WEEK 14 GAME RELEASE #AZvsNYG Mark Dal ton - Senior Vice Presid ent, Med ia Rel ations Ch ris Mel vin - Director, Med ia Rel ations Mik e Hel m - Manag er, Med ia Rel ations Imani Sube r - Me dia Re latio ns Coordinato r C hase Russe ll - Me dia Re latio ns Coordinator ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-6) VS. NEW YORK GIANTS (5-7) MetLife Stadium | December 13, 2020 | 11:00 AM
THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW ARIZONA CARDINALS - 2020 SCHEDULE In their fourth and fi nal regular season trip to the East Coast, Arizona travels to Regular Season New Jersey to face the Giants in the Cardinals second visit to MetLife Stadium Date Opponent Loca on AZ Time this season. Arizona defeated the Jets 30-10 at the venue in Week 5. Sep. 13 @ San Francisco Levi's Stadium W, 24-20 Sep. 20 WASHINGTON State Farm Stadium W, 30-15 A victory this week would give the Cardinals road wins over the Giants and Sep. 27 DETROIT State Farm Stadium L, 23-26 Jets in a single season for just the second me (1975). That feat won't be easy, Oct. 4 @ Carolina Bank of America Stadium L 21-31 as Arizona squares off against a Giants team that has won four straight while Oct. 11 @ N.Y. Jets MetLife Stadium W, 30-10 allowing just six off ensive TDs in that stretch. Their most recent win came last Oct. 19 @ Dallas+ AT&T Stadium W, 38-10 week when they knocked off the Seahawks 17-12 in Sea le. The 12 points rep- Oct. 25 SEATTLE~ State Farm Stadium W, 37-34 (OT) resented a season-low for Sea le. - BYE- Sunday's game between the Cardinals and Giants is the 128th all- me mee ng Nov. 8 MIAMI State Farm Stadium L, 31-34 between the teams in a series that dates back to 1926. It is Arizona's third- Nov. 15 BUFFALO State Farm Stadium W, 32-30 oldest rivalry (Chicago - 1920; Green Bay - 1921) and the Cardinals have faced Nov. 19 @ Sea le# CenturyLink Field L, 21-28 the Giants more mes than any other NFL franchise. Nov. 29 @ New England Gille e Stadium L, 17-20 Arizona has had success on the road against the Giants of late. The Cardinals Dec. 6 L.A. RAMS State Farm Stadium L, 28-38 have won three in a row da ng back to 2009 and have won both games against Dec. 13 @ N.Y. Giants MetLife Stadium 11:00 AM the Giants at MetLife Stadium since the venue opened in 2010. In the 94-year Dec. 20 PHILADELPHIA State Farm Stadium 2:05 PM history of the series, the Cardinals have never won four consecu ve road Dec. 26 SAN FRANCISCO^ State Farm Stadium 2:30 PM games against the Giants. Jan. 3 @ L.A. Rams* SoFi Stadium 2:25 PM This weekend's game could represent the second mee ng between a pair of + ESPN Monday Night Football second-year signal-callers in Arizona QB Kyler Murray and Giants QB Daniel ~ NBC Sunday Night Football Jones. Murray - the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Dra - was selected by # FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Thursday Night Football Arizona just an hour before the Giants dra ed Jones with the #6 overall pick. ^ Airs na onally on Amazon and Twitch They were the fi rst two QBs dra ed in 2019 and they squared off as rookies * Subject to fl exible scheduling decisions last season when the Cardinals defeated the Giants 27-21 at MetLife Stadium. Looking to put pressure on Jones this week will be a pair of former Giants: LBs Markus Golden and Devon Kennard. Just 52 days a er being traded from New York to Arizona, Golden will face his former team - and teammate - for the fi rst # AZvsNYG - WEEK 14 HIG HLIG HTS me. Kennard was dra ed by New York in the fi h round (174th overall) of the 2014 NFL Dra and spent his fi rst four seasons (2014-17) with the Giants. The Cardinals head to New York to face the Giants in Week 14 in the 128th all- A key factor for the Cardinals on Sunday will be the con nued success of WR time meeting between the teams dating back to 1926. It is the Cardinals third- DeAndre Hopkins and RB Chase Edmonds while playing at MetLife Stadium. oldest rivalry (Chicago, Green Bay) and Arizona has faced the Giants more Hopkins has 417 receiving yards and three TDs in three games at the venue mes than any other NFL franchise. and posted 100+ receiving yards in all three contests. Edmonds - a record- Last week Arizona scored three second-half TDs against a Rams team that setting RB at Fordham who played his home games at Jack Coffey Field in the hadn't allowed more than one second-half TD in their previous 11 games - and Bronx - has four of his seven career rushing TDs at MetLife Stadium. All four of just two all season. On Sunday, the Cardinals will face a Giants team that has those TDs covered 20+ yards. won four straight while allowing just six total offensive TDs in that stretch. Following this week's game against the Giants, the Cardinals return home to After throwing three TD passes last week against the Rams, QB Kyler Murray face another NFC East opponent in the Philadelphia Eagles. Arizona then plays now has 22 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs in 2020. He is just the third different its final two regular season games against division foes (vs. 49ers in Week 16; at player in NFL history with 20+ passing TDs and 10+ rushing TDs in a season and Rams in Week 17). The Giants remain home as they host the Browns. first player in league history to have done so in the first 12 games of a season. TE Dan Arnold hauled in two TD catches last week, including a 59-yard TD re- G AME RELEASE INDEX ception in the first quarter. It was the longest TD catch by a Cardinals TE since Hall of Famer Jackie Smith had a 68-yarder from Gary Cuozzo on 11/12/72 at Dallas. WR DeAndre Hopkins has 85 receptions for 1,019 yards and five TDs in 2020. Page Contents It marks his sixth career 1,000-yard campaign and fourth in a row. Hopkins' 85 re- 2-3 Cardinals-Giants Series ceptions rank third in the NFL behind WRs Keenan Allen (90) and Stefon Diggs (90). 