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Saints vs. Cardinals

1st Quarter
Cards win coin toss and defer to take the ball in the second half.
Neil Rackers' kickoff taken at the by Pierre Thomas sic yards deep into the end zone for a touchback, Saints' ball at their own 20-yard line. Lance Moore takes an end-around to the right side for five yards, and a facemask penalty on Cards' Darnell Dockett adds 15 more yards and a first down at the 40-yard line. Drew Brees finds David Patten on a turn-in for five yards, then takes bootleg right but pressured by Adrian Wilson and pass falls incomplete. Card defense called for delay of game penalty, now first down at midfield. Brees completes pass near left sideline to David Patten for five yards, then Reggie Bush takes handoff right side for four yards. On third and one at the 41, Bush swings wide right and finds two yards and a Saints first down at the 39. Brees, again under pressure, tosses pass to Bush who is stopped for loss of two yards by Gerald Hayes. Brees play-action to Bush, then throws to tight end Mark Campbell for 14 yards and a first down at the 26. Bush finds two yards up the middle on first down, then Cards' Antonio Smith called for offsides, the result is second and three at the 19. Terrance Copper makes diving catch from Brees for 10 yards. On first and goal from the nine, Bush stopped by Wilson for loss of one yard, now second and goal at the 10. Bush takes the handoff straight up the middle for three, setting up third and goal at the six. Brees tosses pass high for David Patten, who makes the catch in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Martin Gramatica hits the PAT, Saints take 7-0 lead with 8:15 to play in the opening period. Drive is 13 plays for 80 yards, 6:45 on the possession.
Gramatica's kickoff taken by Cards' Steve Breaston near the goal line, returns to 20-yard line. Matt Leinart at quarterback for Cards. Edgerrin James takes the handoff up the middle for one yard, then play-action to James and Leinart connects with Leonard Pope for one yard. On third-and-eight at the 21, Leinart finds time in the pocket, complete to Jamaica Rector for 23 yards to the 44-yard line. James again on the carry, this time for four yards on the right side. Leinart under pressure, sacked by Simoneu for loss of four yards. On thrd-and-10 from the 44, Leinart connects with Jerheme Urban along the right side for seven yards, but on fourth and three Dirk Johnson in to punt, Cards called for delay of game. Now fourth-and-8 at the 49, Johnson's punt taken by Copper inside the 20, returns nine yards to give New Orleans for ball on the 25.
Saints take over with 3:44 to play in the opening period. Mark Brunell in at quarterback. Bush carries left side, stopped by Karlos Dansby and Chike Okeafor for one yard. Bush bottled up at the line on handoff, shakes loose and scoots around left side. Saints called for holding, however, and ball pushed back to the 16-yard line. Second-and-19 at the 16, Brunell complete to Patten for one. Now third-and-18 at the 17, Bush bolts up the middle 18 yards. However, Saints called for holding, the result being third and 15 at the 20. Brunell pressured by Cards Bertrand Berry, runs out of pocket and throws incomplete long. On fourth down, Taylor Melhaff's punt fielded by Breaston at the 29, returns eight yards to the 37.
Cards take over first and 10 at the 37, 1:08 to play in the first quarter. Leinart screen pass dropped by J.J. Arrington, then check-down pass complete to Arrington for five yards. On third-and-5 at the 42, Leinart throws bullet to Breaston crossing left to right in the secondary, who turns the short pass into a gain of 34 yards as the first quarter ends.

