and knew we needed to put that away. It was just a big-time drive by everyone on offense."
Safety Budda Baker said the defense was prepared to go back on the field, but with Murray finishing the job, Baker said wasn't surprised.
But what impressed Baker most was seeing Murray care about getting the team victory more than capturing another win in AT&T Stadium.
"I didn't know him in high school, so I didn't know his record," Baker said. "But I just know last year he came in here hot, fire, and this year – same thing. It reminds me of myself when I go to Seattle; it's just one of those things when you go to your hometown. And, of course, for him where he played high school games and he's now in the NFL. That brings up memories and makes you reminisce about that stadium every time he gets in there.
"But the great thing about Kyler is, he doesn't care about being 9-0 in Texas; he just wants to win. And that's what we did today."