4 By The Numbers / What To Look For / Cardinals Media Info 5-10 2020 Season Highlights / Murray / Hopkins / Kirk / Baker LB Dennis Gardeck posted his third sack of the season last week when he 10 Season Award Winners - Baker, Hopkins and Murray took down Rams QB Jared Goff. Gardeck played just three defensive snaps in 11-14 Larry Fitzgerald Highlights the contest. The third-year special teams standout recorded his 3.0 sacks in two 15-16 DeAndre Hopkins Highlights games (2 @ NYJ; 1 vs. LAR) in which he played a combined 13 defensive snaps. 17 Cards Leadership / Michael Bidwill / Steve Keim / Social Justice Initiatives RB Chase Edmonds has played two career games at MetLife Stadium and had 18-19 Defensive Highlights / Peterson / Hicks / Special Teams four TD runs of 20+ yards in those outings. Edmonds has four TDs in two games 20-21 Cardinals COVID-19 Relief Eff orts at MetLife Stadium and seven TDs in his other 39 career games. 23-24 Individual Player Notes After posting 12 tackles last week, S Budda Baker leads the Cardinals with 25-67 Rosters / Depth Chart / Transac ons / 2020 Sta s cs 94 tackles in 2020. That ranks second among NFL DBs (Bills S Jordan Poyer - 96). BROADCAST INFORMATION Television: FOX / Play-By-Play: Kenny Albert Analyst: Jonathan Vilma Sideline: Shannon Spake Cardinals Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM / Play-By-Play: Dave Pasch Analyst: Ron Wolfl ey Sideline: Paul Calvisi Cardinals Spanish Radio: KHOV 105.1 FM / Play-By-Play: Luis Hernandez Analyst: Rolando Cantu
1 CARDINALS-GIANTS CONNECTIONS CARDS VS. GIANTS - SERIES BREAKDOWN
GIANTS CONNECTIONS Sunday's game between the Car- Cardinals LB Markus Golden played seven games for the Giants this season dinals and Giants is the 128th all- before being traded to the Cardinals in Week 7. me mee ng between the two Cardinals LB Devon Kennard was selected by the Giants in the fi h round teams in a series that dates back (174th overall) of the 2014 NFL Dra and played 52 games (35 starts) in four to 1926. It is the Cardinals third- years (2014-17) for New York. oldest rivalry (Chicago, Green Cardinals OL Jus n Pugh was dra ed by the Giants in the rst round (19th Bay) and the Cardinals have fi faced the Giants more mes overall) of the 2013 NFL Dra and started all 63 games played in fi ve seasons (2013-17) with the team. than any other NFL franchise. Cardinals LBs coach Bill Davis held the same posi on for the Giants in 2004. Between 1950 and 2001, the Cardinals and Giants played Cardinals Off ensive Assistant Don Shumpert spent the 2018 season with twice a year (except in 1968 and the Giants in the same role. 1982) as members of the NFC Cardinals CBs coach Greg Williams spent training camp with the Giants in 1999. East before the Cardinals joined the NFC West in the division realignment in 2002. Cardinals TE Maxx Williams’ father, Brian, played on the Giants off ensive line from 1989-99. This week’s mee ng marks the 10th me the two teams have faced off since the Cardinals joined the NFC West in 2002, with Arizona holding a 6-3 advan- Cardinals Director of Player Personnel Quen n Harris spent the 2006 train- ing camp with the Giants. Harris was a four-year starter at free safety for tage in the previous nine matchups. The Cardinals have won four of the last Syracuse from 1998-2001. fi ve games against the Giants. Cardinals Director of Football Administra on Ma Harriss spent 10 seasons Arizona has won its last three road games against the Giants, including a 27- 21 victory in Week 7 last season. Arizona is 3-1 all- me at MetLife Stadium, (2006-2015) in the Giants football opera ons department. with a 2-0 record against the Giants and a 1-1 record against the Jets. CARDINALS CONNECTIONS Giants RB Alfred Morris appeared in one game for the Cardinals in 2019. CARDS-GIANTS REGULAR SEASON SERIES Giants RB Elijhaa Penny played all 16 games for the Cardinals during the Overall Regular Season Series: 45-80-2 2017 season. Cardinals on the road at NYG: 22-48-0 First Mee ng: 11/7/26 @ NY Giants, L, 20-0 Giants TEs coach Freddie Kitchens served on the Arizona off ensive coaching staff from 2007-17. Kitchens spent more seasons with the Cardinals (11) Last Mee ng: 10/20/19 @ NY Giants, W, 27-21 than any other assistant coach in franchise history. Hired as a TEs coach in Last Cardinals Road Win: 10/20/19 @ NY Giants, W, 27-21 2007, he spent six seasons in that posi on before taking over as QBs coach in 2013. During his fi nal season with Arizona in 2017, Kitchens was the Car- dinals RBs coach. ANOTHER VISIT TO METLIFE Giants CB Brandon Williams played for Arizona from 2016-18. Giants Asst. DBs coach Anthony Blevins was a coaching assistant/special This week's matchup vs. the Giants teams for the Cardinals from 2013-17. marks the Cardinals second game at MetLife Stadium in a span of 10 Giants Asst. Coach - Special Projects and Situa ons Amos Jones was the weeks: @ NY Jets in Week 5. Cardinals Special Teams Coordinator from 2013-17. Prior to 2020, the last me the Car- Giants WRs coach Tyke Tolbert served in the same capacity for the Cardinals dinals played two road games at the during the 2003 season. same venue in a regular season was in NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY CONNECTIONS 1999 at Giants Stadium, also against Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds was a college standout at Fordham (2014-17). the Jets and Giants. A