By Nithinya Simuong – October 21, 2022 at 5:39 am
Two teams to raise. And in this game, it’s the Cardinals who give Kliff Kingsbury a respite.
Arizona Cardinals (3-4) – New Orleans Saints (2-5): 42-34
Kyler Murray (20/29, 204 yards, 1 TD) found his favorite catcher DeAndre Hopkins (10 REC, 103 yards), who showed up on his return. But it was the Arizona defense that stood out with 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns that turned the game around.
A win that stops an 8-game losing streak at home for Arizona. It is also the twelfth consecutive defeat in a match early evening for Andy Dalton as a starting quarterback.
The turning point
While the Cardinals had just drawn 14-14 thanks to Keontay Ingram on the run, Andy Dalton (30/47, 361 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT) rocked the game by throwing 2 interceptions on 2 consecutive attacks in the last 2 minutes before the ‘interval. The first is due to the drop of Marquez Callaway, which allowed Marco Wilson to go to the final area.
Then, wanting to look for Chris Olave, the Saints quarterback did not see Isaiah Simmons who intercepted him for a choose six 56 yards. At half-time, New Orleans found themselves down 28-14 and will never be in contact with their opponent again.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ✈️@ isaiahsimmons25 X #BirdCityCalcio pic.twitter.com/Et0TqMM4Vf
– Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) 21 October 2022
Advantage New Orleans
However, the start of the match was to New Orleans’ advantage with a 53-yard touchdown by Rashid Shaheed. Despite Andy Dalton’s first interception in the final area of Arizona, New Orleans went on the attack in the first half with a second touchdown from Taysom Hill on the run, his sixth of the season (14-6).
This was before the last 2 minutes of the interval which were fatal for Andy Dalton and the Saints.
Andy Dalton gives Rashid Shaheed a DIME and we got points at the start #TNF! #NOvsAZ on Prime Video
Also available on NFL + https://t.co/aKjbRcE0ca pic.twitter.com/NfH2w9MmIW– NFL (@NFL) 21 October 2022
Hopkins in demonstration
In the 2nd half New Orleans has the opportunity to reduce the mark after a good reception by Chris Olave (7 REC, 106 yards) towards the red zone but he has to be content with a basket. And over a long streak of 11 games and 80 yards, Greg Dortch receives the first touchdown pass of the game from Kyler Murray to widen the gap (34-17). A series in which DeAndre Hopkins distinguished himself with 3 receptions by winning the first attempts.
The Saints will reduce the mark twice by tight end Juwan Johnson on 2 passes from Dalton. But this is insufficient for the Saints where the defense has completely surrendered after another touchdown on the run from Eno Benjamin (12 games, 92 yards, 1 TD). A just reward for the running back from Arizona which exalts the good work of the offensive line on the ground games.
Despite everything, the Arizona airstrike still struggled and Kliff Kingsbury can thank his defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for his good defensive schemes.
