Arizona Cardinals' defense sparks NFL Week 7 victory over New Orleans Saints

Look back at our updates from the Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints NFL Week 7 Thursday Night Football game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

NFL Week 7 picks, predictions:

• Saints vs. Cardinals | Browns vs. Ravens | Bucs vs. Panthers

• Falcons vs. Bengals | Lions vs. Cowboys | Giants vs. Jaguars

• Colts vs. Titans | Packers vs. Commanders | Jets vs. Broncos

• Texans vs. Raiders | Seahawks vs. Chargers | Chiefs vs. 49ers

• Steelers vs. Dolphins | Bears vs. Patriots | Republic's picks

Cardinals end home skid with win over Saints on Thursday Night Football

The Arizona Cardinals entered their game Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints having lost eight straight games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

The team made sure the streak wouldn't go to nine.

Sparked by two interception returns for touchdowns late in the first half, the Cardinals rallied from a 14-6 deficit to a 28-14 lead with a 25-point second quarter and never looked back in their 42-34 win at their home stadium.

Arizona's Marco Wilson had a 38-yard interception return of an Andy Dalton pass for a touchdown with 1:50 left in the second quarter to put the Cardinals up 20-14.

Then, with 46 seconds left in the quarter, Isaiah Simmons returned another Dalton pass for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a 28-14 lead.

Arizona also intercepted a Dalton pass in the end zone in the first half.

Dalton went 30-for-47 for the Saints, with four touchdown passes and the three interceptions. He connected with tight end Juwan Johnson on two of the touchdowns.

Kyler Murray went 20-for-29 for the Cardinals, with one touchdown, a pass to Greg Dortch from five-yards out, Dortch's only catch of the night.

DeAndre Hopkins' return from suspension seemed to jump start the Cardinals on offense, especially in the second half.

Hopkins had 10 catches for 103 yards in the game. He was targeted 14 times.

Eno Benjamin ran the ball 12 times for 92 yards for the Cardinals, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. He had a touchdown run, as did rookie Keaontay Ingram.

The Saints outgained the Cardinals, 494-326 in the game, and 409-189 passing, but the turnovers were key in the game. Arizona did not turn the ball

The Cardinals improved to 3-4 with the win. The team will play at Minnesota in Week 8.

The Saints fell to 2-5 with the loss. They will host the Las Vegas Raiders next week.

Final score: Cardinals 42, Saints 34

Saints get closer with field goal

The Saints pulled within 42-34 with :43 left on a 45-yard field goal by Will Lutz, capping a 10-play, 53-yard drive.

The Cardinals were able to recover the onside kick attempt, and run out the clock to end the game, however.

Score: Cardinals 42, Saints 34 (:43 left in game)

Saints force Cardinals to punt

The Cardinals went three-and-out on their next possession and had to punt to give the Saints the ball back, and an opportunity to try to pull closer than the current 42-31 score.

Can the Cardinals' defense make a stand?

Saints not going away vs. Cardinals

The New Orleans Saints are not going down without a fight.

They just went on an 11-play, 75-yard drive over 3:15 to pull within 42-31 with 3:06 left in the game.

Andy Dalton found Juwan Johnson on a 1-yard touchdown pass for the score.

Score: Cardinals 42, Saints 31 (3:06 left in game)

Eno Benjamin extends Cardinals' lead vs. Saints 

The Cardinals extended their lead with am 8-play, 64-yard drive over 4:52, capping the drive with a five-yard touchdown run by Eno Benjamin, who stretched out for the touchdown.

Benjamin now has 12 carries for 92 yards in the game, and the Cardinals have 134 yards on the ground.

Score: Cardinals 42, Saints 24 (6:22 remaining in game)

Saints get closer with quick touchdown

The Saints took advantage of the short field, driving 46 yards over five plays and 1:40 to pull within 35-24 with 11:14 left in the game.

Andy Dalton connected with Juwan Johnson on a 17-yard touchdown pass on the scoring play.

There is still a lot of time left in this game.

Score: Cardinals 35, Saints 24 (11:14 left in game)

Cardinals punt vs. Saints after short drive

If the Cardinals' goal is to run some of the clock out vs. the Saints, they are not doing a very good job.

