It was a new perspective for me Saturday night, with my new preseason duties as sideline radio reporter putting me down on the field the whole game. The focus goes up when there isn't Twitter to watch and interact with, that's for sure. The Cardinals had most things go exactly how they'd like them to have gone. The injuries were limited and minor, and the first-team offense was solid.

But the fact Drew Stanton played so well (11-of-15 passing) was helpful. One, it helps define what the rest of the preseason is about, and in the case of the quarterbacks, that's whether Blaine Gabbert is someone to keep as a third quarterback rather than supplanting Stanton as No. 2 (not that it was ever that close to being a battle anyway.) The Cardinals took a flier on Gabbert to see if he might have some future value. The plan was always for Stanton to remain No. 2. Stanton's poise in the pocket impressed Saturday. He also praised strength coach Buddy Morris and that crew for preparing his body so well, noting it's made a difference. Whatever the reason Stanton got off to such a good start -- he had as many completions against the Raiders as he did all of the 2016 preseason -- the Cardinals will take it.

-- Same with Carson Palmer, who looked sharp. There were a couple of near misses. The Cards will lament greatly if Palmer slightly overthrows a wide-open Jaron Brown for what should've been a 46-yard touchdown if it had been the regular season. But the bullet to Brittan Golden for a touchdown was nice, and Palmer maneuvered the pocket well.

-- David Johnson, 3 carries for 16 yards. I'm not sure I'd need to see him at all the rest of the preseason. He looked fine.

-- Golden is one of those guys who just makes it so hard to cut. Three catches for 44 yards and a score, and he's good on special teams.

-- The punters weren't busy, but they clearly got the message from coach Bruce Arians. Each only punted once. Matt Wile crushed a 65-yarder (net of 56), Richie Leone launched a 61-yarder (net of 45). Wile's kickoffs were impressive all night too. In fact, special teams did pretty well. Josh Mauro had a blocked field goal and Kerwynn Williams had a 35-yard kickoff return and a 13-yard punt return. Phil Dawson nailed both field goal tries and two extra points with ease (Wile missed a 46-yard field goal, but again, he won't be trying field goals when it counts.)

-- Linebacker Josh Bynes had a team-best six tackles, a half-sack, a tackle-for-loss, a big forced fumble and a pass breakup. He's a vet, last of the Lions, signed because of injuries -- and you have to wonder if he could make a push for a roster spot. he and Scooby Wright could be fighting for a possible place.

-- Gabbert had a tougher time in Game 2, but part of that was the blocking, which didn't hold up all that well. Gabbert took four sacks. That can't happen, either with him or with the line.

-- Did we mention that DT Robert Nkemdiche is playing well? He did again Saturday -- he blew up a third-and-1 play for the Raiders, and was in the middle of stuffing the Raiders on the very next fourth down try -- and you can see the confidence is feeding into his upswing. If he plays well, the line will be fine, even post-Calais.

OK, it's midnight. Cards are off Sunday and back to training camp practice Monday.