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By James Morel
Cronkite News

TEMPE – On any given Sunday, the unusual can happen. Last Sunday, in something you’d see in a movie, the Chicago Bears were stunned by a last-second Hail Mary, while further south, the Arizona Cardinals jubilantly celebrated following a game-winning field goal.

The two teams, on contrasting paths, meet Sunday in a clash at State Farm Stadium, though the Cardinals know any ounce of momentum soared out the window when they touched down back in Phoenix.

“We got our work cut out for us, it’s going to be a big-time challenge,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters Wednesday.

Coming off a hard-fought comeback win in the final seconds over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, the Cardinals have their eyes set on Chicago, who enter the contest following a devastating loss on Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary heave that lifted Washington over the Bears.

Facing Chicago (4-3) quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, along with a stifling Bears defense, the Cardinals know there’s no time to dwell on last Sunday’s triumphant victory.

“We got to know what he likes to do … and try to make it hard on him as much as we can,” Gannon said.

The Cardinals (4-4) returned to the win column with a 28-27 victory against the Dolphins in Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s return from injury as Kyler Murray got the offense moving in the right direction with 307 passing yards and two touchdowns. Arizona scored more than two touchdowns in a game for the first time since a 41-10 win in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Part of the offense’s success can be attributed to rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who finished with 111 yards and a touchdown, his first score since Sept. 29 against Washington. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride added 124 receiving yards on the league’s National Tight Ends Day, earning praise from Gannon, who called McBride “premier” and “a big-time weapon.”

The offensive line made Murray’s elite passing game possible with their ability to protect, allowing no sacks against the Dolphins’ pass rush.

“I mean, for sure, you can’t really talk about zero sacks without mentioning Kyler and the way he moves around back there,” said offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt. “But I do think the O-line is taking it to them and we have to pick up our pass protection game as much as we can.”

The Cardinals aim to replicate their performance against a stingy Bears defense that has tallied 20 sacks (seventh in the NFL). Entering Sunday’s contest, the Bears boast the league’s 11th-best defense, allowing teams 319 yards per game. To make game-planning harder on the Cardinals offense, the Bears have not given up more than 20 points this season.

The Bears are winless on the road at 0-3, averaging 14.7 points a game with Williams behind center. He has thrown for 668 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions with a 58.4 completion percentage when playing in enemy territory.

But despite Chicago’s struggles away from Soldier Field, narrow wins have been the story of the Cardinals’ 2024 season. Sunday is predicted to be another tight contest, with the home team favored by 1.5 points, according to FanDuel.

“Winning is hard,” Gannon said.

The Cardinals have won three of four games on a game-winning field goal this season, and kicker Chad Ryland has been a part of all three. He has missed only one field goal on nine attempts so far this season.

“Would love for them not to be that close,” Froholdt said. “Chad has been coming in and killing it.”

Gannon pinned Sunday’s win over Miami on his team’s resilience and preparation, and he knows even more will be needed ahead of the Cardinals’ next matchup.

The Cardinals earned back-to-back wins for the first time since 2021, when they started 7-0 with Murray at the helm, and look to carry this road energy back home with them for Sunday to deliver the Bears more heartbreak.

“Our guys know, it takes all week to get yourself ready to go and get yourselves a chance to win,” Gannon said.

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