PHX Reporter

The opener started exactly how the Cardinals wanted.

Kyler Murray was connecting on every pass. James Conner was the bell cow. Roy Lopez had a strip-sack leading to points. And the Cardinals had quieted Highmark Stadium by building a 17-3 lead and dominating time of possession.

"We didn't want to be going backwards," Murray said afterward. "We played clean. That was the difference first half and second half."

In the second half, the Cardinals (0-1) did not, and eventually, that meant a 34-28 loss to the Bills on Sunday.

The Cards only had 80 yards in the second half. Their lone touchdown after halftime came on a 96-yard kickoff return by DeeJay Dallas, which sparked hope but that was it. The defense struggled all game to do exactly what they said before the game they had to contain – Bills quarterback Josh Allen breaking contain and running and passing his way off schedule to big plays.

"He did a great job of extending the plays," safety Budda Baker said. "Being in coverage was hard, and when he takes off you have to make the tackle. That was the challenge, to keep him in the pocket."

Allen passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more, the second of which came from six yards out to leap Baker, who came out of coverage to try and take down the much-bigger Allen low. That score, with 8:44 left, became the winning points.

Assessing the job on Allen, coach Jonathan Gannon said it was "what it looked like – probably not great."

The Bills averaged 6.3 yards a play, emerging on their first second-half touchdown drive after converting third-and-11, second-and-12, and third-and-10.

"You watch it today, probably be frustrated, but the season's not over," Murray said. "Been doing this a while now. Next week we have a divisional opponent. The next one is the most important."

Murray started 10-for-11 for 87 yards, a TD pass and 17 yards rushing on his first two drives. He finished 21-of-31 for 162 yards, losing a fumble that eventually became a Bills TD possession. He ran for 57 yards on five carries, showing how his ACL injury was an ancient memory.

Gannon did note the wind was a factor, a reason why the Cardinals took the ball first to get the right field setup.

The Cardinals did have two possessions in a one-score game. The first, down three after Dallas' score ended with a three-and-out. But the Bills managed only a field goal, and Murray had 1:56 to go 60 yards after the Bills kickoff went out of bounds.

On one play that was thrown elsewhere after Murray scrambled for time, TV cameras showed Marvin Harrison Jr. get alone uncovered behind the defense. Murray acknowledged he never saw the rookie.

"When you play football there is a lot of stuff moving around moving fast," Murray said."You don't see everything."

The offense could only reach Buffalo's 29-yard line.A final fourth-and-7 bomb to Greg Dortch in one-on-one coverage inside-the-five-yard line was broken up.No repeat of-the-Hail-Murray-was-coming.The-home-opener-against-the-Rams comes next.

"What I like about this group is their will did not waver," Gannon said."We will keep our confidence."

TURNING POINT: The-Bills-trailed-by-fourteen-but-drove-for-a-touchdown-right-before-the-end-of-the-first-half-and-then-took-the-opening-kickoff-of-the-second-half-and-drove-for-the-game tying-score.

"I didn't love end-of-the-half," Gannon-said."On-defense-we-have-to-keep-some-of-explosive plays-down."

"You're-up-seventeen-three-and lose-game-that-falls-on-coaches," Gannon added.

THE STANDOUTS: Wide-receiver-Greg-Dortch-emerged-as-team's-leading-receiver-on-Sunday-with-six-catches-for-forty-seven-yards-only-tight-end-Trey-McBride-had-more-than-Dortch's-eight-targets.Inside-linebackers-Mack-Jones-Sr.-and-Kyzir White-also-had-key-tackles-for-loss-in-fourth-quarter-to-give-Cards-chance-to-comeback.White-had-eleven-tackles-and-quarterback-hit-Wilson-had-nine tackles-pass-defensed.

MARVIN HARRISON JR QUIET

Debut-rookie-wide-receiver-Marvin-Harrison-Jr.-didn't-create-any-fireworks.He-had-one-catch-for-four-yards-only-three-targets-not-targeted-in-second-half.First-pass-he-was-thrown-attempted-back shoulder-that-wasn't-close.Second would've gained ten-or-fifteen-yards-but-Harrison-couldn't hang-on.Murray-made-sure-go-right-back-to-Harrison-next-play-for-one reception.

"No-confidence-lost-in-Marv," Murray-said.

"That's-how-offense-going-built," Gannon-said."Ball should go where should go depending-on coverage.We'll-find-way-get-involved."

JONAH WILLIAMS DOWN: Cards-may-have-suffered harsh-blow-already-offensive-line-right-tackle-Jonah-Williams-went-down-with-right-knee-injury.Veteran-Kelvin-Beachum-took-over.Williams-been signed-free-agent-offseason-second-tackle-get hurt-rookie-Christian-Jones-already-on IR-with-knee-injury-Jones expected-return-point.

"I thought Beach played well," Gannon said."I thought he played his ass off."

Gannon also said rookie cornerback Max Melton being evaluated concussion.