Rapid Reaction: Cards’ offense torches Bucs in Adrian Peterson’s debut

It looked like the old Adrian Peterson all day long.

Traded for this past Tuesday, the Arizona Cardinals version of Peterson rushed 26 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns as his new team built a 31-0 lead on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and held on for a 38-33 win in Week 6.

Here’s some quick reaction from the staff of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and ArizonaSports.com on the game.

Of course, you can get more reaction Monday, starting at 6 a.m. with Doug & Wolf and continuing with The Blitz with Bertrand Berry & Mike Jurecki and Bickley & Marotta — who will both broadcast from the Cardinals’ practice facility in Tempe. Then, Burns & Gambo will wrap up the day’s analysis on your drive home from 2-6 p.m.

Vince Marotta, Co-host of Bickley & Marotta

I didn’t think the acquisition of Adrian Peterson would make much difference in Week 6. I was way wrong. With a healthier and shuffled offensive line, Peterson’s running and Carson Palmer playing his best football in a long time, the Cardinals put on an offensive clinic in the first half.

Peterson appears to have a lot of burst left, and that bodes well for the Cardinals over the last 10 games of the year.

Dave Burns, Co-host of Burns & Gambo

When the Cards acquired Adrian Peterson, I called it a Hail Mary. It was their version of the Suns adding Shaq back in the day. More pomp and circumstance than actual results. Peterson’s debut had plenty of pomp, circumstance and results. If we’re comparing midseason acquisitions in the history of the Valley, Peterson looked more like J.D. Martinez than Shaq. Peterson’s impact was as subtle as a sledgehammer and has the potential to redefine this offense in ways that I didn’t think it was capable of. Largely because I didn’t think he was capable of it. The Cards ran the ball 35 times and threw it 22. That’s a beautiful thing.

His impact was felt across all levels. Fitz admitted afterward his touchdown came on on a play action, and that doesn’t happen without Peterson. Chandler Jones said it was like watching a player in Madden.

Unlike many around the league in Week 6, the Cardinals were able to avoid blowing the lead they had worked so hard to build. The second half was rough, especially without Patrick Peterson. But they killed enough clock when they needed to and Fitz’s most important play might have come on the on-sides kick, killing a few seconds on the clock before the two minute warning.

This time a week ago, I was pretty convinced the Cardinals were on their way to a bad season. After today, and with three division games in a row upcoming, it’s clear the Cards’ future is anything but.

Luke Lapinski, host of The Rundown with Luke Lapinski

At the end of the day, it’s still pretty surreal seeing Adrian Peterson standing at the home podium in University of Phoenix Stadium. Six days ago, he was a member of the Saints, with no real indication that Arizona was anywhere near acquiring him. Now, he’s the Cardinals’ leading rusher for 2017.

It didn’t take long either. Peterson erupted for 54 yards on the opening drive of the game, earning a standing ovation from the crowd after his first carry went for eight yards. And he capped that initial drive off with a 27-yard score that worked the fans into a frenzy.

From there, the Cardinals built a 31-0 lead, and the offense was fun to watch again, evoking images of 2015. Peterson finished with an impressive 134 yards and two touchdowns, and Carson Palmer completed literally every pass he threw in the first half. For the first time in a long time, Arizona finally looked balanced.

The second half was a reminder that everything isn’t perfect here. After John Brown scored to put the Cards up 31-0 early in the third quarter, Tampa Bay went on a 33-7 run to close out the game. Things got a lot more interesting than they probably should have been in the closing moments, especially considering Jameis Winston left this game early with a shoulder injury. But the bottom line is Arizona’s back at .500 heading into the London showdown with the Rams. And there’s a great deal more hope and optimism around the team than there was just six days ago.​

Craig Grialou, reporter

Asked how much he had left in the tank, Adrian Peterson told the media earlier in the week, “Stay tuned, you guys will be able to see firsthand.” Well, find out we did. That was impressive.

From the first time he touched the football — and received a standing ovation from the crowd — to that fourth-quarter, 11-yard run in which he broke Brent Grimes’ ankles, Peterson looked like his tank is full, or at least well above empty.

And yes, Peterson made several defenders miss, but how about the blocking up front? That much-maligned offensive line (plus the tight ends) played its best game of the season. The linemen opened up rushing lanes for Peterson and protected Carson Palmer. Could it be better? Yes, but keep in mind, this was the first time this version of the offensive line — D.J. Humphries, Alex Boone, A.Q. Shipley, Earl Watford and Jared Veldheer (left-to-right) — had played together in a game. Through six games, the Cardinals have started five different offensive line combinations.

John Gambadoro, Co-host of Burns & Gambo

What a difference an offensive line makes. Or is it a premier running back? Either way, both were huge in leading the Cardinals to a must-win victory against the Buccaneers. Now at 3-3 and coming off a game in which Adrian Peterson rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns, the thought of this being a playoff team is back on. Now they have a good win not just two ugly ones. And the game against the Rams in London next week is ginormous.

You have to love 35 rushes and just 22 passes — that’s less opportunities for Carson Palmer to get sacked and hit. The story was AP, as he came out and dominated from the start, and now all of a sudden Arizona has a rushing attack and a play-action passing game. That the Cardinals got torched defensively in the fourth quarter is only a minimal concern because they were protecting a big lead and obviously let up. Didn’t like turnovers by Carson, Fitz and a fumble by AP, but again in a win, we tend to downplay those. Overall, great win and momentum going forward. Great decision to trade a late-round pick for AP, which may have saved the season.

Mike Jurecki, Co-host of The Blitz with B-Train and Jurecki

In his Cardinals’ debut, running back Adrian Peterson played 48 snaps and finished with 26 rushes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

Going into the game, the thought process was he would get 15-to-18 carries and wouldn’t play on third-down situations. Based on how the Cardinals ran the ball in their first possession, Peterson’s role against the Buccaneers changed.

I spoke to Peterson last week and during our conversation you could tell he was motivated and playing with a chip on his shoulder. The 7-time Pro Bowler brought an undeniable energy to the Arizona locker room following a disappointing loss to Philadelphia in Week 5.

The Cardinals ran a lot of “Double 22 left and double 23 right”. The offensive line did a great job considering there were three new starters — left tackle D.J. Humphries, left guard Alex Boone and right guard Earl Watford. Center A.Q. Shipley and right tackle Jared Veldheer held their own. It’s the best the line has played all year.

Per Pro Football Focus, the Cardinals gained 57 yards on eight carries when running left and were able to exploit shaky run defense from the Bucs’ secondary. Peterson ran angry and downhill with power and was able to gain yards after contact, which haven’t been gained by other Cardinals backs this year.

Under Bruce Arians, when the Cardinals outrush their opponents, they’re 35-4-1. They outrushed Tampa Bay Sunday, 160-68.

It’s only one game, but it appears Peterson still has a lot left in the tank — and credit to general manager Steve Keim for changing the mood in the locker room.

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