Arizona just had a four-play drive that only took 1:55 off the clock.

The Saints will start their possession at the Arizona 46-yard line.

Saints go three-and-out for second straight time

The Cardinals' defense forced the Saints to punt after a second straight three-and-out.

Chris Olave had a 7-yard reception on the Saints' first play of the possession, but Andy Dalton three two incomplete passes on the next two plays to end the possession.

Cardinals extend lead against Saints

The Cardinals finally got their first first-down of the second half on their third possession, and then some.

Arizona drove 85 yards in 12 plays to score a touchdown on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to Greg Dortch to extend its lead to 35-17 with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

Murray connected with DeAndre Hopkins three times on the drive. The receiver is up to eight catches for 85 yards.

Murray is 18-for-25 for 186 yards and the touchdown.

Score: Cardinals 35, Saints 17 (:29 left in third quarter)

Arizona's defense forces New Orleans' first punt

The Saints have punted for the first time in the game after going three-and-out and gaining just three yards on their possession.

Three of the four combined possessions in the second half have ended up with punts after their were no punts in the first half.

Can the Cardinals get something going on offense?

Another three-and-out for Cardinals to start second half

The Cardinals are not getting the job done on offense to start the second half.

The team has had two possession and it has gone three-and-out on each, with the team losing 13 yards on its latest.

The Saints will start the next drive at their own 46-yard line.

Cardinals hold Saints to field goal

The Saints had a first-and-goal at the Arizona eight on their next possession, but the Cardinals were able to hold New Orleans to a 25-yard field goal by Will Lutz to make the score 28-17.

Taysom Hill connected on a 41-yard pass to Chris Olave on the drive to set up the first and goal on the drive.

The Saints' drive went for nine plays and 54 yards and took 4:16 off the clock, but the Cardinals defense held firm in not allowing a touchdown.

Score: Cardinals 28, Saints 17 (9:44 left in third quarter)

Cardinals start third quarter with three-and-out

The Cardinals went three-and-out to start the second half after a 5-yard pass from Kyler Murray to DeAndre Hopkins and then two incomplete passes from Murray to Hopkins.

Andy Lee punted for Arizona, the first punt in the game.

Hopkins has five catches for 42 yards for Arizona, but the wide receiver and his quarterback do not appear to be on the same page in Hopkins' first action of the season after returning from a 6-game suspension.

Cardinals vs. Saints first half stats

The Arizona Cardinals were down 14-6 against the Saints and responded with 22 straight points to take a 28-14 lead at the half of their NFL Week 7 game in Glendale.

Andy Dalton has four touchdown passes in the game - two for the Saints and two for the Cardinals, who returned two Dalton interceptions for touchdowns.

The Saints QB is 9-for-15 with three interceptions, his other came in the end zone to end a New Orleans drive.

Kyler Murray is 10-for-13 for 96 yards in the game for Arizona, which has just one touchdown on offense, a Keaontay Ingram 2-yard rush.

The Saints had 16 rushes for 72 yards in the first half, the Cardinals had 13 carries for 87 yards.

Arizona is just 1-for 4 on third down, but is 1-for-1 on fourth down. The Saints were 4-for-6 on third down in the first half,

New Orleans out-gained Arizona in the first half, 256-183, but the difference was the Cardinals' big plays on defense.

Arizona will get the ball to start the second half.

Cardinals extend lead with second pick-six vs. Saints

The Arizona Cardinals' defense has taken control of this game.

After picking off an Andy Dalton pass and returning it for a touchdown on the Saints' previous possession, the Cardinals' defense did it again with 46 seconds left in the first half to extend their lead to 28-14.

Isaiah Simmons returned this interception 56 yards for the score and Kyler Murray connected with Zach Ertz on the 2-point attempt to put Arizona up 14.

Dalton now has three interceptions for the Saints, one which came in the end zone and the other two which were returned for touchdowns.

