THE STORY: With QB1 Kyler Murray sitting out the preseason, the two other quarterbacks are battling to earn the backup job.
Clayton Tune, who came in in the second half at QB for the Cardinals, looked more comfortable than starter Desmond Ridder Saturday night against the Saints, and threw what was the go-ahead touchdown to running back Tony Jones Jr. with 1:55 left in the game.
"I felt like I was seeing the defense and confident in the game plan," Tune said. "I felt like I was playing on time.
"Hindsight is always 20/20. Maybe you're short there (on the touchdown, which was reviewed) and run some more time off the clock. At the same time, you want to score."
Valley native Spencer Rattler, the Saints' rookie QB, led New Orleans down the field for a game-winning 37-yard field goal from Blake Grupe with five seconds left. The Saints captured a 16-14 decision at State Farm Stadium in the preseason opener for both teams.
Tune had a pair of 18-yard passes on his initial drive, which led to an 11-yard Michael Carter touchdown run. Tune finished 15-of-24 for 163 yards and no turnovers.
"Good command, played fast," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "I thought he made some throws in there too. I thought he was aware of what was going on out there and making correct decisions."
Ridder finished 4-of-9 for 43 yards, although he had 39 rushing yards on five attempts, although Gannon noted the whole starting offense struggled. "As a whole we have to do better," he said.
"We battled," Gannon said. "I liked our effort, enthusiasm. Hitting and violence was on display, I thought. The big thing for us right now is we've got to learn."
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Cornerback Starling Thomas V had a near-interception in the first half and the whole field with which to run (and score) had he been able to hold on.
Coach Jonathan Gannon chose to go for it, trailing 3-0, late in the first half on fourth-and-2 at the Saints 12-yard line. Wide receiver Andre Baccellia was open cutting over the middle for a likely catch-and-run TD, but Ridder's throw couldn't connect. The Saints came back with a 58-yard bomb to A.T. Terry in the waning seconds, setting up a field goal.
Wide receiver Dan Chisena made a catch off his shoe tops for 10 yards to keep the Cardinals final scoring drive alive. Chisena had a 27-yard catch-and-run a few plays later to set up the touchdown.
TURNING POINT: The Cardinals were called for two neutral-zone infractions on the Saints' final drive, giving 10 free yards before the game-winning field goal.
NOT MUCH MHJ: Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. did indeed play, starting the game. He was in for the first three plays -- two runs and a sack -- with, obviously, no targets. Gannon said he hoped Harrison was at least able to nail down his routine on a game day despite the brief work.
"We ended up being backed up there, so some different plays (were called), because I wanted to see him touch it there a little bit," Gannon said.
MUCH MORE D-ROB: The other first-round pick, defensive lineman Darius Robinson, played much more. He got a tackle on the game's first play and drew a holding penalty.
SITTING OUT: A lot of Cardinals were not dressed aside from Kyler Murray. None of the starting offensive line played, nor did Michael Wilson, James Conner, Trey McBride or Greg Dortch. On defense, there were no veteran starters, including Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Kyzir White, Mack Wilson Sr., Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Justin Jones or Bilal Nichols.
