Cardinals’ loss to the Saints: By the numbers

Sep 22, 2013, 9:42 PM | Updated: 9:43 pm

The Arizona Cardinals’ ninth straight road loss wasn’t pretty in New Orleans Sunday. Drew Brees and the Saints scored 31 unanswered points after allowing an opening touchdown and won easily by a final of 31-7.

Here’s a look back at Arizona’s 24-point loss by the numbers:

1:

Tyrann Mathieu’s homecoming came with mixed results, as he found himself matched up on several occasions with Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. The rookie defensive back did, however, record his first career interception on a poorly thrown ball by Brees in the third quarter.

2:

Carson Palmer threw two fourth quarter interceptions that all but sealed New Orleans’ rout of Arizona. Palmer has four interceptions in three games this season. By comparison, the Cardinals quarterback has thrown just three touchdowns.

3:

With Dan Williams out due to a death in the family, Darnell Dockett stepped up his game in a big way. The Cardinals defensive lineman tied a career high with three sacks — doubling his total from 2012.

6:

Alfonso Smith’s three-yard touchdown run capped an 80-yard drive five minutes and 47 seconds into the contest. Smith’s carry was the sixth by an Arizona running back on the day, however the Cardinals ran the ball just 10 more times the rest of the game.

9:

St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook torched the Cardinals in Week 1 with seven catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns, and little changed in Week 3 for Bruce Arians and Co. Saints tight end Jimmy Graham proved to be a matchup nightmare, catching nine balls for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

10:

Arizona had 10 possessions after its opening drive but failed to score even once. On those 10 possessions, the Cardinals punted eight times and turned the ball over twice.

17.7

The Cardinals’ special teams didn’t show any glaring deficiencies Sunday, but they did allow New Orleans’ Darren Sproles to average 17.7 yards on his three punt returns. Sproles also had four catches for 39 yards on offense.

64:

Larry Fitzgerald wasn’t terribly limited by his hamstring in New Orleans. The All-Pro wideout led the team with five catches for 64 yards.

75:

Left tackle Levi Brown wasn’t the only offensive lineman to blame for Carson Palmer’s lack of pass protection in the first half, however the former No. 5 overall pick struggled mightily to slow down Junior Galette. In the first half, Palmer was sacked three times, hit five times and pressured 10 times.

342:

Drew Brees threw for 342 yards against Todd Bowles’ unit Sunday, marking the eighth straight game in which he’s gone over the 300-yard mark.

09/22/1996:

The Cardinals’ loss Sunday was their fourth straight in New Orleans. Arizona’s last victory in the Big Easy came 17 years to the day, Sept. 22, 1996.

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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