Cardinals’ pass protection struggles in first half against Saints

Sep 22, 2013, 9:35 PM | Updated: 9:35 pm

The Arizona Cardinals’ offense started Sunday’s contest in New Orleans with a beautiful 11-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a three-yard touchdown run by Alfonso Smith.

From there, things quickly went downhill.

Arizona failed to get further than the New Orleans 41-yard line over its next six offensive possessions, in large part due to a lack of pass protection for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Palmer, who finished the half 12-of-24 for 114 yards, was sacked three times, hit five times and hurried 10 times during the first 30 minutes of play.

The three combined sacks — two recorded by Chandler HS alum Cameron Jordan and the other by Junior Galette — were allowed by tackles Levi Brown and Eric Winston.

Arizona has given up eight sacks in its first five halves this season.

Arizona Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith (29) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith (29) dives over the goal line to score a touchdown as New Orleans Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis (28) and outside linebacker David Hawthorne (57) defend in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem catches a touchdown pass in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) and strong safety Yeremiah Bell (37) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) is tackled by New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (50) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pulls in a pass over New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston (12) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby after catching a pass in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Sam Acho as Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (82) tries to block in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) pulls in a touchdown reception over Arizona Cardinals strong safety Yeremiah Bell (37) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, right, talks to quarterback Carson Palmer (3) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saintsin New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (91) wraps up New Orleans Saints fullback Jed Collins (45) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis (28) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) passes as New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) pressures in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) passes as New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) and outside linebacker Junior Galette (93) pressure him in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks at his play chart in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (32) celebrates with cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) after intercepting a pass in the end zone in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (32) intercepts a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) in the end zone in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) 
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) rushes for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) and Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) look on. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) and Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) look on. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) is wrapped up by New Orleans Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis (28) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) tries to pull in a pass in front of New Orleans Saints free safety Malcolm Jenkins (27) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) 
New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles (43) rushes against Arizona Cardinals defensive end John Abraham (55) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) pulls in a pass over Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (32) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) reaches over the goal line on a touchdown reception over Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013.(AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) slam dunks over the goalpost after scoring on a touchdown reception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) slides under Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (32) after carrying for a gain in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) celebrates his interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, left, shakes hands with Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. The Saints won 31-7. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, left, after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. The Saints won 31-7. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

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