Notes from the Nest: Cardinals vs. Broncos

GLENDALE, Ariz. — We made it.

The Cardinals are playing their final preseason game Thursday night as the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos are in town.

Given that it is the fourth preseason game neither team’s starters are expected to play much — if at all — and instead the game will feature reserves and players who are fighting for the final handful of available spots on each roster.

For the Cardinals, Matt Barkley is expected to be the QB the entire game, and his performance will be something to watch.

Let’s get to it.

Game over

And that’s it, the preseason is over! Cardinals win 38-17 and the next time you see them on the field it will count.

1:05 left in preseason

Cardinals are forced to punt, and Ronald Zamort just crushes the returner but is flagged for kick catch interference. No fair catch was called, for what it’s worth. Ball moves up to the Arizona 40.

2:00 left in preseason

The Cardinals face a third and two from their 17 as there are just two minutes left in the preseason.

3:05 left in preseason

Cardinals give up some yards but force a punt when Robert Nkemdiche brings down Lynch. The rookie fought through double team to get there, and showed how talented he is. Too talented, in fact, to be on the field this late in this game.

Punt is downed at the Arizona nine.

5:26 left in preseason

Drew Butler handles kickoff duties and the ball is returned to the Denver 45.

5:36 left in preseason

Linebacker Gabe Martin picks off Lynch and takes the ball to the house, with the touchdown and PAT making the score 38-17. Martin is on the bubble and that certainly won’t hurt his cause.

6:43 left in preseason

Penny punches it in and for good measure does so again for a two-point conversion. The hole for the conversion was rather large, he could have walked in.

The score is 31-17.

Still 7:42 left

Refs overturned the call on the field, which led to me making an “a Penny short” joke on Twitter. Sorry. On the next play, Barkley came up short on a sneak.

7:42 left in preseason

Elijhaa Penny punches it in from five yards out, putting a nice ribbon on an excellent night for him. Refs are taking an extra close look at it — all scoring plays are reviewed, though this one was announced to the crowd.

If it stands, the score will be 29-17, pending the PAT.

11:17 left in preseason

Marquis Bundy made a really nice catch in traffic while taking a hit, and the Cardinals have a first down on the Denver 17.

 

End of third quarter

Cardinals have the ball and are on the move as the quarter comes to an end. Just 15 more minutes of preseason football!

:51 left in third quarter

A lot happened, with the most important thing being Kareem Martin suffering an apparent knee injury. He was down on the turf for a while being looked at by trainers, but eventually walked off. He is walking to the locker room under his own power, for what it’s worth.

Also, the Broncos scored a touchdown on a three-yard pass from Lynch to Taylor. The score is 23-17.

5:00 left in third quarter

Barkley hit Shipley with a really nice pass down the field, but the drive stalled and Butler was brought on to punt. The QB looked sharp again, and even on third down threw a nice, catchable (but difficult) ball to Chris Hubert.

Penalty on the punt pushes the ball back to the Denver six., with the score Arizona 23, Denver 10.

7:53 left in third quarter

Red Bryant destroys Paxton Lynch after getting off a third down pass, and got some high fives on the sideline for it. The pass fell incomplete, and there was a block in the punt during Jaxon Shipley’s return. All told, the ball is at the Arizona 14 to begin the drive.

9:33 left in third quarter

Kick is returned out from the back of the end zone to the Denver 17. Not a great decision, really.

9:43 left in third quarter

Cardinals moved the ball well as Barkley found Shipley for a good gain and then running lanes were open, but on third and two Penny dropped a catchable and Catanzaro came out for a 59-yard field goal attempt. The kick was good, so that’s cool.

Score is 23-10, Cardinals.

13:15 left in third quarter

Defense forces a three-and-out with help of a Denver hold, and the punt bounces out of bounds at the Arizona 27. Barkley and the offense take over.

Halftime

Well, that got better. Cardinals found their offense and the defense started to impose its will, and the home team carries a 20-10 lead into the break.

Matt Barkley’s chances of making this roster are slim no matter what happens tonight, but he’s looked very good and shown a kind of promise that he hadn’t yet.

:30 left in second quarter

A negative run and a penalty pushed the Cardinals back, but a good pass to TE Ifeanyi Momah preceded a really good ball to Jaxon Shipley, which went for a 14-yard touchdown. The PAT is good and the Cardinals are up 20-10.

Nice hurry-up drive from Barkley, who has really looked good today.

1:15 left in second quarter

Barkley hit Jaxon Shipley for a nice gain and then connected with Marquis Bundy, who took a big hit but held on. Cardinals have it at the Denver 15.

1:39 left in second quarter

Cardinals force a punt and it is downed at the Denver 45. Cardinals take over with two timeouts and a chance to see Barkley run the hurry up offense.

2:00 left in second quarter

The Broncos face a second and 12 from their 18. Cardinals have taken some control of this game, though they most certainly would have liked to have scored a touchdown on their last drive.

