Kyler Murray’s first-ever Hail Mary TD pass a winner
By Chip Rouse
Even if you’ve seen it many times before now, Kyler Murray’s game-winning touchdown pass on Sunday is worth viewing many times over.
The former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner let loose with a 50-yard pass to the end zone on the final play of the game on Sunday that was miraculously hauled in by wide-receiver DeAndre Hopkins between two Buffalo Bills defenders.
The improbable throw and catch gave the Arizona Cardinals a dramatic come-from behind 32-30 victory.
"“I definitely thought it had a chance when I let it go,” Murray told reporters afterward. , including NBC Sports’ Mike Florio.“The play was designed to roll out to the left. I had to make somebody miss, then just give the best shooter in the league a chance (Hopkins). And he came down with the ball.”"
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, completed 22 of 32 passes for 248 yards. The Hail Mary heave was his only touchdown pass in the game, but he did have two rushing touchdowns.
Just 30 seconds before Murray’s game-winning pass, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had thrown a 24-yard TD pass to Stefon Diggs to give the Bills a 30-26 lead with just 34 seconds remaining in the game.
Arizona started its final possession at the 25-yard line. Murray completed passes of 14 and 9 yards, which advanced the ball to the Cardinals’ 48-yard line. Arizona called its final timeout, setting up the game’s final play with just six seconds left on the clock.
Murray said it was the first Hail Mary pass he has connected on at any level of football.
He picked a spectacular moment to complete what has to be the most memorable pass he has thrown in his accomplished young career. Murray is just 23 years old and is in his second NFL season.