Cardinals’ win over the Lions: By the numbers

Sep 16, 2013, 1:50 AM | Updated: 1:50 am

In a bit of a role reversal from Week 1, the Arizona Cardinals came back to stun the Detroit Lions 25-21 behind 12 unanswered points in the second half.

With the win, Arizona moved to 1-1 on the season, but its first victory of 2013 was filled with both highs and lows.

Here’s a look back at all the action by the numbers.

0:

Rashard Mendenhall had the eventual game-winning touchdown run, but Todd Bowles’ defense had a lot to do with the final outcome. In the second half, Arizona didn’t allow a single point and forced three 3-and-outs, a fumble and a late turnover on downs. Detroit only ran 25 offensive plays over the final 30 minutes.

1:

Despite the victory, the offense had its fair share of issues, particularly on third down. Carson Palmer and Co. completed just one of their 11 opportunities on third down.

1:19

Rookie Tyrann Mathieu had another impressive performance with six total tackles, none bigger than his last one on Nate Burleson to seal the victory with 1:09 remaining in the game.

2:

All-Pro wideout Larry Fitzgerald was active for Sunday’s game, but he was limited because of a hamstring injury. Fitzgerald, who sat out most of the second half, had two catches for 33 yards.

4:

Dating back to 2010, Arizona has won four straight home openers at University of Phoenix Stadium.

6:

Just two games into his NFL career, running back Andre Ellington is doing his best to make Cardinals general manager Steve Keim look like a master talent evaluator. Ellington, a sixth-round pick in 2013, had four carries for 20 yards to go along with a team-leading 42 yards receiving and a touchdown.

7:

With Sunday’s win, Arizona extended its home winning streak to seven games against Detroit. The streak dates back to 1993.

9:

Against the Rams, Carson Palmer had three main weapons in Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd. Sunday, he had several more. In all, Arizona had nine different players amass more than 10 yards receiving.

15:

While the defense deserves a lot of credit for the victory, Amos Jones’ special teams group had a big hand in it, as well. Justin Bethel’s blocked field goal with less than nine minutes to play didn’t set up a go-ahead score, but it did change the complexion of the game. The blocked field goal was the 15th recorded by the Cardinals since 2008 — an NFL record.

18:

With Fitzgerald sitting on the sidelines for most of the second half, Kerry Taylor, who was working on the practice squad as recently as Friday, stepped up. The former ASU standout had three catches for 40 yards in the win.

21:

Patrick Peterson wasn’t exactly a stone wall against Calvin Johnson (six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns) on the defensive end. But, the two-time Pro Bowler did his best to make contributions in other ways, including a 17-yard reception and a 17-yard completion to Taylor.

66:

Palmer has been a drastic upgrade from the four quarterbacks the Cardinals trotted out a season ago, but when the 33-year-old has made a mistake through the air it’s proven costly. In the third quarter of Sunday’s contest, the former Heisman Trophy winner was looking for tight end Jim Dray on third and four from the Detroit 38-yard line. He completed the pass, the only problem was it landed in the arms of Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy. Levy returned it for an easy 66-yard touchdown.

350:

Ellington’s 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter marked the first time since Sept. 30, 2012 that the Cardinals scored a touchdown through the air at home — a span of 350 days.

Arizona Cardinals fans hold a sign in memory of the victims of Friday's Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings during the first half of an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt makes a call against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) gains yards as Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) breaks the tackle of Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals tight end Jeff King (87) breaks the tackle of Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) tries to escape the tackle of Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) is pressured by Arizona Cardinals defensive end David Carter (79) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) makes a catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure (25) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) cannot pull in a pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Detroit Lions outside linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) makes an interception as Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) looks to gain yardage as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws under pressure from Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (90) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson (49) and Daryl Washington during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley(14) celebrates a running touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) makes an interception to set up a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson (49) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half in an NFL football game on Sunday Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson, left, intercepts a pass intended for Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson, right, during the first half in an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) throws against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure (25) breaks a tackle by Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) pulls in a pass as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Rashad Johnson defends during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) stiff-arms Detroit Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch (55) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
Arizona Cardinals' Greg Toler (28) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions as teammate Kerry Rhodes (25) follows during the second half in an NFL football game on Sunday Dec. 16, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 38-10. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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