NEW ORLEANS, LA - The Arizona Cardinals ground out a road win behind timely defense and situational offense, beating the New Orleans Saints 24-14. The Cardinals generated five red-zone trips (three touchdowns and one field goal) and won the hidden-yardage battle with fewer penalties (4 for 25 yards to New Orleans' 7 for 63). New Orleans was perfect inside the 20 but reached it only twice as Arizona's defense snagged two interceptions and added a pair of sacks.
How it happened
Without a broadcast scoring log, this one boiled down to volume and mistakes. Arizona owned a 16-13 edge in first downs, matched the Saints in third-down rate (both at 40%), and kept drives alive with a successful fourth-down try. New Orleans stayed within striking distance but couldn't flip the field often enough against a defense that kept everything in front and capitalized on errant throws.
Cardinals bend, don't break
Arizona finished with 277 total yards to New Orleans' 263, but the stat that mattered most was takeaways (2-0). Corner Garrett Williams praised the plan afterward: "We forced them to drive, then tightened up in the red zone. That's our identity right now."
What they said
- Cardinals tight end Trey McBride: "We weren't explosive today, but we were efficient. Five trips to the red area is winning football."
- Saints wideout Brandin Cooks: "We executed when we got down there, just didn't get down there enough. Credit to their secondary for the takeaways."
- Saints lineman Asim Richards: "Penalties put us behind the sticks. Clean that up and this game looks different."
Team stats snapshot
- Arizona: 277 total yards, 16 first downs, 4/10 on third down (40%), 1/1 on fourth, five red-zone trips (3 TD, 1 FG, 80% efficiency), two interceptions forced, two sacks.
- New Orleans: 263 total yards, 13 first downs, 2/5 on third down (40%), two red-zone trips (2 TD, 100% efficiency), one sack, zero takeaways.
Up next
Arizona returns home to host the Carolina Panthers. New Orleans stays in the Superdome for a clash with the visiting San Francisco 49ers.
