5 winners and 3 losers from the Arizona Cardinals preseason win over the LA Chargers

Game one of the 2018 preseason is over and the Arizona Cardinals were victorious.

Yet, some things were better than others for the Cardinals, so let’s take a look at the five winners and three losers from the Arizona Cardinals 24-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Winners

David Johnson and the 1st team OL - I am cheating a little here, but there was quite a bit of good to take from this game. Nothing was as good as watching David Johnson running through massive cutback lanes that the center of the offensive line, something to be concerned about, opened up. It was exactly what you wanted to see from DJ and the OL.

Cap Capi - Capi continues to be a complete monster in the preseason, this time finishing with three sacks and a forced fumble. It was an incredible performance.

Bene Benwikere - The veteran really established himself as the third cornerback (fourth if you are counting Budda Baker as the third) on this roster right now. Multiple plays on the ball, tackled with physicality, forcing a fumble that Jeremy Cash returned for a touchdown and otherwise looked like someone who belonged with the 1’s.

Olsen Pierre & Robert Nkemdiche - Dominant forces in the interior, against the first and second string offensive lines of the Chargers. That is of massive importance for the Cardinals and their defense.

Chad Kanoff - The fourth string quarterback was the best on either side. It was great to see the undrafted free agent play well and get some good tape for his future.

Losers

Brandon Williams - I don’t know if there is much left to say about Williams at this point, but his night was brutal, to the point he was playing at the end of the game and was guilty of two penalties that helped extend the Chargers drive and keep me awake later than I wanted to be. The missed tackle early didn’t help his case either.

Daniel Munyer - As a center, how can you struggle that much snapping the ball? How is he getting snaps over Evan Boehm?

Second Team OL - Holy cow this group was absolutely brutal for both Rosen and Mike Glennon, who wasn’t good himself. The Cardinals may not be as bad as some pundits think, but they are absurdly thin along the line.

Bonus Losers

Penalties - I know it is game one of the preseason... But 26 ACCEPTED penalties is absurd. That game was too long.

Jeremy Cash Injury - Played well before the injury, knee injury, hopefully not serious, but needed the cart to leave. Here’s hoping he is okay.