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4 Instant reactions to Cardinals' preseason win over Raiders

Arizona secures its first win of the preseason
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) talks with coaches during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 28, 2026.
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) talks with coaches during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 28, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Arizona Cardinals got their first preseason win on Thursday, defeating No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders, 27-14.

There were a few storylines in this one for Arizona, including Jeremiyah Love's debut, Chase Bisontis' unfortunate injury, and a Mike LaFleur offense that continues to put up big numbers in the preseason.

1. Jeremiyah Love was as advertised

The speed was immediately apparent. Love only had 11 carries but made the most out of that limited opportunity with an efficient 5.3 YPC. The main difference between him and Tyler Allgeier could be the pass-catching ability, where Love was still able to be a factor with three receptions for 14 yards.

2. This Cardinals wide receivers room is stacked

Jalen Brooks built off a strong Hall of Fame Game to bring in six passes for a game-high 52 yards and one touchdown.

This year's fifth-round rookie Reggie Virgil continues to stand out as well, including an impressive one-handed grab in the third quarter.

Even Simi Fehoko provided Arizona with a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4, giving them a touchdown as a can't-miss redzone option.

Who ultimately makes the 53-man roster from that group remains to be seen, but it's a good problem to have so many pass-catching options playing well for Arizona.

3. It's a new era in The Valley

Mike LaFleur already seems to be winning over Cardinals fans, at least on the offensive end. Arizona has totaled 57 points scored over the first two preseason games. You can already see the vision for what LaFleur wants this offense to look like and how he's going to utilize all of these different weapons.

4. Chase Bisontis' injury

Cardinals second-round rookie Chase Bisontis was showing promise throughout training camp, but unfortunately exited Thursday's contest after being carted off with a knee injury.

It's potentially a major blow to both Bisontis and the Cardinals' offensive line, considering he was already challenging Isaiah Adams for the starting spot at right guard. That battle could be settled for all the wrong reasons, depending on the severity of Bisontis' injury.

Hopefully he's okay, as he was a huge part of what already looked like a strong rookie class for the Cardinals.

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