Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins return to strengthen the Arizona Cardinals

Updated Dec 5, 2021 7:13 pm EST

Life has been good for the Arizona Cardinals this season, as they entered Sunday's matchup with the Chicago Bears with the NFL's best record (9-2).

They pushed that record to 10-2 after securing a 33-22 win Sunday in Chicago, but the results were almost secondary to the reinforcements that arrived.

The Cardinals saw their dynamic duo of Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins return to the field for the first time since a 24-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 28.

Neither player dominated statistically in the win — Murray completed 11 of 15 pass attempts for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while Hopkins recorded just two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown — but the mere availability of both was a welcomed sight for a team in position to secure home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Cardinals currently hold a one-game lead over the Packers for the best record in the conference.

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Shannon Spake caught up with Kyler Murray after the Arizona Cardinals beat the Chicago Bears.

In the eight games Murray played before suffering a knee injury against the Packers, he looked the part of an MVP front-runner, with 2,276 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air.

In his eight games before his hamstring issues, Hopkins accumulated 45 catches for 486 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Cardinals did a solid job holding down the fort without their Pro Bowl duo, winning two of the three games with the wins coming by a combined 24 points.

But as the calendar hits December and the playoff picture comes into focus, it's imperative that the Cardinals get Murray and Hopkins not only healthy but also in a rhythm heading into January.

Their returns couldn't have come at a better time, with the Cardinals facing playoff hopefuls such as the Rams, Cowboys and Colts in their final five games. Those teams have a combined record of 21-14.

There is strength in numbers, and Murray and Hopkins are two players who will be crucial factors as the Cardinals attempt to prove they are the class of the NFC.