2:46 left in second quarter

Barkley tried to thread the needle again on third down, but this one was less successful and got batted away. A lot of traffic but didn’t seem close to being picked. Catanzaro came on for a short field goal, and now the Cardinals are up 13-10.

For what it’s worth, this is the first time the Cardinals have led this preseason since going up 3-0 on the Raiders in the first game.

3:41 left in second quarter

Following a screen pass that fell incomplete it is second and goal from the nine. Cards got there after Barkley hit Marquis Bundy with a really nice pass in traffic. The QB has settled in nicely, and the offense is moving (against backups) because of it.

6:14 left in second quarter

A nice gain on a pass to TE Hakeem Valles and then some solid runs from Penny have the Cardinals moving. A penalty pushes them back to their own 49, where it is now first and 20.

9:02 left in second quarter

Cardinals lose LB Tristan Okpalaugo to an injury, looked to be leg-related. He walked off the field with some help. Defense forces a punt, which bounces around before being downed at the Arizona 24. Andre Ellington was back to return the boot, by the way.

Score is 10-10 and Cardinals seem to be settling in.

Still 10:55 left in second quarter

Broncos take over at their own 25. Arizona’s defense started generating pressure, winning the line of scrimmage. That would be a good thing to continue.

10:55 left in second quarter

It got to a third and short and Barkley completed a pass to Nelson, but the throw was a bit behind him and the receiver didn’t have a chance to shake the defender. Catanzaro came on for a 45-yard field goal, and the score is knotted up.

Arizona’s offense seems to be finding a rhythm, which is good to see.

12:57 left in second quarter

Kerwynn Williams is chewing up plenty of yards on the ground, and Barkley found J.J. Nelson with a nice pass on third down. Offense is moving.

End of first quarter

Kerwynn Williams picks up five (could have been more if Nelson would have attempted to block) and the quarter comes to an end. Cardinals are starting to get things going, maybe?

:12 left in first quarter

Jordan Taylor breaks another tackle — this one Brandon Williams’ — and picks up some good yardage. However, the Cardinals defensive front, with help from Robert Nkemdiche and Ed Stinson, began to make its presence felt. Pressure was good and the tackling was better, and McManus’ field goal attempt sailed wide right.

Cardinals will take over at their own 36 and have a little momentum at the moment.

Still 3:20 left in first quarter

Catanzaro’s kickoff sails out of the back of the end zone. Our own Craig Grialou surmises the kickers were instructed to just boot everything deep so as to minimize chance of injury. That would make some sense.

Broncos begin at their 25.

3:20 left in first quarter

It was the Penny show, as the big back kept lowering his shoulder and trying to run through defenders. Looked he was going to reach the end zone on third down but somehow got stood up at the one. The Cardinals went for it on fourth down and Barkley hit J.J. Nelson with a nice corner fade.

The PAT is good and the score is now 10-7. Hey, something good!

6:29 left in first quarter

A 41-yard pass to Brittan Golden was just what the doctor ordered, and then on third down Barkley found Golden again to keep the drive going. An eight-yard run from Elijhaa Penny has Arizona at the Denver 11.

Still 9:41 left in first quarter

Cardinals take over at their 25 after another touchback. It would certainly behoove Barkley to start making some plays.

9:41 left in first quarter

Cardinals surrendered a first down but then the defense stiffened. Arizona held the Broncos to a field goal, which is a bit of a win for how that was going.

Score is 10-0 visitors.

10:57 left in first quarter

Cardinals picked up a first down after a couple of nice Kerwynn Williams runs, but then on a play where Barkley seemed to have some time to get rid of the ball ended up getting sacked and fumbling. The Broncos recovered and have the ball at the Arizona 27.

Preseason or not, this is a terrible start for players who are fighting for their jobs.

Still 12:16 left in first quarter

Kickoff sails to the back of the end zone. Another touchback and the Cards take over at their 25.

12:16 left in first quarter

A couple of really good runs for Kapri Bibbs (big holes to run through) set the stage for a touchdown pass to Jordan Taylor. It went for 57 yards and was made possible by a missed Cariel Brooks tackle. Brooks has had a solid camp, but plays like that will not help his chances of sticking.

PAT is good and the score is 7-0, Broncos.

13:26 left in first quarter

Barkley threw behind Brittan Golden on first down, Chris Johnson gained a yard on second down and then Barkley found Kerwynn Williams for a short gain on third down. Cardinals punt, Broncos take over at their 25.

Note: John Brown was in the game for the Cardinals, getting his first action this preseason. Earl Watford was at left tackle.

15:00 left in first quarter

Cardinals won the toss and chose to receive. Kickoff sails deep into the end zone and goes for a touchback. Barkley and the offense take over at the Arizona 25.

5:00 before kickoff

In case you were wondering, it looked like everyone on the Arizona Cardinals’ sideline was standing for the National Anthem.

 

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