Rashad Johnson gets half of Cardinals’ 6 forced TOs against Lions

Oct 11, 2015, 4:30 PM

Arizona Cardinals free safety Rashad Johnson intercepts the ball intended for Detroit Lions tight end Timothy Wright (83) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN

ArizonaSports.com lead editor

The Detroit Lions moved the ball and moved it well early on, taking a 7-0 lead against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter.

That would be the end of the good news for the winless team, and Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson delivered quite a bit of the bad.

On the first possession of the game, Lions quarterback Matt Stafford attempted to loft a pass over Johnson, who stretched out to make the catch and cause the first of six Detroit turnovers in Arizona’s 42-17 victory. Johnson would be responsible for three of those changes of possession.

To end the second drive by the Lions, Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson forced a fumble by rookie running back Ameer Abdullah that was recovered by defensive tackle Josh Mauro, and despite Arizona failing to score on the first two Detroit turnovers, the next three would be taken advantage of.

Maybe the most enjoyable defensive play of the day came from Cardinals defensive end Cory Redding. He got his mitts on a Stafford pass, reeling in the quarterback’s second interception before rumbling his 6’4, 318-pound self 30 yards. It took a failed leap over Stafford to bring Redding yards short of recording the pick-six.

Cory Redding (6'4'', 318 lbs) makes a 1-handed pick and only has Matt Stafford in his way Stafford got'em! #AZvsDET http://t.co/hwD42AtTLm

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2015

Later, with the Cardinals leading 21-7, Jefferson forced another fumble by Lions receiver Golden Tate that Johnson recovered. Patrick Peterson picked off Stafford early in the third quarter, and Larry Fitzgerald capped Arizona’s ensuing drive with a touchdown that put the Cardinals ahead 35-7.

Stafford was benched the next Lions possession before, in the fourth quarter, Tyrann Mathieu’s tipped pass attempt by Detroit backup quarterback Daniel Orlovsky was hauled in by Johnson.