GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emari Demercado ran 53 yards for a touchdown just before halftime, James Conner added 107 yards on the ground and the surging Arizona Cardinals put together a dominant 29-9 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Cardinals (5-4) have won three in a row for the first time in three seasons.
It’s another tough loss for the Bears (4-4), who have dropped two straight. They lost to the Commanders 18-15 last week on a Hail Mary and were burned once again as the clock was winding down against the Cardinals, though this lapse came in the final seconds of the first half.
Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked six times, completing 22 of 41 passes for 216 yards. The Bears had just 241 yards total.
Kyler Murray completed a few short passes before Demercado darted through the middle of the defense and then sprinted down the right sideline for the touchdown, turning a tight game into a much more comfortable advantage.
It was one of two backbreaking mistakes for Chicago’s defense late in the second quarter. The Cardinals were leading just 7-6 with 3:40 remaining in the half and looked as if they were going to have to settle for a field goal, but Chicago’s Gervon Dexter Sr. was flagged for trying to use a defender as leverage to leap into the air and block the kick.
That gave Arizona a fresh set of downs and the Cardinals cashed in with Trey Benson’s 1-yard touchdown run just three plays later.
