Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Packers defense must stop Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to win

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Oct 9, 2024 11:14 PM ET

It will no doubt be a tough game for the 3-2 Green Bay Packers this weekend.

Up next on the Packers slate are the 2-3 Arizona Cardinals, who just beat the San Francisco 49ers on the road. Sure, Arizona technically has a losing record, but this team can be extremely dangerous, especially if quarterback Kyler Murray is allowed to do what he does best.

According to Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur, that's being a playmaker when things go south.

“Kyler is something else because he can make all these off-schedule plays, he can beat you with his legs, he can beat you with his arm." LaFleur said, as passed along by Packer Wire's Zach Kruse. "He’s not the biggest guy…but he’s like a water bug. He’s impossible to catch."

Murray has thrown for 972 yards and seven touchdowns against just two interceptions in five games this season. This past Sunday against the 49ers, he also showed off his legs, rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Kyler Murray RUNS 50 YARDS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN!pic.twitter.com/4Vmb4aSMqw
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 6, 2024

That's the type of game-changing athleticism that Murray brings to the quarterback position. If Green Bay wants to keep on winning, not only will Jordan Love and the offense have to out-dual Murray, but Jeff Hafley's defense is going to have to play a near-perfect game.

They've been solid with takeaways this season, leading the league with 14. What they have to get better at, though, is down-to-down consistency. Per LaFleur, a big part of that against Arizona will be keeping Murray bottled up.

"It’s going to be a great challenge for our defense to try find ways to contain him, bottle him up," LaFleur said. "If he starts making the game off-schedule, there’s no great play call for that. He’s going to create some explosion plays, and it’s going to be a problem."

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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