three- me consensus All-American, he closed out his career as the Patriot Combined with their Week 7 trip to face the Giants last season, it represents League all- me leading rusher and ranked fi h in NCAA FCS history with 5,862 the Cardinals third game at MetLife Stadium in the last two seasons. career rushing yards. Having defeated the Jets 30-10 in Week 5 earlier this season, a victory over Cardinals OL Jus n Pugh played at Syracuse and hails from Holland, PA, about 80 miles from East Rutherford, NJ. the Giants this week would give the Cardinals road wins against both the Giants and Jets for just the second me (1975). Cardinals LB Haason Reddick is a na ve of Camden, NJ and was awarded a Key to the City in a ceremony aboard the Ba leship New Jersey the week he Arizona has victories over both New York teams it has faced this season. In was dra ed (2017). addi on to the win over the Jets, the Cardinals also defeated the Bills 32-30 in Week 10. With a win over the Giants on Sunday, Arizona would have a win Cardinals LB Kylie Fi s’ father, Ma , pitched in the New York Mets system. against all three New York teams in a single season for just the second me Cardinals Bill Bidwill Fellowship/QBs coach Jordan Hogan is from Lockport, NY ever (1971). and was a WR at the College of Brockport. Cardinals Off ensive Quality Control coach Jim Dray is a Paramus, NJ na ve and starred at Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) High School where he was an SEASON STATISTICS All-State selec on in his junior and senior seasons. Cardinals VP of Football Opera ons and Facili es Ma Caracciolo is from StatisticStatistic AZAZ Rank NNYGYG Rank Oceanside, NY and a ended Ithaca College. He earned a master's degree Points Scored/Game 27.7 9 19.3 30 from Syracuse University while serving as a administra ve graduate assistant. Points Allowed/Game 24.7 14 22.1 9 ARIZONA CONNECTIONS Yards/Play 5.8 9 5.0 28 Giants Asst. Special Teams coach Tom Quinn played college football at the Yards/Play Allowed 5.39 13 5.37 11 University of Arizona from 1986-90. 3rd Down Pct. 43.0 t-13 39.9 20 Giants LB Blake Mar nez is a Tucson, AZ na ve and a ended Mountain 4 Down Pct. 73.3 6 75.0 t-4 3 Down Pct. Allowed 42.6 20 42.1 19 View (Mesa), Santa Rita (Tucson) and Canyon Del Oro (Oro Valley) High th Schools. Mar nez was a two- me Southern Arizona Player of the Year and 4 Down Pct. Allowed 60.0 21 64.3 25 PrepStar All-West Region. Scoring Drives 57 10 46 t-26 TDs Scored 41 t-5 22 31 Giants WR Golden Tate was dra ed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the TDs Allowed 33 t-13 29 8 42nd round of the 2007 MLB Dra . Rushing TDs 19 t-2 11 t-15 PRO/COLLEGE CONNECTIONS Passing TDs 22 t-11 9 31 Giants WR Golden Tate played for the Eagles with Cardinals LB Jordan Hicks Rushing TDs Allowed 11 t-13 10 t-10 in 2018 and played for Sea le with Cardinals OL J.R. Sweezy from 2012-13. Passing TDs Allowed 20 t-15 17 t-7 Giants RBs coach Burton Burns (2007-17) served as the RBs coach at Alabama Sacked/Yards Lost 20/121 9 33/184 t-25 while Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake (2012-15) played for the Crimson Tide. The Fumbles/Lost 13/5 t-8 12/7 t-21 program won two BCS Na onal Championship during their me together. Field Goals Made 16/22 t-24 26/27 3 Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons played at Clemson with Giants RB Wayne Gall- Total Yards/Game 389.4 6 311.8 31 man in 2016 and Giants DL Dexter Lawrence from 2016-18. Opp. Total Yards/Game 359.9 18 339.0 10 Rushing Yards/Game 150.6 4 119.8 11 Cardinals OL Kelvin Beachum (2017-19) and Giants DL Leonard Williams Opp. Rushing Yards/Game 123.0 22 96.7 4 (2015-19) played together for the Jets. Passing Yards/Game 238.8 19 192.1 29 Giants WR Dante Pe s (2014-17) played alongside Cardinals S Budda Baker Opp. Passing Yards/Game 236.9 16 242.3 18 (2014-16), CB Byron Murphy Jr (2017-18) and LB Ezekiel Turner (2015-17) at Turnover Ratio Even t-17 +3 t-12 Washington. Average Time of Possession 28:22 28 29:54 20 2 MURRAY VS. JONES - ROUND 2 LIGHTING IT UP IN THE APPLE
Sunday's game could serve as the second In three career games at MetLife Stadium, WR De- mee ng between between Cardinals QB Andre Hopkins has 22 recep ons for 417 yards and Kyler Murray and Giants QB Daniel Jones three TDs. He posted 100+ receiving yards in all in the last two seasons. three games. Murray - the #1 overall pick in the 2019 In Week 5 against the Jets earlier this season, Hop- NFL Dra - was selected by Arizona just an kins had six catches for 131 yards, including a 37- hour before the Giants dra ed Jones with yard TD recep on. the #6 overall pick. They were the fi rst two Hopkins Career Games at MetLife Stadium QBs dra ed in 2019 and they squared off Date Rec Yds Avg. TD (Dist) as rookies last season when the Cardinals 10/11/20 @ NYJ 6 131 21.8 1 (37) defeated the Giants 27-21 in Week 7 at MetLife Stadium. 12/15/18 @ NYJ 10 170 17.0 2 (45, 14) Murray and Jones - NFL Sta s cs (2019-20) 9/21/14 @ NYG 6 116 19.3 0 Player Gms Cmp/A Pct. Yds TD Rate Rush Yds TD Totals 22 417 18.9 3 Murray 28 634/968 65.5 6,709 42 90.5 195 1,209 14 In two career games against the Giants, he has 12 recep ons for 202 yards, Jones 24 512/820 62.4 5,362 32 83.7 100 682 3 including a 116-yard performance at MetLife Stadium in 2014. Below is breakdown of Murray and Jones' statistics by game: With 100+ receiving yards against the Giants on Sunday, Hopkins would be- Murray & Jones Statistical Game Breakdown (Career) come the fi rst Cardinals player since Mel Gray in 1975 to have 100+ receiv- Statistic Murray Jones ing yards in a road stadium mul ple mes in a single season. Gray had 187 300 Yards Passing 7 5 receiving yards against the Giants (Week 6) and 116 yards against the Jets 100+ Passer Rating 8 5 (Week 10) at Shea Stadium that season. 