Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats: Full Breakdown Kyler Murray woke up feeling sick on game day. He played anyway. The Arizona quarterback threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another score, leading his team to a 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Kellen Moore’s head coaching debut.
The game came down to the final seconds, with Saints tight end Juwan Johnson nearly hauling in a tying catch at the goal line before Cardinals safeties knocked it loose. Here is everything you need to know about the Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints match player stats from this defensive slugfest.
Final Score and Game Overview
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Arizona Cardinals | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
The Cardinals built a 17-10 halftime lead and never trailed after the second quarter. New Orleans outgained Arizona in total yards, 315 to 276, but 13 penalties sabotaged their comeback bid. The Saints had the ball at the Arizona 18-yard line with four seconds left, but three straight incompletions sealed the Cardinals’ victory.
Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats: Passing
Cardinals Passing Stats
Kyler Murray completed 29 of 46 passes for 163 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His quarterback rating finished at 108.8. Murray connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. five times for 71 yards and a touchdown. His other scoring strike came on a 4-yard shovel pass to James Conner.
Saints Passing Stats
Spencer Rattler passed for 214 yards without a turnover while nearly rallying the Saints back late. He completed 46 attempts and finished with a 70.4 passer rating. Rattler scrambled for 9 yards and completed five quick passes to move New Orleans to the Arizona 18-yard line in the final minute.
Rushing Leaders and Ground Game Analysis
Cardinals Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | TD | Long |
| Kyler Murray | 7 | 38 | 1 | 13 |
| James Conner | 12 | 39 | 0 | 12 |
Murray’s mobility kept Saints defenders honest all afternoon. His rushing touchdown came on a designed run that caught New Orleans off guard.
Saints Rushing
Alvin Kamara scored on an 18-yard, tackle-slipping run around the right end. He finished with 69 yards on 8 carries, including a 52-yard burst that set up New Orleans’ first touchdown. The Saints rushing attack averaged 4.9 yards per carry but lacked consistent volume.
Receiving Stats: Top Performers
Cardinals Receiving Leaders
| Receiver | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Y/R | TD |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | 6 | 5 | 71 | 14.2 | 1 |
| Trey McBride | 9 | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 0 |
Harrison Jr. served as Murray’s primary weapon, catching five of six targets. Trey McBride added six receptions for 61 yards, consistently moving the chains on third down.
Saints Receiving Leaders
| Receiver | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Y/R | TD |
| Chris Olave | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Juwan Johnson | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 |
Olave caught all four of his targets but managed only 5 total yards. His touchdown came on a short pass near the goal line. Johnson’s near-touchdown at the game‘s end would have forced overtime.
Defensive Standouts and Turnovers
Cardinals Defense
| Player | Solo | TFL | Sacks | QB Hits | PD | INT | Total Tackles |
| Budda Baker | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Jalen Thompson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Will Johnson | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson each recorded 8 total tackles. The Cardinals defense forced zero turnovers but made the critical stop on fourth down in the final seconds. Arizona recorded five quarterback hits and one sack of Rattler.
Saints Defense
| Player | Solo | TFL | Sacks | QB Hits | PD | INT | Total Tackles |
| Alontae Taylor | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Taylor’s third-down cornerback blitz sack forced Arizona to punt from inside the 20, giving New Orleans one final chance. The Saints defense held Arizona to just 276 total yards.
Special Teams Contributions
Kicking
| Team | Kicker | FG Made | FG Attempts | Long | XP Made |
| Arizona | Chad Ryland | 2 | 2 | 50 | 2 |
| New Orleans | Blake Grupe | 2 | 2 | — | 1 |
Chad Ryland connected from 50 yards and added both extra points. Blake Grupe’s short field goal pulled New Orleans within a touchdown with 2:42 remaining.
Punting and Returns
Arizona punted four times, placing one inside the 20-yard line. The Cardinals returned two kickoffs for 44 yards. New Orleans returned one kickoff for 29 yards and posted three punt returns for 30 yards.
Key Moments That Decided the Game
First Half Momentum Shift: Arizona took a 3-0 lead on their opening drive. Kamara’s 18-yard touchdown run gave New Orleans a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. The Cardinals answered with 14 unanswered points before halftime.
The Turning Point: Murray’s touchdown pass to Harrison Jr. extended Arizona’s lead to 17-7. The Saints never recovered the momentum.
Final Stand: New Orleans drove to the Arizona 18-yard line with 13 seconds left. Rattler threw three passes to the end zone. Two were broken up. The third sailed long. Game over.
What These Stats Tell Us About Both Teams
The Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints match player stats reveal a game defined by missed opportunitiesNew Orleans had more first downs (21-19) and outgained Arizona 315-276. But 13 penalties and zero takeaways doomed the Saints.
For Arizona, the offense managed only 276 total yards but protected the football. Murray’s efficiency (108.8 passer rating) and Harrison Jr.’s big-play ability (14.2 yards per catch) proved decisive.
For New Orleans, Rattler showed promise in his seventh career start. Kamara remains explosive. But the Saints must clean up the penalties and finish drives. Moore’s debut offered encouraging signs despite the loss.
Historical Context: Cardinals vs Saints Rivalry
These two franchises have met 45 times since 1967. The Cardinals lead the all-time series 25-20. Recent meetings have been competitive, with five of the last six decided by one score. This December 27th clash continued that trend.
The Saints entered the game with a 9-8-0 record against the spread, while Arizona held a 6-11-0 mark. New Orleans ranked 28th in points scored per game (18.0) and 16th in points allowed (22.5) entering this matchup.
Coaching Impact: Kellen Moore’s Debut
Kellen Moore made his head coaching debut after serving as offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. His Saints showed fight, nearly overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. “Spence did some good stuff,” Moore said.
“I love the way he approached it, the mindset he played with”. Mike LaFleur’s Cardinals improved to 6-11-0 with the win. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak and provided a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.
Player Spotlights: Who Shined Brightest
Kyler Murray (ARI): 29/46, 163 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 108.8 rating; 7 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD. Played through illness and delivered when it mattered most.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI): 5 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD on 6 targets. Averaged 14.2 yards per catch and consistently beat Saints cornerbacks.
Alvin Kamara (NO): 8 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD; 52-yard long. Remains one of the NFL’s most dangerous runners in open space.
Spencer Rattler (NO): 46 attempts, 214 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT. Showed poise in the two-minute drill despite the loss.
Budda Baker (ARI): 8 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass defended. Made the game-saving hit on Juwan Johnson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints game?
The Arizona Cardinals defeated the New Orleans Saints 20-13 on December 27, 2026, at Caesars Superdome.
What were Kyler Murray’s stats against the Saints?
Murray completed 29 of 46 passes for 163 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown.
How did Spencer Rattler perform in Week 17?
Rattler passed for 214 yards without a turnover. He drove the Saints to the Arizona 18-yard line in the final minute but could not convert on fourth down.
What were Marvin Harrison Jr.’s receiving numbers?
Harrison Jr. caught five passes for 71 yards and one touchdown on six targets.
How many penalties did the Saints commit?
New Orleans committed 13 penalties in the game, which proved costly in a seven-point loss.
What was the key play of the game?
The key play came in the final seconds when Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson knocked the ball away from Juwan Johnson in the end zone, preserving Arizona’s 20-13 lead.
Conclusion
The Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints match player stats tell the story of a defensive battle decided by execution. Murray played through illness and delivered when it counted. The Cardinals defense made the stop when the game hung in the balance. New Orleans showed fight but could not overcome self-inflicted wounds.
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