The Cardinals wore all black on Monday Night Football. Because salvation doesn’t always start with red.

This time they came to play. They came to fight. And in the end they came to win.

There are a lot of spoils that come with a gritty 17-15 win over the Chargers. The cardinals recovered their physical, overwhelming identity. They increased their credibility as a good football team going in the right direction. It was the first time in Jonathan Gannon’s career as a head coach that he won two games in a span of three weeks.

With their season coming to a close, a feisty group of Cardinals defeated a good team in prime time. That doesn’t happen often in Arizona.

“I thought it was a very physical game,” Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said.

Kyler Murray directed an efficient offense that found its groove despite another lackluster performance from prized rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals quarterback took advantage of Trey McBride’s star talents. He threw a beautiful red zone touchdown pass to Greg Dortch. He leaned heavily on the raw power of James Conner, who amassed 152 total yards and forced a key fumble with sheer hustle. And for the second time this season, Murray raced unscathed for a long touchdown run, blowing past a hopeless Chargers defender who had seriously underestimated his speed.

It happens to the best of them.

Best of all, Murray led the Cardinals on a game-winning drive, rewarding a defense that won the turnover battle and allowed zero touchdowns. The drive came with a hint of controversy, a personal foul penalty for the Chargers following a key fall by Harrison Jr.

But that’s not our problem.

“I wish we could have done more tonight,” Murray said. “But a win is a win.”

The game was a golden opportunity for the Cardinals, and they didn’t miss the moment. Just look at the landscape.

Despite their recent struggles, the NFC West is wide open. Ten wins could claim the division title and a home playoff game. The 49ers have been decimated by injuries and appear poised for a fall. The Cardinals have already smothered the Rams and currently own a 2-0 division record. And is anyone really afraid of the Seahawks?

Gannon said he felt the momentum swing during Thursday’s practice, which he described as particularly violent and choppy, a clear sign of the team’s collective turmoil. He also said Conner gave an impassioned speech to the team on Sunday night, imploring the team to “put all their chips in this game.”

“He put the team on his back today and carried us home,” Gannon said.

The Cardinals survived a shaky start and forced a pair of critical fumbles early. They began to hold their own at the point of attack. They outgained the Chargers 181-59 in rushing yards. They put pressure on Justin Herbert with players activated from the practice squad. At a crucial time in the game and the season, the Cardinals found a way to make it happen.

There have been games this season where Murray’s quarterback rating has seemed deceptively high. Against the Chargers it was deceptively low (67.0). But he was a winning quarterback. And there is no better statistic than that.

Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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