Arizona Cardinals offensive and defensive snap counts vs. Oakland Raiders

The snap count numbers are our for the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders. Here is how the playing time breaks down.

Offense:

The Arizona Cardinals had 76 offensive snaps -- a lot. Carson Palmer at the starting offensive line played every snap, which is what you hope happens usually. Let's look at the skill positions, though.

Running back: Andre Ellington, 49; Stepfan Taylor, 22; Robert Hughes, 8

Taylor got the most playing time he has all season. Both Taylor and Ellington were used a lot. Ellington touched the ball on 30 of his 49 snaps and was targeted on another three passes he did not catch. Taylor touched the ball 14 times in his 22 snaps. Clearly the game plan was to get the running backs involved.

Wide receiver: Larry Fitzgerald, 73; Michael Floyd, 72; John Brown, 43; Jaron Brown, 6; Ted Ginn, 5

There is no surprise here, really. However, something interesting I have seen over the last couple of weeks is how Jaron Brown is used. When the Cardinals go with three tight ends, Brown tends to be the one receiver when they run the ball. It shows that the coaching staff likes what he brings in terms of blocking.

Tight ends: John Carlson, 70; Rob Housler, 29; Darren Fells, 3

Fells was the only skill player for the Cardinals not to touch the ball. Robert Hughes technically didn't in the stat sheet because his one catch was erased by a penalty. The absence of rookie Troy Niklas is giving Housler more playing time.

Defense:

Because of the work the team did offensively, the defense only had 51 snaps. On Sunday, only Patrick Peterson and Larry Foote did not leave the field. Here is how the rest of the time got split up.

Defensive line: Tommy Kelly, 40; Dan Williams, 36; Ed Stinson, 32; Frostee Rucker 22; Kareem Martin, 12; Alameda Ta'amu, 4

The Cardinals played a lot more base defense than in previous weeks and they played with three linemen in dime packages at times. You can see how Kelly has become so important. Dan Williams continues to get good playing time. Stinson is making his presence known, helping greatly in the run game. Martin's snaps came partly at defensive end and a few at outside linebacker.

Linebackers: Larry Foote, 51; Alex Okafor, 50; Sam Acho, 34; Kevin Minter, 24

It is impressive to see Okafor play so much. Acho played more, and the outside linebacker situation really has settled. It is more or less a three-man rotation and since Calais Campbell's injury, they are using more linemen than earlier in the year. The playing time went up for Minter because of the packages on the field. He did play well, though.

Defensive backs: Patrick Peterson, 51; Rashad Johnson, 50; Antonio Cromartie, 50; Deone Bucannon, 28; Jerraud Powers, 27; Tyrann Mathieu, 27; Tony Jefferson, 23

Again, the playing time for Powers, Bucannon and Mathieu indicate the defense used more base formations. Tony Jefferson is now the new Kevin Minter. The one difference in playing time for Peterson and Bucannon over their counterparts? They went "goalline" defense on one play. Peterson and Bucannon were the defensive backs in the game.