San Diego Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 9, 2014

Cardinals 18, Chargers 17: Carson Palmer threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, including one to rookie John Brown with 2:25 remaining, as host Arizona edged San Diego in the season opener for both teams.

Palmer completed 24-of-37 passes for 304 yards and gained another 29 on the ground for the Cardinals, who amassed 403 total yards. Michael Floyd made five receptions for 119 yards and Andre Ellington carried 13 times for 53 yards after being a game-time decision due to a foot injury.

Philip Rivers was 21-of-36 for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Chargers, who had won three straight meetings with Arizona. Antonio Gates made six catches for 81 yards, Malcom Floyd had a TD reception and Ryan Mathews (12 carries, 40 yards) ran for a score.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Arizona's Chandler Catanzaro and San Diego's Nick Novak traded field goals in the second before the former ended the first half with a 44-yarder to give the Cardinals a 6-3 lead. The Chargers came out with a vengeance in the third, beginning the period with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Malcom Floyd for a 10-6 advantage.

San Diego continued to surge as linebacker Jerry Attaochu forced a fumble when he sacked Palmer and Mathews scored on a 20-yard run three plays later to increase the advantage. Palmer guided the Cardinals to victory in the fourth, however, connecting with Taylor for a 5-yard TD 2 1/2 minutes into the quarter and hitting Brown for a 13-yard score late in the period to cap a 91-yard drive.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald made his first - and only - catch of the game with 4:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. The veteran has gone without a reception only once in 157 career games (Oct. 31, 2004 against Buffalo). ... The Cardinals picked up where they left off at home, where they were 6-2 last season. ... San Diego was outgained 109-52 on the ground.