Arizona Cardinals blowout Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40-7

Every Arizona Cardinals fan can take a deep breath, as the Arizona Cardinals rolled to their first win of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 40-7.

The defense picked up where they left off in the New England game, as Patrick Peterson opened up the game with an interception on a deep pass intended for Mike Evans. Why they were attacking Peterson is still unknown.

For some reason, the Arizona Cardinals offense continues to start out slow, as they sit at three games in a row without a first quarter point scored, but things would get going in a big way after the first..

The Cardinals were in the red zone coming out for the second quarter and converted to who else, but Larry Fitzgerald. It was Fitzgerald's third touchdown of the season but also his 101st of his amazing career, putting him in the lone spot in 8th place all time.

The defense gave them another short field, with Marcus Cooper interception setting up the Cardinals again. Unfortunately they couldn't finish the drive despite a first and goal situation and settled for a field goal to take a 10-0 lead.

The talk of the first half had to be the Cardinals defense though as they created havoc for the Bucs offense and held them scoreless, while the Arizona Cardinals offense found their footing and put up 24 points in the second quarter to lead 24-0 at halftime.

Palmer threw first half touchdowns to Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and Jaron Brown.

The Bucs responded well coming out in the second half and moving down the field and getting the Bucs on the board with a beautiful throw to Mike Evans, against Patrick Peterson no less, to get it to 24-7, but that would be the extent of what the Bucs did all afternoon.

The Cardinals responded with a nice drive, led by David Johnson making defenders look silly, but stalled in the red zone, but extending the lead to 27-7.

The next Bucs possession would be the one that really put the game away, as Marcus Cooper, who the Arizona Cardinals picked up just before the season started, intercepted his second pass of the day, this one he took back for a touchdown, extending the Cardinals lead to 33-7 (Catman yanked the extra point attempt, not everything can be perfect).

In the fourth quarter, with a commanding lead, the Arizona Cardinals did what many fans, myself especially, have waited for, and went methodically down the field, going 65 yards in 8 plays, running the ball six times, including a touchdown run for Chris Johnson.

There wasn't much else from there as Drew Stanton even got some playing time. But the Arizona Cardinals have their first victory of the season and in the process answered any questions there may have been.

News and Notes

Brandon Williams was benched in favor of Marcus Cooper, but got some work in garbage time and looked better.

Golden and Jones each had a sack.

David Johnson finshed with 143 yards from scrimmage.

Injury News:

Calais Campbell went down but came back in the game.

D.J. Swearinger left the game and came back in.

Evan Mathis limped off the field.