2nd Quarter
James carries up the middle for six yards, and Leinart complete to Larry Fitzgerald for six yards and a first down at the Saints 12. Terrell Smith goes for one yard, Leonard Pope called for off sides and a five-yard penalty. Second-and-14 at the 16, Leinart complete to Smith for 15 yards to the one, and Tim Hightower takes it into the end zone for a touchdown. Rackers converts the PAT to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:06 left until halftime.
Rackers' kickoff taken by Thomas at the goal line, and a 58-yard return gives New Orleans first and 10 at the Arizona 42. Brunell complete to Campbell near right sideline for loss of one by Card linebacker Hayes. Campbell handoff to Aaron Stecker good for two yards. On third-and-9 at the 41, Brunell connects with Robert Meacham for eight. On fourth-and-one, Brunell sacked by Card defensive end Kenny Iwebema and Cards take over at the 41 with 9:54 left in the second period.
Brian St. Pierre now in at quarterback for Arizona. Confusion on Cards formation makes Cards take timeout. Hightower gains two yards over guard, then Pierre rifles bullet to Urban who makes a sliding catch good for nine yards and a first down. Hightower takes handoff around right side for 5, then a defensive facemask on New Orleans gives Cards the ball first and 10 at the 27. St. Pierre complete to Breaston for 10 and another first down. Pierre back to pass but throws ball out the back of the end zone. Now second-and-10 at the 17, 7:20 left in the quarter, Urban takes quick lateral toss from St. Pierre for five yards. On third-and-5 at the 12, St. Pierre rolls right and throws ball away. On fourth down, Rackers in for 30-yard field goal which is good and Cards take 10-7 lead with 6:38 left in the half. Drive was eight plays for 47 yards, taking 3:15 off the clock.
Rackers' kickoff sails into the end zone for a touchback. New Orleans takes over first-and-10 at the 20. Brunell passes to Campbell short left, who dodges tackles for gain of 15 to the 35. Brunell throws complete to Adrian Arrington for 13 and a first down, then Thomas stopped by Alan Branch and Hayes for no gain. On second-and-10, Thomas carries and is tackled by Calais Campbell for no gain. Now third-and-10 at the 48, Brunell steps up the pocket and launches the ball downfield for diving Meacham, a gain of 49 to the Cards' three-yard line. Thomas goes up the middle for two, then Brunell's pass for Copper falls short. On third-and goal from the one, Saints fullback Kevin Dudley called for false start. Third-and-goal from the six now, Brunell passes complete to Thomas, who is stopped just short of the goal line. Saints challenge call, replay confirms Thomas stepped on the sideline. On fourth-and-goal with the ball just inches short of the goal line, Thomas bottled up running right, stopped short by Cards' gang-tackling.
Arizona first-and-10 inside the one-yard line, 2:20 to play. St. Pierre scrambles out of pocket and runs up the middle for six yards at the two-minute warning. On second-and-4 from the seven-yard line, Hightower darts for nine yards to the 16, 1:35 left in the half. St. Pierre complete right side to Breaston for six, then Urban makes leaping catch over the middle for 10 yards. First-and-10 at the 33, 49 seconds left, St. Pierre hits Sean Morey for five yards to the 38. Saints called for neutral zone infraction, now second-and-1 at the 42. St.Pierre slips out of a certain sack, runs up middle for nine yards. Cards take final timeout with 17 seconds on the clock. St. Pierre sacked for loss of six as first half comes to an end with Cards leading Saints 10-7.

3rd Quarter
Urban takes the bouncing second-half kickoff at the 10, returns 23 yards to the 33. Arrington takes handoff and hunts his way for seven yards. St. Pierre's pass to Ben Patrick incomplete over the middle, and on third-and-3 at the 40, St. Pierre throws later pass to Jamaica Rector, who is stopped after a gain of just one yard. On fourth-and-3, Johnson's punt sails 45 yards, Skyler Green on the return for nine yards.
New Orleans possession first-and-10 at its own 24, 13:19 on the clock. Brunell hands off to Aaron Stecker, goes for 19 yards to the 43 and a first down. Stecker runs left for six, and then St. Pierre finds Meacham on crossing route for 12 and another first down, this time at the Cardinal 39. Brunell bootleg right, connects for three yards to Billy Miller. Stecker up the middle for six, then on third-and-one Thomas gains three, Saints first-and-10 at the Card 27, 9:46 left in the third quarter. Brunell complete to Campbell, and Dominique Rodgers Cromartie unleashes fierce hit on the tackle and Campbell is slow to his feet and helped off the field. First down at the Cardinal 13, Stecker tries the middle, tackled by Aaron Francisco after run of nine yards, ball pops loose and Saints recover at the four-yard line. Stecker up the middle again for one, then Thomas goes for one, and on second-and-goal at the two Thomas carries for one yard. Third-and-goal at the one, Stecker dives over the pile at the line of scrimmage for a touchdown. Mehlhaff kicks the PAT and Saints take 14-10 lead with 6:42 to play in the third quarter. Saints scoring drive is 12 plays, 76 yards, 6:37 time of possession.
Mehlhaff's kickoff taken by Arrington at the goal line, slices up left side for 21 yards, and Cardinals take over first and-10 at their own 21, 6:37 on the scoreboard clock. St. Pierre quick pass to Rector on left side goes for six yards, and on second down Arrington carries for two yards. Third-and-two at the 29, St. Pierre tosses incomplete. Johnson on to punt for Arizona, 56 yard kick taken by Green at the 15-yard line, returns 15 yards to the 30.
Tyler Palko at quarterback for New Orleans, and his first pass falls incomplete. On second down, Palko twice drops the center exchange, then passes complete to Thomas for 15 yards and a first down at the 45. Palko passes incomplete, but Calais Campbell called for helmet-to-helmet hit on Palko, result is Saints first-and-10 at the 40. Palko then connects with Arrington deep left for 33 yards. On first-and-goal at the seven, Thomas carries for one, then Palko is sacked by Card defensive end Joe Tafoya for loss of 10 yards. Now third-and-goal at the 16, Thomas stopped for gain of one. Mehlhaff on for 33-yard field goal, and his kick gives New Orleans 17-10 lead with 1:46 left in the third quarter. Saints drive was seven plays, 55 yards, 3:18 time of possession.
Mehlhaff's kickoff fielded by Arrington at his three-yard line, returns 26 yards. Cards first-and-10 at the 29. St. Pierre play-action, complete to Hightower in right flat for three yards, then goes over the middle this time to Ben Patrick for 16 to the 48-yard line. St. Pierre sacked for loss of four, and third period comes to an end.

