Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes and the visiting Arizona Cardinals spoiled Kellen Moore’s debut as an NFL head coach with a 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
Murray passed for just 163 yards while completing 21 of 29, but his scoring passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. (1 yard) and James Conner (4 yards) made the difference for the Cardinals, who were 8-9 last season.
Spencer Rattler completed 27 of 45 for 214 yards with no touchdowns for Moore, who was hired by New Orleans after being Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator during the Eagles’ Super Bowl title run last season.
The Saints, who were 5-12 last season, were penalized 13 times for 89 yards as their NFL-leading streak of six consecutive wins in season openers came to an end.
On the first possession of the second half, Arizona drove to set up Chad Ryland’s 50-yard field goal that increased its lead to 20-10 going into the fourth quarter.
Arizona tried to extend the lead, but Bryan Bresee deflected Ryland’s 46-yard field-goal attempt with 4:34 remaining. Rattler drove the Saints into the red zone to set Blake Grupe’s 28-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to 20-13 with 2:42 left.
New Orleans got the ball back at its 42 with 1:49 left after a Cardinals punt and raced to the Arizona 18, but Rattler then spiked the ball and threw three incompletions as time ran out.
On the Cardinals’ second possession of the game, Murray drove them to Ryland’s 42-yard field goal that gave them a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Saints responded with a 75-yard drive that ended with Alvin Kamara’s 18-yard touchdown run, giving them a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
On the ensuing possession Murray connected with Harrison for a 45-yard pass completion, which led to the same duo connecting for their touchdown pass and a 10-7 lead. Grupe’s 36-yard field goal evened the score.
Murray’s touchdown pass to Conner with 28 seconds left in the second quarter gave Arizona a 17-10 halftime lead.
