Cardinals’ Bradford completes every pass, Johnson scores vs. Saints

The Arizona Cardinals struggled to win the battle up front early on in New Orleans against the Saints, but came out on top in the most important one of Friday’s matchup in the early second quarter.

On 3rd-and-2 inside the 10-yard line, running back David Johnson received the handoff and looked like he was going to come up short around the four-yard line.

Johnson, though, along with several of his offensive lineman, pushed the pile forward all four yards and then some to put Johnson in the end zone for the game’s first score and a 7-0 lead.

That was the same drive where quarterback Sam Bradford got rolling.

He was a perfect 4-of-4 on the drive for 50 yards, throwing completions to wide receiver Chad Williams for 15 yards and rookie wide receiver Christian Kirk for another 12.

“We’ve been putting the time in during training camp,” Bradford said. “Obviously it’s nice to see it carry over into the preseason games where the speed is a little more than what it is in practice.”

A gain of 17 more yards came on a Bradford throw to tight end Gabe Holmes, and a six-yard completion to wide receiver Greg Little set up Johnson, who ran for two yards before the touchdown score.

“Tonight was good, the mechanics, the silent count,” Bradford said after the game. “Obviously being on the road and having to use [the silent count] against the play clock, I think it was good for us.

“I thought the operation on the road was pretty good and that’s what we were looking to do tonight.”

Bradford finished the game 6-for-6 with 61 yards passing while Johnson had six carries for 22 yards and a touchdown. Johnson also had a catch for five yards as well.

Rookies Josh Rosen and Chase Edmonds replaced Bradford and Johnson.

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