Cardinals, Johnson run away from Jets
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[October 18, 2016]
(The Sports Xchange) - David
Johnson ran the Arizona Cardinals back to the .500 mark.
The second-year running back rushed for three touchdowns and 111
yards, and the Cardinals won their second straight, beating the
sliding New York Jets 28-3 on Monday.
Johnson, who carried 22 times, scored on runs of 58, 2 and 2 yards
to become the first back to rush for three touchdowns against the
Jets since LeSean McCoy did it in 2011.
Johnson's eight rushing touchdowns lead the league. Four players are
tied for second with six apiece.
The win vaulted the Cardinals (3-3) into a second-place tie with the
Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West, 1 1/2 games behind the Seattle
Seahawks. The Jets (1-5) lost their fifth straight, leaving them
alone in last place in the AFC East.
"I was very pleased with the way this game went," Arizona coach
Bruce Arians said. "I thought all three phases played smart and
fast. We had one little lapse with a couple penalties, but coming up
with the (two) turnovers was big. I thought this was a heck of a
defense to run the ball against, and I thought we accomplished
that."
Carson Palmer returned to his role as the Cardinals' starting
quarterback after missing the previous game because of a concussion.
He finished 23 of 34 for 213 yards with one touchdown and no
interceptions.
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Palmer left the game in the fourth quarter, however, with what the
team announced as a strained hamstring. He was replaced by backup
Drew Stanton. Afterward, Palmer said he was just experiencing some
cramping because he was dehydrated. It happened, he said, because
the Cardinals were on the field for so long during three long
scoring drives.
"The way we ran the ball against that rush defense was incredible,"
Palmer said, particularly praising Arizona's two new starting
guards, John Wetzel and Earl Watford.
"(We are) down two starters on the front, (and the Jets) are really,
really good up front in the run game. I think they're No. 1 or 2 in
the league in rush defense, and we ran the ball extremely
effectively. Don't think we had a sack all day; just an unbelievable
job up front."
FITZPATRICK LIFTED
Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, returning to his home state,
completed 16 of 31 passes for 174 yards with no touchdowns and one
interception. The pick, Fitzpatrick's league-leading 11th of the
season, was a critical one, too.
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![](../images/101816pics/sports49.jpg)
Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs the ball against the
New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals
defeated the Jets 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY
Sports
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It came with the Jets moving the chains well during a long,
time-consuming drive toward the end of the third quarter. On
third-and-7 from the Cardinals 14-yard line, a pass intended for
Brandon Marshall was intercepted by Arizona safety D.J. Swearinger.
The interception helped protect a 21-3 lead, and the Cardinals
converted their 13th forced turnover into a touchdown.
Palmer directed a 14-play, 89-yard drive that consumed 7:26, capping
it with a 9-yard scoring pass to Michael Floyd. It was the third
touchdown reception of the year for Floyd, who has had trouble with
dropped passes.
Jets coach Todd Bowles, who spent two seasons with the Cardinals as
their defensive coordinator under head coach Bruce Arians, lifted
Fitzpatrick with 8:40 left in the game and replaced him with Geno
Smith.
It was the first time this season that Fitzpatrick did not finish a
game.
Smith was 4 of 6 for 31 yards and no touchdowns. His sixth pass was
intercepted by Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu. The Cardinals are
now tied with the Chiefs for the most interceptions in the league
(nine).
(Editing by Ian Rodricks/Peter Rutherford)
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