2+ TD Passes 15 8 3+ TD Passes 6 3 50+ Rush Yards 11 4 EDMONDS' SUCCESS AT METLIFE STADIUM 1+ Rushing TD 12 2 2+ Total TDs (Pass & Rush) 19 8 ROOKIE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS RB Chase Edmonds had a record-setting career Murray started all 16 games as a rookie last season, completing 349-of-542 at Fordham, playing his home games at Jack Cof- fey Field in the Bronx, just 18 miles from MetLife pass attempts (64.4%) for 3,722 yards, 20 TDs, 12 INTs and an 87.4 passer Stadium. Since coming to the NFL in 2018, Ed- rating. He also rushed for 544 yards and 4 TDs on 93 carries. He established monds has twice played at MetLife Stadium and franchise rookie records for passing yards, TD passes, completions and at- he recorded four TD runs of 20+ yards in those tempts on his way to winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. two contests. Jones played in 13 games in 2019 and set franchise rookie records with 459 In his first return to the area as a pro - in Week 7 pass attempts, 284 completions, 3,027 yards and 24 TDs. The former records of the 2019 season against the Giants - he posted had all stood since Charley Conerly set them in 1948. career-highs in scrimmage yards (150), rushing yards (126) and TDs (3). His three rushing TDs Both Murray and Jones posted five games with 300+ passing yards in 2019. covered 20, 20 and 22 yards, becoming the just They are two of just four rookies in NFL history to have at least five 300-yard the sixth player in NFL history with three rushing outings, joining Justin Herbert (6) and Andrew Luck (6). TDs of 20+ yards in a game. NFL History – Most Rushing TDs of 20+ Yards (Game) PUGH INVESTS IN HIS NY/NJ ROOTS Player (Team) TDs Opponent Chase Edmonds (AZ) 3 10/20/19 @ NY Giants Doug Martin (TB) 3 11/4/12 @ Oakland Cardinals OL Jus n Pugh grew up in Holland, PA, located just 80 miles from Adrian Peterson (Min) 3 10/14/07 @ Chicago East Rutherford where the Giants play their home games at MetLife Stadium. Clinton Portis (Den) 3 12/7/03 vs. Kansas City A er a ending Syracuse - where he earned All-American honors - Pugh was Mercury Morris (Mia) 3 9/30/73 vs. New England dra ed by the Giants in the fi rst round (19th overall) of the 2013 NFL Dra . Ernie Caddel (Det) 3 9/20/35 vs. Philadelphia Upon entering the league, Pugh moved to Hoboken on the New Jersey side Edmonds is one of just four players from a visiting team to score at least of the Hudson River where he discovered Tony Boloney’s, a local restaurant three rushing TDs in a game at MetLife Stadium. chain that features crea ve pizzas and sandwiches. He became a fan of the 3+ Rushing TDs by Opponent at MetLife Stadium unique menu and was approached about inves ng in the company. Pugh, 3 - 12/29/19 @ NYG (Phi RB Boston Scott) a fi nance major at Syracuse, ini ally declined, but in 2018, he reconsidered 3 - 10/21/19 @ NYJ (NE RB Sony Michel) and now owns a 5 percent stake in the restaurant’s holding company as well 3 - 10/20/19 @ NYG (AZ RB Chase Edmonds) as a piece of two of the four brick-and-mortar stores in New Jersey. 3 - 9/30/18 @ NYG (NO RB Alvin Kamara) “When I was in New Jersey, I used to have this pizza place all the me - Tony When Edmonds and the Cardinals returned to MetLife Stadium earlier Boloney’s.” He said, “I had a chance to invest when they were expanding this season - to face the Jets in Week 5 - Edmonds recorded 92 yards (36 and pu ng one in Jersey City right near where I lived, so I had to jump at rushing; 56 receiving) and a TD on eight touches. His TD came on a 29- the opportunity.” yard run in the fourth quarter. It was the fi rst investment outside of tradi onal bonds for the self-pro- Edmonds has four TDs in two career games at MetLife Stadium and 7 TDs in claimed “carboholic,” who knows the product and industry well. “I love the 39 career games played away from the venue. Of his five career TD runs of product, so I think any me you can get behind product and you actually love 20+ yards, four have come at MetLife Stadium. it, it’s a no-brainer,” Pugh told ESPN in 2019. AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP Having spent much of his life in the New York/ GOLDEN AND KENNARD RETURN TO NEW YORK New Jersey area, Pugh holds many strong es in the region. One long-las ng friendship that caught na onal a en on for its unusual origins is with an On Sunday two former Giants LBs return to face elderly widower who lived next door in an apart- their former team. Just 52 days a er being traded ment complex during Pugh's me with the Giants. from New York to Arizona, Markus Golden will face his former team for the fi rst me in his career The two met when William "Bill" Brown - the neigh- - while playing for another of his former teams. bor - struggling with health issues and unable to pay the rent on the apartment he had lived in for over A second round pick (58th overall) by the Cardi- 30 years, wrote Pugh a le er asking for help. nals in the 2015 NFL Dra , Golden spent his fi rst four seasons (2015-18) in Arizona before signing “I guess it was kind of crazy, like this guy le a note with the Giants as a free agent in 2019. He re- on my back gate and then literally within an hour I turned to New York in the off season and played was wri ng him a check to pay his rent,” Pugh said seven games with the Giants in 2020 before be- in a video documen ng their friendship. “It wasn’t ing traded back to Arizona in October. In his fi rst going to hurt me and set me