Arizona Cardinals vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats (Oct 27, 2024)
Chad Ryland’s 34-yard field goal as time expired gave the Arizona Cardinals a stunning 28-27 victory over Miami on October 27, 2024. The kick capped off a game that swung on big plays, costly mistakes, and clutch performances from both quarterbacks.
Table of Contents
Game Breakdown: Cardinals 28, Dolphins 27
| Team Statistics | Cardinals | Dolphins |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 389 | 377 |
| Passing Yards | 307 | 227 |
| Rushing Yards | 82 | 150 |
| First Downs | 22 | 22 |
| Time of Possession | 29:29 | 30:31 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 7/13 (53.8%) | 11/15 (73.3%) |
| Penalties | 4-29 | 2-15 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Miami controlled third downs all afternoon, converting at an impressive 73.3% clip. But football games aren’t won on conversion rates alone.
Quarterback Duel Decides the Outcome
Kyler Murray Delivers When It Counts
| Kyler Murray | Stats |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 26/36 (72.2%) |
| Passing Yards | 307 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 116.3 |
| Rushing | 19 yards on 5 carries |
| Times Sacked | 0 |
Murray’s 307-yard performance marked his first 300-yard passing game since October 30, 2022. Miami’s pass rush, which entered as the league’s best, never touched him. Not once. That’s three straight games without taking a sack.
“Hell, if we get a chance to go score at the end of a game with a chance to win, I like us. I want the ball in my hands,” Murray said after the game. His final drive proved he meant every word.
Tua Tagovailoa Returns with Mixed Results
| Tua Tagovailoa | Stats |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 28/38 (73.7%) |
| Passing Yards | 234 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 97.9 |
| Rushing | 13 yards on 3 carries |
| Key Mistake | Fumbled snap for safety |
Back from a four-game concussion absence, Tagovailoa played it safe. He slid feet-first on a 13-yard scramble in the third quarter, drawing cheers from the home crowd. Smart play for his health, but Miami needed more explosive plays to put this game away.
His average of 6.2 yards per attempt compared to Murray’s 8.5 shows the difference in aggressiveness between the two passing attacks.
Arizona’s Passing Attack Explodes
Cardinals Receiving Leaders
| Player | Rec | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trey McBride | 9 | 124 | 0 | 37 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | 6 | 111 | 1 | 25 |
| Michael Wilson | 5 | 31 | 1 | 12 |
| James Conner | 2 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| Others | 4 | 25 | 0 | 9 |
McBride opened the second half with a 37-yard catch that shifted momentum. Harrison Jr. beat All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey for a 22-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Two receivers over 100 yards for the first time all season for Arizona.
Cardinals Ground Game Struggles
| Player | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Conner | 20 | 53 | 2.7 | 1 |
| Kyler Murray | 5 | 19 | 3.8 | 0 |
| Trey Benson | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 |
Conner grinded out tough yards all day. His 2-yard touchdown run with 8:47 remaining cut Miami’s lead to 27-25 and set up the dramatic finish.
Miami’s Offensive Weapons
Dolphins Receiving Stats
| Player | Rec | Yards | TD | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyreek Hill | 6 | 72 | 0 | 9 |
| De’Von Achane | 6 | 50 | 1 | 8 |
| Jaylen Waddle | 4 | 45 | 0 | N/A |
| Jonnu Smith | 4 | 20 | 0 | N/A |
| Others | 8 | 47 | 0 | N/A |
Arizona’s defense succeeded in their stated goal: keep Hill and Waddle from beating them deep. Both star receivers stayed out of the end zone despite Miami scoring a season-high 27 points.
Dolphins Ground Attack
| Player | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De’Von Achane | 10 | 97 | 9.7 | 0 |
| Raheem Mostert | 9 | 19 | 2.1 | 2 |
| Jaylen Wright | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 |
| Others | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 |
Achane nearly broke the game open with a 47-yard burst in the third quarter. His 9.7 yards per carry average showcased the speed that makes him special. Mostert punched in two short touchdowns, his first multi-score game since Week 15 of 2023.
Special Teams Swing the Game
Field Goal Battle
Chad Ryland (Arizona)
- 57-yard field goal in third quarter (career long)
- 34-yard game winner as time expired
- Perfect 2/2 on extra points
- Third game-winning kick in four games with team
Jason Sanders (Miami)
- 2/2 on field goals (long of 53)
- 3/3 on extra points
The Turning Point
At 6:22 in the third quarter, center Aaron Brewer’s high snap glanced off Tagovailoa’s hands and rolled out of the end zone. Safety. Two points for Arizona plus possession. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on the next drive, erasing a 20-10 deficit in just over six minutes.
Defense and the Pass Rush That Wasn’t
| Defensive Stats | Cardinals | Dolphins |
|---|---|---|
| Sacks | 1 (Dante Stills) | 0 |
| Tackles Leader | Budda Baker (12) | David Long Jr. (9) |
| Turnovers Forced | 0 | 0 |
Miami’s inability to pressure Murray proved fatal. Their top-ranked pass defense couldn’t get home once, allowing Murray time to find McBride and Harrison Jr. repeatedly.
The Winning Drive
Starting from their own 11-yard line with 5:01 left, trailing 27-25, Arizona needed 13 plays to travel 73 yards and set up Ryland’s winner:
3rd and 1 from ARI 20: Murray finds McBride for 17 yards
2nd and 15 after holding: Harrison Jr. gains 18
1st and 10 from midfield: Conner breaks free for 17 yards, his longest run
3rd and 4 from MIA 27: Murray scrambles for 7, keeps clock running
Smart football. Patient execution. Championship-level composure.
Record Update and Playoff Picture
The Cardinals improved to 4-4, staying alive in the NFC playoff race. Miami dropped to 2-5, their playoff hopes fading despite Tagovailoa’s return.
Want to compare other Cardinals performances? Check their matchup against Green Bay or see how Miami fared against Buffalo.
FAQs
What were Kyler Murray’s final stats?
Murray completed 26 of 36 passes for 307 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions, and rushed for 19 yards without taking a sack.
How many yards did Marvin Harrison Jr. have?
Harrison caught 6 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, including the key 22-yard score where he beat Jalen Ramsey.
What was the final score?
Arizona Cardinals 28, Miami Dolphins 27 on a last-second field goal.
How did the safety happen?
A high snap from center Aaron Brewer hit Tagovailoa’s hands and bounced out of the end zone at 6:22 in the third quarter.
Who led the game in receiving?
Trey McBride with 9 catches for 124 yards, including a momentum-changing 37-yarder to open the second half.
Final Thoughts
The Arizona Cardinals vs Miami Dolphins match player stats reveal a classic NFL finish. Murray’s clutch gene, Harrison Jr.’s breakout game, and Ryland’s ice-cold kicking overshadowed Miami’s efficient offense. One fumbled snap. One career-long field goal. One perfect final drive. That’s all it took to turn a likely Dolphins victory into another Cardinals comeback win.
Sources: ESPN, USA Today, Cardinals Website.
