The Arizona Cardinals defeated the Denver Broncos 18-17 tonight in the team’s first preseason matchup. Fans were ecstatic to see a victory under coach Jonathan Gannon and the new regime, even with it just being the first preseason game.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!safe travels @Broncos ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Dd8cvZvhTB
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 12, 2023
Cardinals feel like they’re going to be a fun team to watch! Results may or not be there this season, but penalties were limited, offense and defense looked like real NFL schemes. Future looks promising!
— AZ sports degenerate (@jsheinin44) August 12, 2023
The Arizona Cardinals lose that game if Kliff Kingsbury is the head coach.
— Jacob Hardin (@JacobHardin_) August 12, 2023
David Blough, who many Cardinals fans may recognize from the end of last season, led the team to the win in his last drive that began with 1:30 left on the clock. He capped it off with an 18-yard TD pass with two seconds to go.
David Blough’s TD pass to Brian Cobbs that led to the #Cardinals game-winning two-point conversion. #DENvsAZpic.twitter.com/ATy43KVKsF
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 12, 2023
It was followed up by the game-winning two-point conversion by RB Emari Demercado.
Emari Demercado’s game-winning two-point conversion for the #Cardinals as he pushes the pile into the end zone #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/wm0WtPoyGD
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 12, 2023
This play gave the Cardinals, who trailed 10-0 at halftime, their first lead of the game. Fans were happy to see this drive and impressed by Blough, who finished the game going 8/14 with 86 yards and a TD in only two drives.
ladies and gentlemen, david BLOUGH! pic.twitter.com/SqjeXtQLkV
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 12, 2023
When the Cardinals let the Broncos score to give David Blough more time: pic.twitter.com/6tLIZAlQHH
— Blake Allen Murphy (@blakemurphy7) August 12, 2023
BIG GAME DAVID BLOUGH WOW
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) August 12, 2023
The majority of the game, rookie Clayton Tune (from Houston) had the reigns at QB. Tune did not play well in the first half, as he fights for the starting job with Colt McCoy, who only played the first drive of the game, with Kyler Murray out.
#Cardinals Clayton Tune’s first half:
6/13 for 53 yards and one interception. Been sacked twice and has a 25.5 passer rating 😬
Not a good start for the rookie #DENvsAZ
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 12, 2023
@JohnnyVenerable Clayton Tune is scared to death and nowhere near ready to play. He needs a ton of work. McCoy has job locked up if Murray not ready
— Frank A. DeWitt III (@FrankADeWittIII) August 12, 2023
Clayton Tune is not it chat
— depressed cardinals fan (@Cardinals2TheSB) August 12, 2023
However, he picked it up significantly in the second half, throwing his first career touchdown and finishing with a solid stat line.
Tune to Davis for six on this seven-yard connection 🏈 The #Cardinals first TD of the preseason #DENvsAZ pic.twitter.com/ro7pJNK6uM
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 12, 2023
If Clayton Tune is done for the game, he vastly improved his numbers for the #Cardinals after a poor first half. His full stats:
13/23 (56.5%) | 135 yards | 1 TD | 1 INT | 3 sacks taken | 70.0 RTG
Also had four rushes for nine yards#DENvsAZ
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 12, 2023
The stadium was electric and just waiting for a Clayton Tune Touchdown! This game is already worth it!
Clayton Tune first NFL TD (sorry for my yelling) #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/d9All3VLe1
— The AZ sports fan! (@TheAZsportsfan1) August 12, 2023
The qb for the cardinals Clayton tune is nice
— Noah+ (@_Noahroach) August 12, 2023
The most impressive unit tonight for the Cardinals was their defense, specifically the defensive line. The defensive line had been one of, if not the, Cardinals’ biggest question mark going into tonight.
However, Arizona accumulated two sacks, six pass deflections, eight QB hits and a blocked FG throughout the course of the game.
The passion the Cardinals defense is playing with so far is a welcomed sight.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) August 12, 2023
👇👇👇 russ and the 1st team broncos were struggling against the 2nd and 3rd team cardinals defense 💀😭 https://t.co/gz3VyYZLbk
— mervin (@MervinBustanut) August 12, 2023
The Cardinals are BEATING UP Russell Wilson in the pocket. Broncos gotta fix that protection ASAP. pic.twitter.com/5QW0AhcaKO
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 12, 2023
How bout the Cardinals Defense!
Lets Go!!!! ♥️🖤 #lovemy25— Haley Collins (@HJC95) August 12, 2023
Overall, it was only the first game of the preseason, but this victory gave Cardinals’ fans some hope for the future with how they fought back when facing adversity.
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Brendan Mau is a college sports insider and general assignment reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