Score: Cardinals 28, Saints 14 (:46 left in first half)

Cardinals take lead with pick-six vs. Saints

An Andy Dalton pass to Marquez Callaway went off Callaway's hands and into Marco Wilson's, who ran the intercepted back 38 yards to give the Cardinals a 20-14 lead with 1:50 left in the first half.

Rodrigo Blankenship's extra point was not good.

Score: Cardinals 20, Saints 14 (1:50 left in first half)

Cardinals respond late in first half against Saints

Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense needed a touchdown in the worst way late in the second quarter against the Saints.

They got it.

Keaontay Ingram ran for a 2-yard touchdown run to cap off a 13-play, 75-yard drive and Eno Benjamin added a 2-point conversion run to tie the game with 2:28 left in the first half.

The Cardinals have struggled in red zone this season, so getting the touchdown was huge for Arizona.

It is Ingram's first NFL touchdown. Murray converted a fourth-and-1 at the 4-yard line to keep Arizona's drive alive on the possession.

Score: Cardinals 14, Saints 14 (2:28 left in first half)

Saints extend lead on Andy Dalton touchdown pass

Andy Dalton didn't throw an interception in the end zone on the Saints' next possession.

The quarterback connected with Taysom Hill on a 3-yard pass to give New Orleans a 14-6 lead on Arizona on the Saints' next possession.

The drive went for five plays and 75 yards.

The key play of the drive was when Dalton connected with Kevin White on a short pass and then the receiver ran for 64 yards up the sideline to set up a first and goal at the Arizona 3-yard line.

Dalton is 8-for-10 for 169 and two touchdowns so far in the game.

Arizona hasn't been able to stop the Saints' offense, save for an interception in the end zone.

Score: Saints 14, Cardinals 6 (10:29 left in second quarter)

Rodrigo Blankenship connects on second field goal for Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals pulled within 7-6 on a 28-yard field goal by Rodrigo Blankenship early in the second quarter, but the team could have had more.

Kyler Murray had a key 11-yard run on third and 10 from the New Orleans 18-yard line on the possession to give the Cardinals a first and 10 at the 7, but the Cardinals' couldn't take advantage and had to settle for the field goal.

Running back Eno Benjamin had a 45-yard run on the drive, the longest offensive play of the season for the Cardinals.

Blankenship has looked good in his two kicks for Arizona, but the Cardinals continue to struggle in the red zone this season.

Score: Saints 7, Cardinals 6 (13:15 left in second quarter)

Cardinals' defense comes up big vs. Saints

The Arizona Cardinals' defense came up with a big play to end the New Orleans Saints' second possession.

After New Orleans had scored a touchdown on its first drive, it was marching down the field on its second before safety Antonio Hamilton intercepted Andy Dalton in the end zone to keep the score at 7-3.

The Saints' drive had been for 15 plays and 65 yards. It took 8:48 off the clock.

Dalton connected with rookie wide receiver Chris Olave on some nice passes on the drive, but couldn't connect with a receiver on his team in the end zone.

Hamilton has only played in three games for the Cardinals this season after suffering burns in a grease fire in the preseason.

The Saints converted on several third drives on the drive, but not when it mattered most.

Rodrigo Blankenship comes through for Cardinals early

The Arizona Cardinals brought in Rodrigo Blankenship this week as their kicker after cutting Matt Ammendola and with Matt Prater still hurt.

He delivered with his first kick for the Cardinals.

Blankenship connected on a 50-yard field goal to help the Cardinals get on the board to pull within 7-3 in the game.

Arizona's scoring drive went six plays and for 43 yards and took 1:59 off the clock.

On the drive, DeAndre Hopkins caught a 5-yard pass for his first catch of the season.

This is the star wide receivers first game this season after he sat out the first six games during a suspension.

Score: Saints 7, Cardinals 3 (10:54 left in first quarter)

Saints score quickly vs. Cardinals

It didn't take the New Orleans Saints long to jump out to a lead on the Arizona Cardinals.

Andy Dalton connected with Rasid Shaheed on a 53-yard pass to give the Saints a 7-0 lead just 2:07 into the game.

The Saints' scoring drive only took four plays and went for 75 yards.

It wasn't the start the Cardinals wanted. Arizona had been outscored in the first quarter heading into this game this season, 41-3. That number is now at 48-3 on the season.

