Leinart-Warner QB Battle Continues, Broncos Kick Cardinals 28-14
While Saturday night’s game between the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals was pretty much a warmup for Week 1 of the regular season, it held special meaning for the Cardinals as the quarterback battle between Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner was on full display; both did well – which only makes Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s job that much more difficult – yet at the end of the day, the Broncos came out on top, defeating the Cardinals 28-14 at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Even with the win, Denver sat out 29 players – which is typical for team head coach Mike Shanahan to do on the last preseason game of 2008. The Broncos did their major scoring damage in the fourth quarter as a 38-yard field goal by Matt Prater, an 87-yard touchdown pass from Darrell Hackney to Keary Colbert and an 89-yard interception for a TD by cornerback Jack Williams sealed the deal for the Broncos. Meanwhile, the Cardinals did all of their scoring in the second quarter – a 17-yard Matt Leinart to Leonard Pope TD pass and a 26-yard rushing TD by J.J.Arrington.
Hackney went 17-of-26 for 208 yards and a TD while rushing for 35 yards on 8 carries. Both Leinart and Warner performed well, with Leinart going 10-14 for 77 yards and a TD while Warner went 4-of-4 for 48 yards; third-team QB Anthony Morelli did not do as well, going 6-of-12 for 78 yards but threw 2 INT’s.
Anthony Aldridge led all Broncos rushers with 110 yards on 23 carries while Arrington led all Cardinals rushers with 31 yards on 5 carries and a score. Colbert had an impressive outing for the Broncos, leading their receivers with 5 receptions for 105 yards and a TD; Jerheme Urban led the Cardinals receivers with 4 receptions for 94 yards. Denver opens their regular season on September 8 as they travel to McAfee Stadium to face the Oakland Raiders for a Monday night tilt while Arizona opens their season on September 7 as they face the San Francisco 49ers.
This post has 2 comments
August 30th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Today Ken Whisenhunt, made a decision at starting quarterback out of Media Pressure and Player moral issues, setting the Franchise back yet another year. Kurt Warner Stats may look good on paper, but he has made too many critical errors in many games. Leinart IS the future, and if he does not get his opportunity, the team will ultimately suffer in the future. Okay yeah Warner will look great against the 49ers and the Dolphins in the first two weeks, but as the schedule gets harder, and his old battered body moves through the season, he will fall along the wayside fumbling away snaps in the fourth quarter causing Cardinal fans more and more grief. Leinart had one bad game this pre-season, and did great in the rest… so Why Why, go with Warner. Great for Stats, sucks for the future. The Cardinals will make the playoffs this year regardless to who is at QB, to the people that say it was because of Warner, I am telling you it’s NOT in advance. This is just a Sad Sad Day.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
That’s hilarious, let’s just start…anybody because we’ll win, hah! Kurt missed two last second field goals all by himself last year. Kurt is the one that didn’t fall on a ball in the last minute of a game that would have sealed a win. This post is simply laughable and reckless. Your “I’m telling you it’s not” simply sets Warner up for you to blame if the Cards don’t make the playoffs. Comeon Mark, grow up. It’s OK to prefer another player but if you’re a USC fan just say so.