Atlanta Falcons Preparing For Unique Challenge in Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

The Atlanta Falcons defense will have to contain a mobile Kyler Murray on Sunday if they hope to leave Arizona with a win.

The Atlanta Falcons have a unique challenge this Sunday when they face Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

Murray, hampered by injuries earlier this season, is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, and that presents difficulties for opposing defenses. Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen recently discussed that challenge during media availability.

“We have to keep him in the pocket," Nielsen said. "Can not let him run around. Have to make him a pocket passer. Guy is a great athlete. He’s been running around, getting out of the pocket, extending plays his entire career. We have to make a conscious effort of keeping him in. 

"Then we have to do a good job of when we get hands on him of getting him to the ground. A sack is a sack. It doesn’t matter how hard we hit him. We just have to get him to the ground and play second-and-long, third-and-long or get off the field. Those two things, but he’s been a good player for a long time in the league and has had a lot of success.”

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray :: © Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sunday will mark Murray's first time taking the field in 2023, but during his NFL career, he has put up some numbers on the ground and through the air. He has thrown for nearly 14,000 yards and rushed for over 2,000 over the course of four professional seasons.

In short, Murray can move, and that always makes things more difficult for opposing defenses.

The Falcons enter Sunday as losers of back-to-back games, and they have made a recent change at their own quarterback position, opting to go with Taylor Heinicke over previous starter Desmond Ridder.

Atlanta and Arizona are scheduled to kick off at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, and the game will be televised on CBS.