Ross Tucker let out an audible gasp once the ball left Spencer Rattler's hand.
The CBS color commentator saw cornerback Will Johnson eye the route which led to Johnson's massive hit on the Saints wide receiver Chris Olave. Tucker's reaction was one felt throughout the stadium and on social media.
Both Rattler and Olave never saw it coming.
"We are coached on if that nickel comes and that end squeezes, we are throwing that out there," the Saints quarterback said. "They had the perfect call for that play. And it kind of caught us off guard with that. I'm just happy first that it wasn't a backward pass and second that he's healthy after it."
Johnson said the play wasn't necessarily scouted. "When you do so much game planning, you kind of just feel for it," the rookie said.
Johnson's hit wasn't just a message sent to the Saints, who targeted him seven times during his NFL debut. It was also a statement to the teams that allowed a first-round talent slide to pick No. 47.
His 90.2 grade by Pro Football Focus was the highest for any Cardinals player and the highest-rated rookie defender in the league prior to "Monday Night Football." Most importantly, the team opened the season with a 20-13 victory.
"It was amazing," Johnson said of playing in his first NFL game. "Our goal this week was to go out there and get a win. We got the job done. Now it's time to go back, get our bodies right, and prepare for this next week."
Johnson was on the field for 45 snaps. He had three passes defended and an interception, although it was negated by a penalty. He becomes the first Cardinals defender since at least 2000 to have three-plus passes defended in his NFL debut.
Collectively, the Cardinals lead the NFL with nine passes defended. They finished 23rd in the NFL last season with 63 pass breakups.
"I thought (the secondary) played well," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "I thought when it was time to get tight, we got tight and denied the ball, which was good to see."
The Cardinals finished near the bottom of the league last season with 17 takeaways. An emphasis by Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort was to bring in players who could impact the quarterback and allow the secondary to get their hands on the football.
Insert Calais Campbell. The 18-year veteran was on the field for 21 of Johnson's 45 snaps, including two of his three breakups. Campbell, a second-round pick himself back in 2008, said the cornerback "plays hungry."
"He has all the tools to be an elite corner in this league and it's good to see him get some first action and show what he can do," Campbell said. "He's created a new standard for himself, so we expect him to be like that all the time. This is the new normal. You can't go backwards, you've got to stay here."
The defensive lineman's favorite play of Johnson's was the hit which went viral on social media and silenced a rocking Superdome. "When you see your corners play with that kind of physicality, as a D-lineman, you just get excited," he added.
After the game, Johnson was given a game ball from Gannon, a worthy recipient after an impressive NFL debut. With an eye towards next weekend against the Panthers, Johnson is looking to make more noise.
That noise could come from the fans at State Farm Stadium, his teammates on the sideline, the on-air talent, or another monster hit that makes a thud.
"Everyone was showing a lot of love for each other," Johnson said. "We're just happy. Now we'll put our mind on Carolina."
INJURY UPDATE: Safety Joey Blount and linebacker Cody Simon both remain in concussion protocol. They were both injured on the same kickoff in the second quarter. Their status will become clearer when the injury report is released on Wednesday.
