Arizona Cardinals jump out to big lead, hold on behind Adrian Peterson’s big day in 38-33 win

All year the Arizona Cardinals have been trying to find a consistent rhythm on offense. At least for one week, with Adrian Peterson in tow, the Cardinals offense looked like what we have come to know under Bruce Arians. Even if the defense made it interesting at the end, as the Cardinals held off the Bucs 38-33.

Behind a rejuvenated performance for Adrian Peterson, the Arizona Cardinals scored 38 points, and if not for one faulty redzone possession where the Cardinals settled for a field goal, things could have been even bigger.

Adrian Peterson ran for 134 yards on 26 carried and for two touchdowns. Carson Palmer had the best protection of the season, coinciding with the return of D.J. Humprhries and Alex Boone, and was 18/22 for 283 yards and three touchdowns to only one interception.

Larry Fitzgerald had a slow day at the office, finishing with only 10 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown as the Cardinals got touchdowns from Peterson (2), Fitzgerald (1), Troy Niklas (1) and John Brown (1) in their most impressive offensive performance of the 2017 season.

Defensively, the Cardinals had a brilliant first half and an awful second half, exposing their lack of a pass rush, but also how important Patrick Peterson is to this team.

Peterson left in the second half after re-aggravating his quad injury, sidelining him and really showing how bad the Cardinals secondary is without Patrick Peterson in the lineup.

In the second half, Mike Evans had three catches for 95 yards and touchdown, all after Peterson was out of the game.

The highlight defensively was definitely a well played ball by Tramon Williams, who jumped a route and wrestled the ball away from Evans after Andy Lee hit a brilliant punt and Budda Baker downed the ball at the one yard line.

It wasn’t pretty, except offensively, where it was the masterclass we have seen in previous Arians led teams.