CLEVELAND – Kyler Murray threw four touchdown passes and the Arizona Cardinals easily beat the Cleveland Browns 37-14 on Sunday.
Deprived of their head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals remained the only undefeated team in the NFL this season and they continued their best start since 1974.
The Cardinals (6-0) forged a 20-0 lead in the first half and kept their record perfect even though Kingsbury and star linebacker Chandler Jones went missing with a positive COVID test -19.
Murray joined all-star receiver DeAndre Hopkins for two touchdowns and the Cardinals quarterback made an important play whenever his team needed it.
The Browns (3-3) have lost back-to-back games for the first time since Kevin Stefanski was their head coach. The biggest worries, however, come in the form of injuries.
Running back Kareem Hunt had to leave the game in a cart due to a calf injury. The Browns were already without the services of all-star backer Nick Chubb and two offensive linemen.
Also, quarterback Baker Mayfield appeared to injure his left shoulder again and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. briefly left the game with a shoulder problem. Mayfield made three turnovers, two fumbles and one interception.
The Browns were trailing 23-14 when Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt chased Mayfield and caused a fumble. Mayfield was on the ground for several minutes and was examined twice in the medical tent.
After this fumble, Murray made his opponents pay by throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Hopkins to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 30-14.
Hunt later collapsed to the ground without making any contact with him. He was not able to put weight on his leg.
The Arizona squad learned on Friday that it would be without Kingsbury, quarterbacks coach Cam Turner and defensive lineman Zach Allen. Jones was already scheduled to miss Sunday’s game and defensive lineman Corey Peters has been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Murray made sure the Cardinals didn’t lose pace. He completed 20 of his 30 passes for overhead gains of 229 yards and he tied a career-high with four touchdown passes.
Looking for a positive play, the Browns were treated to one final play in the first half and Mayfield completed a 57-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones.
The Browns’ defense helped the Cardinals by committing four penalties for 43 yards in the Arizona team’s second productive offensive streak.
