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Highlights From Cardinals-Broncos Preseason Week 1

The Arizona Cardinals opened their preseason action with a home game against the Denver Broncos - here's how the action unfolded.
Donnie Druin|
Highlights From Cardinals-Broncos Preseason Week 1
Highlights From Cardinals-Broncos Preseason Week 1

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Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE -- Football season is officially here for the Arizona Cardinals, and what a close matchup fans at State Farm Stadium were treated to in their preseason opener after a thrilling 18-17 win for the Cards over the Denver Broncos.

Inactives: Jeff Driskel, Kyzir White, BJ Ojulari, Trey McBride, D.J. Humphries, James Conner, Keaontay Ingram, Budda Baker, Marquise Brown

First Quarter

As expected, Colt McCoy trotted out with the Cardinals' starting offense. He played just one drive and went 4/4 for 17 yards and rushed once for five yards. Arizona gained two first-downs but ultimately were forced to punt on their opening drive. 

After forcing a Broncos three-and-out, Clayton Tune got his shot with the first team. Tune connected on a few passes but threw an interception to end his first drive of the preseason:

Arizona's defense would step up with a nice TFL from Zaven Collins and a Dennis Gardeck sack to push Denver to a 47-yard attempt, which was ultimately missed by Brett Maher. 

Yet the confusion continued for Tune on the ensuing drive, where he was sacked and pressured into throwing an off-schedule ball to force another punt, essentially closing the first quarter with no scores from either side. 

Cardinals 0, Broncos 0 

Second Quarter

Hoping to snag the first points of the game, Denver (this time Elliot Fry as the kicker) again missed a field goal attempt, this time from 50 yards out. 

The Cardinals put themselves in scoring position thanks to a 22-yard reception from Andre Baccellia, though Matt Prater wasn't quite able to knock home a 55-yard field goal - still leaving the game scoreless at 0-0. 

The first score of the game was found with just under seven minutes left in the half. Facing a fourth-down at the AZ 21, Denver kept their offense on the field and Wilson found Jerry Jeudy for six after the Cardinals gambled with a blitz and sent the house. 

Backup safety Andre Chachere was in man coverage and didn't stand a chance. 

Broncos 7, Cardinals 0

After a few exchanged punts, the Broncos were able to squeeze in one more score, this time ending the field goal dry spell with a 55-yard field goal by Fry to put Denver up 10-0 heading into halftime. 

Broncos 10, Cardinals 0

Third Quarter

With Denver marching and looking to extend their lead on the opening drive of the third quarter, it was Antonio Hamilton who stepped up and nabbed Arizona's first turnover of the game after beautifully reading an out route thrown by Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham.

Tune looked to had found his rhythm on the ensuing drive, marching the Cardinals downfield but eventually settling for a 38-yard Prater field goal.

Broncos 10, Cardinals 3

With the Broncos again on the verge of kicking another field goal and extending their lead, Cardinals DL Carlos Watkins was able to break through the line and get a fingertip on the attempt, ensuring the Cardinals remained within one possession. 

Fourth Quarter

Just a few minutes in the last quarter of play, Tune found Kaden Davis on a seven-yard post route to level the score at 10-10. 

Broncos 10, Cardinals 10

After forcing a punt, David Blough took the field in hopes of leading the Cardinals to a potential game-winning drive. After a pair of Denver penalties put the Cardinals around midfield, Blough was sacked twice and Arizona was forced to punt. 

The Broncos slowly but surely moved down the field, milking as much clock as they could on a 10-play, 87-yard drive before finally reaching the end zone on a Jaleel McLaughlin run with 1:30 left in the game. 

Broncos 17, Cardinals 10

Did the Broncos leave too much time for Blough and Arizona's offense? 

They sure did. 

The Cardinals got down to the Denver 22 with 14 seconds left, and with two seconds left Blough connected with Brian Cobbs on a toe-tap touchdown to draw within one.

Arizona went for two and converted thanks to a Emari Demercado rush, heavily assisted by his offensive linemen who helped shove him into the end zone to close the game out after a squib kick ran out the clock. 

Cardinals 18, Broncos 17

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Donnie Druin
DONNIE DRUIN

Donnie Druin is the Publisher for Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns On SI. Donnie moved to Arizona in 2012 and has been with the company since 2018. In college he won "Best Sports Column" in the state of Arizona for his section and has previously provided coverage for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin for more news, updates, analysis and more!

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