Cardinals survive sloppy road win over Saints, open season 1-0
Kyler Murray battles illness as Arizona holds on 20-13; defense and special teams show flashes and flaws
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals overcame a messy performance in all three phases to beat the New Orleans Saints 20-13 Sunday and open the season 1-0 for the first time since 2021.
Quarterback Kyler Murray, listed on the injury report Sunday morning with an illness, completed 21 of 29 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns while the Cardinals' offense, defense and special teams each produced pivotal plays — and mistakes — in a game that never felt comfortable for Arizona. Coach Jonathan Gannon said he was pleased with the result but acknowledged there were plays each phase would like back.
Marvin Harrison Jr. continued his strong start to the NFL career, catching five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. The veteran safety duo of Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson anchored a secondary that came into Week 1 with questions and left looking like one of the team's strengths. Young cornerbacks Garrett Williams, Max Melton and rookie Will Johnson were praised for their coverage downfield.
The game exposed other concerns. Arizona's revamped defensive front recorded just one sack, and the offense struggled at times to sustain drives. The Cardinals produced two quick second-quarter touchdown drives and amassed 124 yards in that span, but in the fourth quarter a promising chance to seal the game evaporated when the offense ran three plays for a nine-yard loss. That sequence set up a late Saints rally that Arizona's defense ultimately repelled.
Murray was also sacked five times as he scrambled in the pocket and searched for playmaking opportunities. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. said the offense was "good, but not great," citing pass protection issues, limited running lanes and several penalties. Second-string running back Trey Benson, however, provided a spark, rushing for 69 yards on eight carries, including a 52-yard burst that highlighted his increased role.
Special teams had a costly moment when a Saints block of a Cardinals field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter gave New Orleans life, but Arizona's unit otherwise executed in critical situations. On the defensive line, new edge rusher Josh Sweat — the centerpiece of offseason investment — did not make a major impact Sunday, a shortcoming the team expects to address as the season progresses.
Injuries also emerged: linebacker Cody Simon and safety Joey Blount were placed in concussion protocol following the game.
Statistically, Harrison's early scoring pace stands out. His nine touchdown catches through his first 18 NFL games have been matched only twice in franchise history, by Larry Fitzgerald and Gern Nagler.
Arizona returns home to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, seeking cleaner execution after a win that was satisfactory for the record but left clear areas for improvement as the Cardinals attempt to build momentum in a season with high hopes for defensive improvement and more consistency on offense.