SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 12, 2014
Cardinals 30, Redskins 20: Carson Palmer returned from a shoulder injury to throw two first-half touchdown passes and Rashad Johnson came up with two big defensive plays in the second half as host Arizona held off struggling Washington.
Palmer, who had been out of the lineup since throwing for 304 yards in a season-opening win over San Diego, completed 28-of-44 passes for 250 yards for the Cardinals (4-1), who sit alone in first place in the NFC West after winning for the seventh time in eight home games. Johnson made two interceptions in the fourth quarter, including one he returned 28 yards for a TD with 18 seconds left to seal it.
Kirk Cousins was 24-of-38 for 354 yards with two touchdowns and three fourth-quarter interceptions for the Redskins (1-5), who have lost four straight and 18 of 22. DeSean Jackson made three catches for 115 yards and a TD while tight end Jordan Reed added eight receptions for 92 yards for Washington as Cousins dropped to 0-7 as a starter over the last two seasons.
With the Redskins trailing 14-13 at the half, rookie Chandler Catanzaro contributed field goals - from 33, 49 and 37 yards - on Arizona's first three possessions of third quarter. The Cardinals forced a fumble and intercepted Cousins in the fourth before Pierre Garcon scored on a 5-yard slant with 2:17 left.
Palmer threw a 20-yard TD pass to Michael Floyd and a 24-yard scoring toss on a quick slant to Larry Fitzgerald to provide the Cardinals a one-point lead at the half. Cousins threw for 208 yards in the half, including a 64-yard touchdown pass on a slant to Jackson, who had another catch for 42 yards in the opening 30 minutes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jackson has 15 receiving touchdowns of 50 or more yards since 2008, most in the NFL. … Fitzgerald caught six passes for a season-high 98 yards and extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 154, the longest active run in the NFL. … The Cardinals have not thrown an interception through the first five games of the season, becoming the first NFC team to accomplish the feat since Washington in 2008.