Cardinals pound Texans to open preseason
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald connected on a score on the first drive of the game, and the Arizona defense stuffed Houston as the Cardinals thumped the Texans, 32-0, to open the preseason.
Arizona is coming off a 10-6 season, the best record among the teams that failed to make the postseason.
The Cardinals defense suffered several blows in the offseason, as linebacker Daryl Washington is out on a yearlong drug suspension and fellow linebacker Karlos Dansby went to Cleveland via free agency. In addition, linebacker John Abraham was recently charged with a DUI.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}However, the defense shined in the preseason opener as it held the Texans to just 172 yards of offense and nabbed two interceptions.
Houston finished an NFL-worst 2-14 last season and have a new coach in Bill O'Brien.
Top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney saw limited play and had one tackle in his first professional action. He had sports hernia surgery in June.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason and will be the starter when the regular season begins, had an inauspicious debut as he went just 6-for-14 for 55 yards and was picked off twice.
Palmer played one series under center for the Cardinals and he made it count as he went 5-for-5 on the drive and found Fitzgerald for a 7-yard score and a 7-0 lead.
Drew Stanton took over on Arizona's next drive and repeated Palmer's success, connecting with Jaron Brown on a 5-yard score for a 14-0 lead.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chandler Catanzaro connected on a field goal of 32 yards in the first quarter, which followed an interception of a Fitzpatrick pass, and a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Cardinals a 20-0 lead.
Houston followed that second field goal with its best drive of the game, marching to the Arizona 22, but Fitzpatrick was picked off for a second time to kill the drive.
Catanzaro's 25-yard field goal 2 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter, a 12- yard touchdown catch by Dan Buckner from Logan Thomas and a late safety accounted for the final score.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Texans didn't make it past midfield for the entire second half.