back and I was able to help someone stay in season with New York in 2019, Golden set single-season career highs in tack- their home who’s been there for nearly 30 years; I thought it was just a no les (72) and QB hits (27) and led the Giants with 10.0 sacks. brainer. Something you don’t even think about twice.” Devon Kennard was selected by New York in the fi h round (174th overall) of From that me forward, the two became close friends and remain so to this the 2014 NFL Dra and played in 52 games (35 starts) in four seasons (2014- day - despite the 40-year age gap between them. “Right now I would prob- 17) with the Giants. He registered 203 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 3 ably be homeless if it wasn’t for him,” Brown claimed. forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries during his me in New York. 3 BY THE NU MBERS WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WEEK 14
3-1 WITH A WIN THIS WEEK... Cardinals record at MetLife Stadium since the venue opened in 2010. That Arizona would improve to 4-1 at MetLife Stadium since the venue opened in includes a 2-0 record against the Giants. Having defeated the Jets 30-10 in 2010, including a 3-0 record against the Giants. It would also give the Cardinals Week 5 earlier this season, a victory over the Giants this week would give road wins against both the Giants and Jets in the same season for just the the Cardinals road wins against both the Giants and Jets in the same season second me (1975). for just the second me (1975). MILESTONES WITHIN REACH 4 WR Larry Fitzgerald Rushing TDs - all of which covered 20+ yards - for RB Chase Edmonds in two With a recep on Fitzgerald would have at least one catch in 254 consecu ve career games at MetLife Stadium, including three against the Giants in Week 7 games, extending the second-longest streak in NFL history (Jerry Rice - 274). last season. Edmonds has four TDs in two career games at MetLife Stadium With 7 recep ons Fitzgerald would reach 50 catches for the 17th consecu ve and 7 TDs in 39 career games played away from the venue. season, the longest streak in NFL history. Tony Gonzalez (16; 1998-2013) and 417 Fitzgerald are currently ed for the longest streak in league history. Receiving yards for WR DeAndre Hopkins in three career games at MetLife QB Kyler Murray Stadium. In those three contests, Hopkins totaled 22 recep ons for 417 yards With a rushing TD Murray would have 11 rushing TDs in 2020. Among all QBs, and three TDs. He has 100+ receiving yards in all three games he has played at only Cam Newton (14 in 2011) and Steve Grogan (12 in 1976) would have more the venue, including 131 yards against the Jets in Week 5. rushing TDs in a single season. With both a rushing and passing TD Murray would establish an NFL single- 12,071 season record for games with a passing and rushing TD (9). Passing yards for Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (6,709) and Giants QB Daniel With three TD passes Murray (25 TD pass; 10 TD run) would join Cam Newton Jones (5,362) since they were selected #1 and #6 overall, respec vely, in the (35 TD pass; 10 TD run in 2015) as the only players in NFL history with 25+ pass- 2019 NFL Dra . Murray (56) and Jones (35) have also combined for 91 total TDs over the last two seasons. ing TDs and 10+ rushing TDs in a season. WR DeAndre Hopkins 32 With 100+ receiving yards Hopkins would have 100+ yards in all four career Total TDs - 22 passing and 10 rushing - for Murray in 2020. Only Aaron Rodgers games played at MetLife Stadium. Combined with his 131 yards against the Jets (37), Patrick Mahomes (33) and Russell Wilson (33) have more total TDs. in Week 5, he would become the fi rst Cardinals player since Mel Gray in 1975 1,019 to have 100+ receiving yards in a road stadium mul ple mes in a single season. Receiving yards for Hopkins in 2020. This marks his sixth career 1,000-yard With a TD recep on Hopkins would have four TD catches in four games at campaign and fourth in a row. Hopkins is the fi rst Cardinals player with 1,000+ MetLife Stadium. receiving yards since WR Larry Fitzgerald (1,156) in 2017. RB Chase Edmonds With a TD (of any kind) Edmonds would have fi ve total TDs in three career 85 games at MetLife Stadium. That would include four TDs in two games against Recep ons for Hopkins this season. That total ranks third in the NFL behind only Keenan Allen and Stefon Diggs (both with 90). the Giants at the venue. 59 WR Chris an Kirk With a TD recep on Kirk would have six TD catches in his last eight games. In Distance (in yards) of the TD catch by TE Dan Arnold last week against the his rst 29 career games, Kirk had seven TD recep ons. Rams. It was the longest TD recep on by a Cardinals TE since Jackie Smith had fi a 68-yard TD recep on from Gary Cuozzo on 11/12/72 at Dallas. Arnold and Smith are the only TEs in franchise history with a TD recep on of 59+ yards. W EEK 14 ARO UND THE NFL 2 TD recep ons for Arnold last week vs. Los Angeles. It was his fi rst career game Thursday, December 10 with mul ple TDs and gives him a career-high three TD catches in 2020. New England Patriots at Los Angeles Rams - 6:20 PM (FOX/NFLN/Amazon) 7 Sunday, December 13 Games in which the Cardinals have put up 400+ total yards of off ense this sea- Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants - 11:00 AM (FOX) son. Only Kansas City (8) has more. Arizona has had 400+ yards in a game 11 Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 11:00 AM (FOX) mes in 28 ou ngs under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Cardinals had just Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins - 11:00 AM (CBS) one game with 400+ yards in the two seasons (2017-18) prior to his arrival. Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars - 11:00 AM (CBS) Dallas Cowboys at Cincinna Bengals - 11:00 AM (FOX) 150.6 Houston Texans at Chicago Bears - 11:00 AM (CBS) Average rushing yards per game for the Cardinals in 2020, giving Arizona the Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers - 11:00 AM (CBS) New York Jets at Sea le Seahawks - 2:05 PM (CBS) NFL's #4 ranked rushing a ack. The Cardinals lead the NFL averaging 5.01 Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders - 2:05 PM (CBS) yards per rush a empt this season. Washington at San Francisco 49ers - 2:25 PM (FOX) New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles - 2:25 PM (FOX) 19 Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Chargers - 2:25 PM (FOX) Rushing TDs for the Cardinals this season. Only New Orleans (20) has more. Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions - 2:25 PM (FOX) 16 Pi sburgh Steelers at Buff alo Bills - 6:20 PM (NBC) Players who have at least one sack for the Cardinals this season. That is the most Monday, December 14 in the NFL. Arizona is ed for the league lead with nine players with 2.0+ sacks. Bal more Ravens at Cleveland Browns - 6:15 PM (ESPN) 9 INTs for the Cardinals defense in the last seven games. The unit had one INT K EEPING UP WITH THE C ARDINALS through the fi rst fi ve games in 2020. 16 Last year the Cardinals launched a new media site Rushing TDs for RB Kenyan Drake in 19 career games with the Cardinals. He on NFL Online Media Guide (www.NFLOMG.com). now has more rushing TDs in 19 games with Arizona (16) than he had total The all-encompassing media resource has taken TDs in 54 games played with Miami (15 – 9 rushing; 6 receiving). on special importance in following the Cardinals in 94 2020. Due to safety precau ons put in place during Total tackles for S Budda Baker in 2020. That total leads the team and ranks the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, hard copies of the second among all NFL defensive backs this season. game release, game books, transcripts and other team produced materials are not passed out during 241 the week or on game day at State Farm Stadium. Total tackles for S Budda Baker over the last two seasons (2019-20). The All- The Cardinals OMG site is updated con nuously Pro leads all NFL DBs in total tackles and solo tackles (159) during that span. and includes the following and more: 3 Tradi onal media guide informa on INTs for CB Dre Kirkpatrick this season. That es his career high for a single Player bios that will feature career and seasons season (also had 3 in 2013, 2014, 2016). Prior to 2020, Kirkpatrick had four stats updated in real- me. total INTs in his previous fi ve seasons (2015-19) combined. Offi cial league sta s cs from NFL GSIS Tweet-ready charts and stat grids that update in real me 28 Customizable in-game reports Career INTs for CB Patrick Peterson, who has three picks in 2020. Only four Final game books and sta s cs ac ve players - Richard Sherman, Tramon Williams, Johnathan Joseph and Records and milestones tracked live Marcus Peters - have more. Postgame quotes 4 A TOP-10 OFFENSE IN 2020 CARDS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL RUN GAME
The Cardinals rank #6 in the NFL in total off ense (389.4 ypg) and #8 in scoring Arizona has rushed for 1,807 yards and 19 TDs on (27.7 ppg) in 2020. 361 carries (5.01 avg.). In addi on to having the NFL’s #6 ranked off ense, the Cardinals also have NFL Leaders – Total Off ense (2020) NFL Leaders - Points/Game (2020) the NFL’s #4 ranked rushing a ack, averaging Rnk Team Yds/G Rnk Team Pts/G 150.6 rushing yards per game in 2020. 1 Kansas City 427.6 1 Green Bay 31.6 2 Green Bay 396.6 2 Kansas City 30.8 NFL Leaders – Rushing Yards/Game (2020) 3 L.A. Rams 395.3 3 Tennessee 29.9 Rnk Team Yds/Gm 4 Minnesota 389.8 4 Sea le 29.4 1 Cleveland 157.8 5 Tennessee 389.5 5 New Orleans 28.9 2 Bal more 157.6 6 Arizona 389.4 6 Tampa Bay 28.7 3 New England 150.9 7 L.A. Chargers 386.2 7t Pi sburgh 27.8 4 Arizona 150.6 8 Sea le 385.7 7t Buff alo 27.8 5 Tennessee 150.2 9 Dallas 379.8 9 Arizona 27.7 The Cardinals' 5.01 rushing average leads the NFL 10 Buff alo 378.8 10 Indianapolis 27.3 and their 19 rushing TDs are ed for the second- The Cardinals have 4,673 total net yards on highest total in the league. off ense (2,866 passing; 1,807 rushing). That NFL Leaders – Rushing TDs (2020) NFL Leaders – Rushing Average (2020) total has Arizona on pace to post 6,000+ to- Rnk Team TDs Rnk Team Avg. tal yards in a season for just the third team in 1 New Orleans 20 1 Arizona 5.01 team history. 2t Arizona 19 2 Philadelphia 4.98 Franchise Record – Total Yards (Net) 2t New England 19 3t Cleveland 4.88 Rnk Year Yards 4 L.A. Rams 18 3t Bal more 4.88 1 2015 6,533 5 Washington 17 5 Minnesota 4.87 2 1984 6,345 RUSHING AVERAGE NEAR A RECORD PACE * 2020 6,231 After finishing #32 in the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing average in 2018 3 2016 5,868 the Cardinals finished the 2019 season having averaged over 5.0 yards per rush 4 2008 5,852 attempt as a team for the first time in franchise history. Arizona averaged a *2020 Pace franchise-record 5.03 yards per rush attempt last season. With 332 points scored through 12 games, Through 12 games the Cardinals are averaging 5.01 yards per rush a empt, put- the Cardinals are on pace to score 443 points ng them on pace to surpass 5.0 yards per carry for the second straight year. in 2020. That would represent the second-highest season total in franchise history. A RARE NINE IN A ROW WITH 100+ RUSHING YARDS Franchise Record - Total Points Arizona has rushed for 100+ yards in 10 of 12 games this season and started the Rnk Year Pts year with 100+ rushing yards in each of the fi rst nine games. The 2020 season 1 2015 489 marked just the second me (1984) in the last 60 years (1961-20) that the Cardi- * 2020 443 nals rushed for 100+ yards in each of the fi rst nine games of a season. 