The Arizona Cardinals were blown out in their preseason finale 38-12 by the Denver Broncos on the road. Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson, playing against the Cardinals’ back-of-the-roster players, passed for 251 yards and two scores, and he rushed for 22 yards and a third score.
The Cardinals managed only one touchdown and had a few injuries in the game that could impact how they fill their 53-man roster.
Running back Hassan Hall led the team with 59 rushing yards and scored the team’s only touchdown.
Read on for the recap.
Offensive starters
The Cardinals had Tun at quarterback, Tony Jones Jr. at running back, Zach Pascal, Chris Moore and Andre Baccellia at receiver, Blake Whiteheart at tight end and the offensive line was Jackson Barton, Elijah Wilkinson, Trystan Colon, Jon Gaines and Christian Jones.
Missed FG
Matt Prater missed a 55-yard field goal to end the Cardinals’ opening drive. Jones rushed for 21 yards on the drive and caught a pass as well. They picked up two first downs before kicking the field goal.
Starting defense
On defense, the Cardinals started with defensive linemen Ben Stille and Naquan Jones, outside linebackers Victor Dimukeje and Jesse Luketa, inside linebackers Owen Pappoe and Markus Bailey, cornerbacks Max Melton, Elijah Jones and Kei’Trel Clark and safeties Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Andre Chachere.
Broncos 7, Cardinals 0
The Broncos took advantage of the short field and went 55 yards in 10 plays. Audric Estime had 31 yards 14 receiving yards and 17 on the ground on five carries on the drive, ending it with a three-yard touchdown. They went for it once on fourth down to extend the drive.
Broncos 14, Cardinals 0
Zach Wilson threw a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Atkins on fourth-and-goal. Wilson had a 21-yard scramble early in the drive. They went 77 yards on 11 plays.
Cardinals fumble inside 10
Tune had a 43-yard pass to Xavier Weaver and the offense got inside the 10. However, on third-down, Tony Jones Jr. fumble the ball after missing a catch and the Broncos recovered the ball and returned it to their own 12.
CBs questionable to return
Rookie cornerback Elijah Jones left the game with an ankle injury and Divaad Wilson left with a wrist injury. They were ruled questionable to return. Wilson returned later in the first half.
Matt Prater hits from 50 yards: Broncos 14, Cardinals 3
The Cardinals executed a perfect two-minute drill and picked up three points as time expired with Prater making a 50-yard field goal. Tune completed four passes and added a scramble leading to the field goal.
RB Tony Jones Jr. out
Jones injured his shoulder on the play he fumbled the ball. He was ruled out at halftime.
Broncos 17, Cardinals 3
The Broncos added points on their first drive of the second half. Wilson was sacked and almost fumbled at the end, leading to the 30-yards field goal.
Broncos 17, Cardinals 6
Ridder completed three passes and the Cardinals answered with a field goal of their own.
Broncos 24, Cardinals 6
Wilson had 63 passing yards, including a 37-yard throw to Brandon Johnson. Wilson’s one-yard QB sneak gave the Broncos their third touchdown of the game.
Broncos 24, Cardinals 12
The Cardinals got their first touchdown of the game on a three-yard run from Hassan Hall. Ridder’s throw to Andre Baccellia for the two-point conversion was broken up. Ridder had a 21-yard pass to rookie Tejhaun Palmer on the drive. It was the first touchdown of the preseason Ridder led the team to score.
Broncos 31, Cardinals 12
Wilson threw a 46-yard bomb to Brandon Johnson for a touchdown, giving him three total touchdowns in the game with 6:22 left in the game.
Broncos 38, Cardinals 12
It was a crazy sequence. The Cardinals were in the red zone and had a first down, but Ridder had to come out of the game to be examined for a concussion when his helmet was knocked off and he was hit in the head on a roughing the passer penalty.
Tune replaced him and threw a pick-6. Levelle Bailey intercepted the pass and returned it 94 yards for the touchdown.
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