When Tim Hightower of the Arizona Cardinals broke the first play from scrimmage for a 70-yard touchdown run, I thought, “I hope this game isn’t a blowout.”
Fifteen minutes later I was thinking the same thing, for a different reason. The New Orleans Saints, coming off three losses and a week’s layoff, found their winning form and scored three touchdowns in the first thirteen minutes of the game, going into the second quarter with a 21-7 lead.
Fifteen minutes later I was thinking the same thing, for a different reason. The New Orleans Saints, coming off three losses and a week’s layoff, found their winning form and scored three touchdowns in the first thirteen minutes of the game, going into the second quarter with a 21-7 lead.
The Saints offence scored every time they had the ball in the first quarter, and three punts and an interception from the Cardinals gave the Saints plenty of opportunities. The Cardinals offence couldn’t muster a decent drive in the entire first quarter, while Saints QB Drew Brees went eight for nine passing for one touchdown.
The Saints finally had to punt on their first drive of the second quarter. Then the Cards hit finally started playing football. Cards QB Kurt Warner put together a decent drive, helped by a roughing-the-passer call that nullified a second interception. Warner threaded some short passes in past the Saints defenders, setting up a Beanie Wells touchdown run.
The Saints finally had to punt on their first drive of the second quarter. Then the Cards hit finally started playing football. Cards QB Kurt Warner put together a decent drive, helped by a roughing-the-passer call that nullified a second interception. Warner threaded some short passes in past the Saints defenders, setting up a Beanie Wells touchdown run.
The Cardinals defense was a source of worry, coming off of last week’s high-scoring game against the Packers, when neither defense could stop anything. The Cardinals lost key cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to an injury, which didn’t help their efforts.
The Cards didn’t fall apart entirely, but still the Saints were able to slice through them with short runs setting up long passes. After a 34-yard completion, Brees pulled-out the Flea-Flicker, hitting Devery Henderson for a 44-yard touchdown.
The Cards didn’t fall apart entirely, but still the Saints were able to slice through them with short runs setting up long passes. After a 34-yard completion, Brees pulled-out the Flea-Flicker, hitting Devery Henderson for a 44-yard touchdown.
The Cards blew their next chance when Kurt Warner threw yet another interception. Not only did he turn the ball over, he got hit hard trying to stop the return, leaving him laid out on the field for several seconds. Warner went to the locker room with bruised ribs, letting backup QB Matt Leinart run the final series.
The Saints finished the half with a final TD, heading into the locker room with a 21-point lead. It was the Saints’ fifth touchdown in six possessions.
Leinart got the Cards almost into field goal range before the clock ran out. The kick came up short, but at least Leinart got the offense going for a series of plays. Would the Cards even want Warner to come back, if he was able?
The first half wasn’t the total blowout I had feared, but the Saints certainly showed their dominance. Can the Cards pull it together in the locker room, or is their season ticking off its final minutes?
The Saints finished the half with a final TD, heading into the locker room with a 21-point lead. It was the Saints’ fifth touchdown in six possessions.
Leinart got the Cards almost into field goal range before the clock ran out. The kick came up short, but at least Leinart got the offense going for a series of plays. Would the Cards even want Warner to come back, if he was able?
The first half wasn’t the total blowout I had feared, but the Saints certainly showed their dominance. Can the Cards pull it together in the locker room, or is their season ticking off its final minutes?