2 2008 427 RUNNING FOR 150 & 200 UNDER KINGSBURY 3 1984 423 The Cardinals have rushed for 150+ yards in 11 of 28 games under Kingsbury. Ari- 4 2016 418 zona had seven such games in the three seasons (2016-18) prior to his arrival. The *2020 Pace Cardinals are 9-2 when rushing for 150+ yards over the last two seasons. Should Arizona con nue on its current pace, the team will make a run at a Arizona has rushed for 200+ yards in a game fi ve mes under Kingsbury, in- host of other franchise single-season records. cluding twice this season. The Cardinals had 200+ rushing yards in a game just Sta s c Thru 12 Pace Notes fi ve mes in the previous 15 seasons combined (2004-18) prior to Kingsbury’s Total TDs 37 54 Franchise record is 58 (2015) arrival. First Downs 298 397 Franchise record is 373 (2015) LONG DISTANCE RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS Rushing Yards 1,807 2,409 Franchise record is 2,582 (1979) RB Kenyan Drake had a 69-yard rushing TD in Week 6 at Dallas giving Arizona Rushing TDs 19 25 Franchise record is 25 (1948) four rushing TDs of 20+ yards in 2020 (QB Kyler Murray - 2; RB Chase Edmonds - Rushing Avg. 5.01 5.01 Franchise record is 5.03 (2019) 1). That is the most in the NFL this season. 1st Downs Rushing 109 145 Franchise record is 145 (1979)
FRANCHISE RECORD POINTS STREAK A REMARKABLE OFFENSIVE TURNAROUND The Cardinals have scored 21+ points in 21 of 28 games under head coach Kliff Since being hired in 2019, head coach Kliff Kingsbury has transformed the Kingsbury. Arizona scored 21+ points in an NFL-low 9 games in the two seasons Cardinals off ense from the NFL's least produc ve in 2018 into one of the prior to his arrival (2017-18). league's elite units this season. Through 12 games in 2020 Arizona has already surpassed its 2018 o ensive totals in nearly every category. Arizona had a streak of 13 consecu ve ff games with 21+ points that was snapped Cards Off ensive Thru 12 Games in 2020 vs. 2018 Final in Week 12 at New England. That streak is Sta s c Thru 12 2018 (Rnk) +/- the longest in franchise history. Total Yards 4,673 3,865 (32) +808 Total TDs 41 27 (31) +14 Consecu ve Games Scoring 21+ Pts First Downs 298 239 (32) +59 Rnk Year(s) Gms Rushing Yards 1,807 1,342 (32) +465 1 2019-20 13 Rushing TDs 19 9 (t-27) +10 2 1983-84 11 Rushing Avg. 5.01 3.78 (32) +1.23 3t 2007-08 10 Total Points 332 225 (32) +107 3t 1948-49 10 Passing TDs 22 15 (t-20) +7 5 1975-76 9 Net Pass Yards 2,866 2,523 (32) +343 FIVE IN A ROW WITH 400+ YARDS AND 30+ POINTS Avg. Yards/Play 5.79 4.28 (32) +1.51 Arizona had a streak of fi ve consecu ve games in which they put up 30+ points and 400+ net yards of off ense that was snapped at Sea le in Week 11. It was the PILING UP 400+ YARDS OFTEN UNDER KINGSBURY longest such streak in franchise history and the longest for any team in the league The Cardinals have put up 400+ net yards in a game since Denver set an NFL record with 30/400 in 10 straight games in 2012-13. 11 mes under head coach Kliff Kingsbury - including in seven games this sea- son. Arizona had 400+ yards once in 32 games over the two seasons combined Only four teams in NFL history had more consecu ve games with 30/400 than (2017-18) prior to his arrival. the Cardinals. Only Kansas City (8) has put up 400+ yards in a game more mes than Arizona NFL Record – Consecu ve Games w/ 30+ Points & 400+ Total Yards (7) this season. Rnk Team Gms Year(s) NFL Leaders – Games w/ 400+ Total Yards (2020) 1 Denver 10 2012 Rnk Team Gms 2 New England 9 2006-07 1 Kansas City 8 3 StL Rams 8 1999-00 2t Arizona 7 4 New England 6 2011 2t L.A. Rams 7 5t Arizona 5 2020 (Games 5-9) 4t Green Bay 6 5t San Francisco 5 1994 4t Tennessee 6 5t Oakland 5 1968 4t Minnesota 6 5t Philadelphia 5 1953 5 NEXT MAN UP ON VANCE'S DEFENSE CAPTAIN BAKER - CARDINALS HEART & SOUL
The Cardinals have suff ered some heavy losses ""TheThe guyguy isis a humanhuman eraser.eraser. HeHe makesmakes a tonton ofof tackles,tackles, hehe bringsbrings energy,energy, on the defensive side of the ball in 2020, includ- hhee bbringsrings juice,juice, he'she's physical.physical. He'sHe's ourour leaderleader andand ourour heartheart andand soulsoul onon ing the loss of team captains LB Chandler Jones ddefense."efense." - GMGM SteveSteve KKeimeim and DL Corey Peters for the season and a host of other key contributors landing on the injured ""NobodyNobody meansmeans moremore toto thisthis footballfootball teamteam thanthan BuddaBudda Baker,Baker, andand youyou reserve list. ccanan taketake tthathat toto thethe bank."bank." - WRWR LarryLarry FitzgeraldFitzgerald Of the seven players currently on IR, six are defen- Signed to a four-year contract extension dur- sive players. ing training camp, S Budda Baker is delivering quite the encore performance this year a er a The team has had 18 diff erent defenders miss breakout campaign in 2019. a combined 67 games due to injury already this season In Week 7 vs. Sea le, Baker posted a game- high 14 tackles, his second INT of the season, Arizona's Defense Through 12 Games in 2020 a tackle for loss and a pass defensed in the win di erent players have started at least 1 game; only Jax (28) has had more 24 ff over Sea le. It was a fi ng end to a remark- 16 diff erent players have at least 