Quarterback Logan Thomas finds running back Andre Ellington for his first career touchdown pass

The Cardinals lost their first game of the year, 41-20, on Sunday to the Broncos, but an 81-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Logan Thomas to running back Andre Ellington gave them a glimmer of hope late in the third quarter. Three players broke down the play for Cardinals Film Room.

The situation: The Cardinals faced a 1st-and-10 from their 19 with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter, trailing 24-13.

Thomas on the defensive look: "They were showing single high (safety). With the corners off like that, I thought I was going to*get zone (coverage), but I got man. *Andre on a linebacker should be a win."

Ellington on the coverage:"Usually I'm mostly getting covered by a linebacker. They usually pass it off depending on what type of route I run. If it's anything beyond 10 yards, the safety picks it up or a corner. In this case, they were manning me on a linebacker (the whole way)."

Left guard Ted Larsen on the mentality with a third-string rookie at quarterback: "You want to give every quarterback as much protection as you can give him. With Logan it's no different. He's just another quarterback, and you want to do your job to the best of your ability."

Thomas' first option was Ellington, but he didn't want to give it away with his eyes:"I'm looking right down the middle of the field, just trying to hold (the help defenders)."

Ellington on his route:"My job is to look in the flat first, and if I don't get the ball, I wheel it up. It's kind of selling it. He could throw it then, but you want to try and get it down field.  As you can see, Mike (Floyd) is clearing it out for me. As I was wheeling it up the sideline, I kind of had an idea I was getting the ball. It was 1-on-1 coverage, and seeing the safety (Rahim Moore, out of the picture beyond the 40) sitting in the middle of the field, my chances of getting it were pretty high."

Larsen said whether it's a quick or slow-developing play, his job remains the same:"You can't really have a clock in your head. You've just got to protect. Get into your guy as fast as you can and protect as long as you can protect."

Larsen recovers after Broncos defensive tackle Marvin Austin got an early step on him:"He kind of got the edge. I backed up and should have gotten on him a little quicker. I just tried to push him around the edge. I think it looks probably closer than it was."

*Thomas on the pressure from Austin: *"You don't even feel it. I felt it after I threw it. He kind of got me, leg-whipped me, but other than that, I didn't feel it. (Larsen) pushed him through, did a great job."

Thomas on the throw:"With (linebacker Nate Irving's) back turned I knew I could just put it out there. He couldn't see it, and Dre said the same thing – he couldn't see it until it got on him. He made a phenomenal catch, and the only person that was going to make that play was him."

Ellington had trouble locating the ball as it came in:"I saw when he threw it initially, but I didn't see it after that. I lost it into the sun.* *At the last second I saw the ball. It kind of died out of the sky. I was able to adjust. It was all reaction."

Thomas on having two receivers in the same vicinity:"I think (Floyd)) was getting grabbed on to. I'm not sure. (The route) keeps going north, and it's actually supposed to start going to the numbers and hash."

Ellington on what he saw after the catch:"After I caught it, I saw the end zone. I didn't see anyone in my sight. As I was running, I saw (Moore) in pursuit and I knew there was just one man to beat. I saw Mike take a guy (Irving) out and I knew I could get to the end zone from there."

Larsen on the impact of the touchdown:"To still be in the game and still be fighting, it was a huge play."

Thomas on his first career touchdown pass: "I was just thrilled. It was a big steppingstone. It's something that you dream about growing up. And to have it happen on your first completion is definitely strange, but it was an honor and a blessing. Dre made a great play. I just put it out there and he did the rest."

Ellington on what he saw after the catch: "After I caught it, I saw the end zone. I didn't see anyone in my sight. As I was running, I saw (Moore) in pursuit and I knew there was just one man to beat. I saw Mike take a guy out and I knew I could get to the end zone from there."

Thomas on his first career touchdown pass: "I was just thrilled. It was a big steppingstone. It's something that you dream about growing up. And to have it happen on your first completion is definitely strange, but it was an honor and a blessing. Dre made a great play. I just put it out there and he did the rest."

Larsen on the impact of the touchdown: "To still be in the game and still be fighting, it was a huge play."