NFL News & Analysis

NFL Preseason Week 1 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 36, Cincinnati Bengals 23

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Trace McSorley (19) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

In a game low on regular-season starters, the Arizona Cardinals came away with a comfortable 36-23 win on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL preseason.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Quarterbacks

Trace McSorley started and played the first half, completing 13-of-22 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. His average depth of target was an aggressive 10.5 yards downfield.

Jarrett Guarantano played the second half, completing 7-of-10 passes for 54 yards and a score. His average depth of target was 7.1 yards, more than three yards lower than McSorley's.

Running Backs

Eno Benjamin saw the majority of the early snaps, getting four carries with what passed for the starters in this game. He gained 12 of his 14 rushing yards after contact.

Keaontay Ingram led the team in rushing attempts (seven) but tallied just 27 yards, 18 of which came after contact. He also scored a rushing touchdown and brought up three first downs.

Receivers

Andy Isabella led the team in receiving snaps (33) and tied for the lead in targets (seven). He caught four passes for 57 yards and was open deep to draw a pass interference penalty.

Greg Dortch also flashed playmaking ability, tying Isabella for targets (seven), catches (four) and notching 53 yards receiving.

Offensive Line

Josh Jones and Will Hernandez — players with plenty of NFL starting experience — each featured heavily and were two of the best performers on the Cardinals' line. They each played 40-plus snaps.

Seventh-round rookie Marquis Hayes played 27 snaps and impressed. He didn’t allow any pressure and run-blocked well.

Defensive Line

Rookies Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders each saw at least 24 snaps. Sanders was the more impressive of the two, continuing a strong camp. 

Victor Dimukeje led the team with six pressures from just 16 pass-rushing snaps.

Linebackers

Zaven Collins played 16 snaps, running with the game’s starters as he looks to make an impact in his sophomore season. He had just one assisted tackle.

Ben Niemann led the linebackers in snaps (34). He was thrown at twice in coverage and allowed one catch for six yards.

Secondary

Marco Wilson has been struggling in training camp and gave up two catches for 51 yards in this game, earning the lowest coverage grade of the Cardinals' secondary.

Josh Jackson was the most targeted player on defense, allowing three catches from six targets for 32 yards.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Quarterbacks

With Joe Burrow still working his way back from an appendectomy, Brandon Allen got the start but lasted only seven snaps before being checked for a concussion and exiting the game.

Jake Browning played the majority of the game, completing 13-of-24 passes for 190 yards. He had an average depth of target of 11.5 and averaged 7.9 yards per attempt.

Running Backs

Chris Evans was the primary back with the starters in this game, playing 14 of the 18 snaps with the first group. Evans lost yardage from eight carries but did have a 75-yard touchdown negated by a penalty.

Jacques Patrick led the team with nine carries for 30 yards, 25 of which came after contact.

Receivers

Stanley Morgan Jr., Kendric Pryor and Trent Taylor were the starting receivers, with Taylor earning four targets with the starting group early in the game.

Taylor caught all four passes for 74 yards with an average depth of target of 14.0 yards downfield.

Pryor led the team in targets (seven), yards (89) and explosive plays (three), notching a touchdown and gaining 5.24 yards per route run.

Offensive Line

Cincinnati’s line, absent the presumed Week 1 starters, struggled in this game, with only rookie Cordell Volson earning an above-average grade.

Jackson Carman played 31 snaps and surrendered four pressures as well as getting flagged for a costly penalty.

Defensive Line

Zachary Carter handled a huge workload of 55 snaps, with three defensive linemen earning 40 or more snaps in their first preseason action of the season.

Jeffrey Gunter led the team with five total pressures from 30 pass-rushing snaps. Noah Spence was right behind with four pressures.

Linebackers

Keandre Jones led the linebackers in playing time with 33 snaps, and also had the best performance of the group. He had three tackles and two defensive stops.

Bengals linebackers gave up seven catches for 68 yards into their coverage as a group.

Secondary

Rookie Daxton Hill had an eventful day. He gave up two catches for 19 yards and a touchdown, but also had two forced incompletions.

Brendan Radley-Hiles saw five targets, the most in the Bengals secondary. He allowed four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.

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