1.0 sack; total ranks #1 in the NFL able six-day stretch on the na onal stage in 9 diff erent players with 2.0+ sacks; total ed with Sea le for #1 in the NFL which the All-Pro was named a team captain, 5 diff erent players with an INT totaled 21 tackles, 2 INTs (one returned 90 3 different players with 2+ INTs; only Ind (4), KC (4), NO (4), Pit (4) & TB (4) w/ more yards), 1.0 sack, 2 passes defensed, 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits, a forced fumble and an With all the turnover on defense, the unit s ll ranks among the top-15 in: NFC “Defensive Player of the Week” award Sta s c # Rnk (Week 6). The performance earn him NFC "Defensive Player of the Month" Goal-to-Go TD Pct. 52.17 1 honors for October. Red Zone TD Pct. 52.3 4 Baker has registered 94 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 2 INTs, 4 passes de- Tackles for Loss 66 5 fensed and a forced fumble in 2020. His 94 tackles lead the team. Baker’s 94 tack- QB Hits 71 11 les also rank second among all NFL DBs behind only Buff alo S Jordan Poyer (96). Intercep ons 10 t-12 Yards Allowed/Play 5.39 13th NFL Leaders – Total Tackles by a DB (2020) Rushing TDs Allowed 11 t-13 Rnk Player (Team) Tackles GP Sacks 29 14 1 S Jordan Poyer (Buf) 96 12 Total TDs Allowed 31 t-14 2 S Budda Baker (AZ) 94 11 Points Allowed/Game 24.7 14 3 S Vonn Bell (Cin) 91 12 4 S Jessie Bates III (Cin) 88 12 5 S Jeremy Chinn (Car) 86 11 STOUT DEFENSE IN THE RED ZONE Since the start of the 2019 season, Baker leads all NFL DBs in total (241) and solo (159) tackles - and leads by a wide margin. Arizona's defense has allowed opponents to NFL Leaders – Total Tackles by a DB (2019-20) score TDs on just 23-of-44 red zone posses- Rnk Player (Team) Tackles Solo GP sions. The Cardinals 52.3% TD percentage 1 S Budda Baker (AZ) 241 159 27 ranks fourth in the NFL. 2 S Jordan Poyer (Buf) 200 117 28 3 S Jessie Bates III (Cin) 188 127 28 When opponents get really close is when 4 S Logan Ryan (NYG) 179 113 28 Arizona's defense is at its best. The Cardinals 5 S Von Bell (Cin) 177 109 25 have allowed a TD on just 12-of-23 goal-to- go possessions. Their 52.2 TD percentage in FIRST 50 GAMES, 0 INTS - LAST 7 GAMES, 2 INTS goal-to-go situations is the lowest in the NFL. A er going without an INT in his fi rst 50 career games, Baker had an INT in back-to-back games in Weeks 6-7. He tallied his fi rst career INT off Cowboys NFL Leaders - Opp RZ TD Pct. NFL Leaders - Opponent Goal-to-Go Pct. QB Andy Dalton on Monday Night Football in Week 6. Prior to that two-game Rnk Team Pct. TD/Poss Rnk Team Pct. TD/Poss stretch, the last me Baker had an INT in consecu ve games was in his sopho- 1 Denver 47.7 21/44 1 Arizona 52.2 12/23 more year at the University of Washington in 2015 when he had an INT at Stan- 2 Washington 47.1 16/34 2 Minnesota 55.6 15/27 ford (10/24) and vs. Arizona (10/31). 3 Minnesota 51.2 21/41 3 Washington 60.0 9/15 4 Arizona 52.3 23/44 4 Cleveland 67.9 19/28 5 Chicago 52.4 22/44 5 Atlanta 68.0 17/25 INTERCEPTIONS ON THE RISE
A er ranking #29 in the NFL with just one INT through the fi rst fi ve weeks of PRESSURE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE 2020, Arizona's defense is ed for fourth in the NFL with nine INTs since Week 6. NFL Leaders - Intercep ons (Since Week 6) The Cardinals defense has recorded 29.0 sacks in 2020 - and those sacks Rnk Team INTs have come from players at virtually every position. Through 12 games, 16 1t New England 10 different Arizona players have at least one sack this season. That total leads 1t Pi sburgh 10 1t New Orleans 10 the NFL. 4t Arizona 9 The Cardinals have had nine different players record at least 2.0 sacks. That 4t Miami 9 is tied with Seattle for the highest total in the NFL. Five diff erent AZ players have at least one INT over Cardinals Players w/ Sack in 2020 the last seven games: CB Patrick Peterson, CB Dre Player Sacks Kirkpatrick, LB Isaiah Simmons, S Budda Baker LB Haason Reddick 5.0 and LB Markus Golden. LB Dennis Gardeck 3.0 S Budda Baker 2.0 INTs By Player in 2020 DL Corey Peters 2.0 INT Player LB Isaiah Simmons 2.0 3 CB Patrick Peterson LB De'Vondre Campbell 2.0 3 CB Dre Kirkpatrick LB Devon Kennard 2.0 2 S Budda Baker DL Jordan Phillips 2.0 1 LB Isaiah Simmons DL Angelo Blackson 2.0 1 LB Markus Golden DL Josh Mauro 1.0 KIRKPATRICK TIES HIS CAREER HIGH CB Byron Murphy 1.0 CB Dre Kirkpatrick has three INTs in 2020, the most recent coming in the fourth LB Markus Golden 1.0 LB Chandler Jones 1.0 quarter at New England in Week 12. His three INTs e his career high for a single DL Zach Allen 1.0 season (also had 3 in 2013, 2014, 2016). Prior to 2020, Kirkpatrick had four total DL Michael Dogbe 1.0 INTs in his previous fi ve seasons (2015-19) combined. DL Trevon Coley 1.0 SIMMONS' FIRST INT WAS A GAME-WINNER GARDECK PICKS UP THIRD SACK OF 2020 In the Cardinals thrilling victory over Seattle in Week 7, rookie LB Isaiah Simmons Third-year LB Dennis Gardeck recorded his third sack of the season when he took came up with the play that led to Arizona's game-winning FG in OT. Seattle had the down Jared Goff last week. After never playing a snap on defense in his first 34 ball with just over a minute remaining in OT and faced a 3rd-n-14. That is when career games, Gardeck now has 3.0 sacks in the last eight games. He recorded his Simmons intercepted a Russell Wilson pass and returned 12 yards to the SEA 49- first 2.0 career sacks vs. the Jets in Week 5 despite playing just 10 snaps on defense. yard line. Six plays later – with just 0:15 remaining – the Cardinals kicked the game- winning 48-yard FG. 6 KYLER MURRAY - AT A G LANCE MURRAY PUTTING UP RARE NUMBERS