Thursday Night Football: DeAndre Hopkins returns, helps Cardinals coast past Saints with big win
DeAndre Hopkins is back in action for the Arizona Cardinals - isn't that exciting?
On Thursday, the New Orleans Saints traveled to Arizona to face off against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. Arizona tasted defeat against the Seahawks this past Sunday, but this wasn't the same Cards team they were then; this time, they had DeAndre Hopkins.
Hopkins didn't waste any time getting back to business during his first game of the season, either.
The wideout caught 10 passes in his season debut, surpassing the 100-yard mark with 103 receiving yards.
i don't completely buy the "Kyler's passing is bad because DeAndre Hopkins is out" theory but my god does Nuk make things easier for him https://t.co/UFQz5AprnV
His production was vital in coasting to a 42-34 win at home; a contest that was much further apart than the final score suggests.
The big story was Hopkins' return, but that wasn't the main reason why Arizona tasted victory. Instead, it was their defense who not only picked off Andy Dalton three times, but took two to the house on consecutive drives.
Following the win, Kyler Murray and his team will head to Minnesota as they get ready to play the Vikings on Sunday in Week 8. The Vikings are on a bye week this week and are expected to come back strong when squaring off against the Cardinals next. Minnesota wideout Justin Jefferson is in peak form yet again, ranking third in receiving yards with 654, and will be a tough player to stop.
Arizona Cardinals get DeAndre Hopkins back at perfect time following Christian McCaffrey trade to NFC West
With Christian McCaffrey now a member of the San Francisco 49ers, there was no better time for Arizona to get Hopkins back.
Prior to the '21 season, Hopkins was a four-time consecutive All-Pro. In 2020, during his first year with the team, he hauled in 115 passes for 1,407 yards.
The Niners, on the other hand, already field an elite defense, and now, they also house an elite running back in Christian McCaffrey. Along with Deebo Samuel, San Francisco has two of the league's most feared playmakers on their roster.
San Francisco is currently in first place in the NFC West, but Arizona is only half a game behind with a record of 3-4, compared to the 49ers' 3-3 record.
Can the Cardinals make a push?
Either way, there's no denying they have the best chance of doing so with Hopkins around.