In a much-more defensive game than expected, the Arizona Cardinals dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 20-13 loss to the Detroit Lions, who improved to 2-1.
Arizona ended up scoring the only points of the second half with a field goal in the fourth quarter after the Lions went ahead 20-10 at halftime. However, the Cardinals were unable to stop the final Lions possession with only one timeout as time expired in the fourth quarter.
Kyler Murray completed 21-of-34 passes for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Murray rushed five times for 45 yards, as James Conner was limited to nine carries for 17 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. was targeted 11 times and caught five of them for 64 yards and a touchdown. Michael Wilson also had 64 receiving yards on eight catches.
Jared Goff completed his first 14 passes of the game and ended going 18-for-23 for 198 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Lions dominated the rushing game with David Montgomery turning 23 carries into 106 yards and a touchdown and Jahmyr Gibbs rushing 16 times for 83 yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown led all receivers with 74 yards on seven catches, as he and Gibbs were on the receiving ends of Goff’s two passing touchdowns.
In total, Detroit had 373 yards of total offense compared to 277 for Arizona and 187 rushing yards, while Arizona only had 77 rushing yards.
After coming into the game leading the NFL in tackles for loss, the Cardinals were able to pick up five more by five different players and two sacks. Down to their third-string right tackle, Arizona only allowed three tackles for loss for the Lions and one sack, which was recorded the league-leader in sacks Aidan Hutchinson.
Dennis Gardeck got the first interception all season for Arizona, while Kerby Joseph picked off Murray for his first interception on the year.
Arizona also got pretty banged up with defensive lineman Justin Jones leaving the game in the first half and not returning with a triceps injury, tight end Trey McBride being evaluated for a concussion, offensive tackle Jackson Barton, who was elevated from the practice squad and started the game in place of an injured Kelvin Beachum, being ruled out with a toe injury late and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga injuring his knee.
Game Flow
First Quarter
Arizona won the toss and elected to differ, booting the opening kickoff for a touchback. Montgomery started off the game strong, scoring from one-yard out after picking up 39 rushing yards on a pretty easy opening scoring drive for Detroit that went for 70 yards on nine plays in 4:44.