Bird Bits: Cardinals fall to Broncos to close out preseason

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a football game. So, we will give you bird bits, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from Cardinals’ August 30 loss to the Broncos. Final score: Broncos 16, Cardinals 13

The Good:

Well, preseason is over. Every game from here will count, and no one should complain about that.

As for the Cardinals, Ryan Lindley played well in his debut as the team’s starting quarterback. The rookie completed 14-of-26 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown while also throwing a pick. The plan was for him to play the first half and sit the second, but he was pressed back into action when Richard Bartel suffered a shoulder injury.

Also good was Michael Floyd, who scored his first professional touchdown with an outstanding catch in the second quarter. The rookie from Notre Dame went up between a couple Denver defenders and made a juggling catch.

The Bad:

Richard Bartel and Javarris James both left with injuries, and it is speculated that James suffered a torn ACL. Both players went into this game on the roster bubble, and exiting with injuries will not help their respective causes.

He said it:

“I think we’re right where we want to be,” Larry Fitzgerald said. “Obviously we need to improve on the mistakes offensively, but I think we’re right where we need to be in terms of playing our first game next week. ”

Noted:

It was a mixed bag for former Sun Devils at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Omar Bolden returned a third-quarter kickoff 103-yards for a touchdown, but Brock Osweiler completed just 3-of-6 passes for 36 yards and was intercepted once. Gerell Robinson caught two of Osweiler’s passes and picked up 31 yards in the process.

Coming up Next:

The Cardinals need to trim their roster to 53 Friday, and will open the regular season at home on Sunday, September 9, against the Seattle Seahawks.

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