Arizona Cardinals defeat Oakland Raiders 30-23

The Arizona Cardinals were a different team in the second half in their victory over the Oakland Raiders

The Arizona Cardinals backups finally showed us something more than the starters this preseason.  The Cardinals, down 15-3 at halftime, came out and had a great second half en route to victory over the Oakland Raiders.  In the end the Cardinals defeated the Raiders 30-23 Sunday night in Oakland.

The starters struggled the entire first half but the backups finally showed we should have some confidence in them.  You can say that about both the Cardinals offensive and defensive backups.

Cards starting quarterback Carson Palmer went 7-21 with two interceptions and was pressured all first half.  The Cards offensive line was well..offensive.  They had no answer for the Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack.  He was giving Cardinals offensive tackle Jared Veldheer fits.

The running game was anemic.  The best run all night was the 10-yard scramble by Palmer, although the final touchdown run by Marion Grice was nice. Andre Ellington had one good run and that was about it.  Rookie David Johnson did his damage in the air by catching a touchdown.

Speaking of that touchdown, the backup quarterbacks played well.  Drew Stanton went 8-9 for 58 yards and the touchdown to Johnson.  Phillip Sims may have appeared to have nailed down the third quarterback spot or at least a practice squad spot with his performance Sunday night but then Logan Thomas led the team on a game-winning drive.  Still a tough call.

Guys who may have won jobs Sunday night are cornerback Cariel Brooks who had an 81-yard interception return for touchdown and tight end Ifeanyi Momah who made a great catch on the game winning drive that was capped off by Grice’s 11-yard touchdown run.

No doubt though it was nice to see some fight back by the Cardinals Sunday night.  While we can’t get too high on the highs we shouldn’t get too low on the lows.  As I kept telling people all night, it is just preseason.  I know more people put stock in the third preseason game, as do I, but let’s remember coaches don’t show much in the preseason.

You could also tell especially with the Cardinals first team offense they were just working on timing issues with receivers at times, not necessarily playing for the outcome of the game. That happens.  Of course they want to win but in the end you want your starters just getting work and the rest to play well enough to compete for jobs.