4th Quarter
Arizona begins fourth quarter with second and 14 at the 44. St. Pierre throws incomplete down right sideline, and on third down settles for completion to Hightower well short of the first down marker, a gain of eight yards. Johnson's punt rolls into end zone, a 48-yard kick.
New Orleans first-and-10 at their 20, 14:06 left to play. Palko escapes pass rush, runs left and throws incomplete. On second down, Palko's pass to Green too long. Now third-and-10, Palko passes incomplete. Waylon Prather on to punt for the Saints, Antrel Rolle muffs the return, recovers for a seven-yard return of Prather's 50-yard kick.
Cardinals first-and-10 at their 27, 13:31 left. St. Pierre passes incomplete on first down, then Steve Baylark runs for one. On third-and-9, St. Pierre complete to Rector on crossing route but short of first down with four-yard gain. Johnson punts 32 yards, out of bounds at the New Orleans 36.
Saints' ball, 12:03 to play. Lynell Hamilton tackled for loss of one, then Palko scrambles up middle for five yards to set third-and-six at the 40. Palko then passes complete over the middle to Meacham, who breaks two tackles, reverses field, runs down left sideline for 60-yard touchdown. Mehlhaff's PAT pushes Saints to 24-10 lead with 10:36 remaining in the game. Scoring drive was three plays, 64 yards, 1:27 time of possession.
Mehlhaff's drive-line kickoff taken by Urban at the 30, and a22-yard return gives the Cards first down at the 32. Anthony Morelli in at quarterback for Cardinals. Baylark carries for three yards, then Morelli's pass slides through Baylark's hands. On third-and-seven from the 35, Morelli is snowed under for an eight-yard sack. Johnson punts 49 yards, returned by Green 14 yards to the 45. Cards flagged for unnecessary roughness, New Orleans takes over first and 10 from the Card 30-yard line.
Palko's pass left side into the dirt incomplete, and on second down he hits Olaniyi Sobomehin in right flat for five yards. Third-and-five at the 35, Curtis Hamilton runs around right end for seven and a first down at the 28 with 7:48 to play. Hamilton runs up the middle for three, then goes for seven but Saints called for holding. Now third-and-17 at the 35, center exchange is muffed and fumble recovered by Card Kellen Dykes at the 37.
Cardinals first-and-10 at their 37, 6:30 remaining, but a false start pushes the ball back five yards. On first down at the 32, Morelli under pressure but throws incomplete. Second-and-15, Morelli short pass to Baylark for three yards. On third-and-12 from the 35, Morelli passes over the middle to Tim Castille for 10 yards. Then on fourth-and-two, Baylark takes pitch right for seven yards and a first down at the 48. Morelli passes complete left on first down, sacked from behind for loss of one, then on third down hit as he released the ball and pass falls incomplete. Johnson's punt hits inside the five-yard line, bounces out of the end zone, a 49-yard kick.
Saints take over first-and-10 at their 20, 3:49 to play. Hamilton carries around left for loss of two, and then bounces outside right for gain of nine to the 27. Third-and-3 at the 27, Palko deep over middle complete to Green for 21 to the 48 at the two-minute warning. Jermaine Allen runs for one yard, Cards take first timeout with 1:55 remaining. Allen again, this time running right for one yard. Cards take second timeout with 1:49 left. Now third-and-8 at the 50, Palko passes complete to Hamilton on a screen right, gains 10 and a first down at the Cardinal 40-yard line. Clock ticking with 1:20 left to play. Palko takes a knee on first down, again on second down, and time runs out.

Cardinals - Will Not Play
FB Dionte Johnson
C Al Johnson
LB Monty Beisel
G Carlton Medder
WR Early Doucet
WR Anquan Boldin
DT Gabe Watson

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