The Arizona Cardinals erupted for 25 points in the second quarter en route to a 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints at home on Thursday night.
After trailing 14-6, the Cardinals scored three touchdowns in the span of 1:42 — including back-to-back pick sixes off Saints quarterback Andy Dalton — to end the first half up 28-14.
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Keaontay Ingram got things started with a two-yard rushing touchdown to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter. On the Saints’ next drive, Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson intercepted Dalton and ran back a 38-yard touchdown. Arizona linebacker Isaiah Simmons did the same for a 56-yard score less than two minutes later.
Andy Dalton is pick-sixed for the second time tonight on Thursday Night Football.
This time by Isaiah Simmons.
🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/ZNFnY0FHIz
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) October 21, 2022
Arizona star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looked sharp in his return from a six-game suspension, recording 103 yards on 10 receptions in his season debut. Kyler Murray finished with 234 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 20-for-29 passing, while Dalton went 30-for-47 with four touchdowns and three total interceptions.
The 76-point Thursday night affair marked the sixth highest-scoring game of the 2022 season after only a combined 40 points were scored in the previous two Thursday night matchups.
The Cardinals improve to 3-4 with the win and the Saints fall to 2-5.
Assessing Hopkins’ return
Doug Haller, Arizona writer: Hopkins is indeed a difference-maker. The Cardinals receiver missed the season’s first six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. This week, coach Kliff Kingsbury talked with Hopkins about putting the receiver on a snap count for Thursday’s contest. Hopkins rolled his eyes. Despite the layoff, he looked like his old self, finishing with 10 catches for 103 yards
Arizona’s defense was key
Haller: It’s gotten overlooked, but Arizona’s defense has played well this season. If you hold a team under 21 points in this league, you should win. The Cardinals held the Rams (20 points), Eagles (20) and Seahawks (19) to that number and lost all three. They weren’t as strong against the Saints, but they made big plays. Wilson and Simmons each produced a Pick 6 near the end of the first half to provide a cushion.
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What’s next for the Saints?
Larry Holder, NFL columnist: It’s less about what happened against the Cardinals. It’s more about where the Saints go after the 2022 season. That’s because this season is toast.
Dalton made life tough in Week 7 with two pick-sixes and three interceptions overall. One wasn’t his fault, though. But still, do we know if Jameis Winston is the winning elixir? It’s becoming more apparent by the week that the Saints are fading. New Orleans’ defense used to be a top pass-pressure team. Now the Saints are one of the worst teams in that aspect.
In general, the Saints are a lost team. This hasn’t been the case since before Sean Payton and Drew Brees in 2006.
(Photo: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
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