Score: Saints 7, Cardinals 0 (12:53 left in first quarter)

Rodrigo Blankenship to kick for Cardinals vs. Saints

The Arizona Cardinals have announced their inactives for the game against the Saints and Matt Prater is among them, meaning that Rodrigo Blankenship, who was signed earlier this week after Matt Ammendola was released, will kick for the Cardinals.

Running backs James Conner and Darrel Williams are also out, as is CB Trayvon Mullen, C Rodney Hudson, LB Dennis Gardeck and OL Lecitus Smith.

More: New Arizona Cardinals kicker Rodrigo Blankenship proud of his Legos, shoes and glasses

State Farm Stadium roof to be open for Thursday Night Football game

The roof at State Farm Stadium is going to be open for the Thursday Night Football game between the Cardinals and Saints.

The Cardinals sent out an email Wednesday that they expected the roof to be open for the game and encouraging fans to dress accordingly because of it.

They also encouraged fans to arrive early because of the weekday 5:15 p.m. start, because of possible increased traffic conditions around the stadium in Glendale.

How to watch Saints vs. Cardinals game

The game can be seen at 5:15 p.m. MST time on Amazon Prime Video.

Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will be in the broadcast booth for the game and Kaylee Hartung will be the reporter.

Announcers: Television broadcasters, announcing crews for Week 7 NFL schedule

How to watch: NFL Week 7 schedule, television information

Saints vs. Cardinals game odds

The Cardinals are a 2.5-point favorite in the game, according to Tipico Sportsbook.

Arizona is -130 on the money line in the game.

The Saints are +110.

The over/under for the game is set at 44.5 points.

NFL Week 7 odds:

• Saints vs. Cardinals | Browns vs. Ravens | Bucs vs. Panthers

• Falcons vs. Bengals | Lions vs. Cowboys | Giants vs. Jaguars

• Colts vs. Titans | Packers vs. Commanders | Jets vs. Broncos

• Texans vs. Raiders | Seahawks vs. Chargers | Chiefs vs. 49ers

• Steelers vs. Dolphins | Bears vs. Patriots | Odds, betting info.

Saints vs. Cardinals picks, predictions

Sites appear to be split on the outcome of Thursday's Saints vs. Cardinals game in Glendale, with some picking Arizona to cover and others taking New Orleans with the points.

The Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman previewed and predicted the outcome of the game in his Saints vs. Cardinals scouting report.

As for me, I envision a very close game on Thursday Night Football, with the Cardinals securing a close victory, thanks to their defense.

For subscribers: NFL Week 7 picks, predictions: Who wins each game on NFL Week 7 schedule?

Cardinals vs. Saints video preview

The Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman and Jose Romero previewed Thursday night's NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints.

Check out what they will be watching for in the game.

Saints, Cardinals records this season

The Saints are 2-4 on the season.

They opened the season with a 27-26 win over the Atlanta Falcons, before dropping three straight to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20-10), Carolina Panthers (22-14) and Minnesota Vikings (28-25).

In Week 5, they beat the Seattle Seahawks, 39-32. They are coming off a 30-26 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Cardinals also enter the game with a 2-4 record with their wins coming in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders  (29-23) and in Week 4 against the Panthers (26-16).

They have lost to the Kansas City Chiefs (44-21), Los Angeles Rams (20-12), Philadelphia Eagles (20-17) and are coming off a 19-9 loss to the Seahawks.

NFL power rankings: New York Giants, New York Jets make statements with big wins

Pregame reading for Saints vs. Cardinals game

• Kliff Kingsbury slammed in NFL Week 6 grades: 'Definitely on hot seat'

• Cardinals release depth chart before NFL Week 7 game vs. Saints

• Back from 6-game suspension, DeAndre Hopkins wants heavy workload

• Zaven Collins making long-awaited impact for Cardinals defense

• Fire Kliff Kingsbury? Media members, fans call for coach to fired

• Cardinals trade for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson

• 3 things to know about new Cardinals wide receiver Robbie Anderson

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals' defense sparks win over New Orleans Saints