The arizona cardinals’ decision to trade for running back Adrian Peterson paid dividends immediately as the veteran rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns in their 38-33 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Acquired by the Cardinals this week for a 2018 sixth-round pick, Peterson carried the ball 26 times, one less than his total carries in his four-game stint with the New Orleans Saints, to help the Cardinals improve to 3-3.
During his four-game stint with the Saints, Peterson ran just 27 times for 82 yards as he saw limited touches while playing alongside younger rushers Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.
After he was released by the Minnesota Vikings after a 10-year stint with the team, Peterson signed a two-year deal worth $7 million with the Saints. Earlier, the Saints called Peterson a perfect fit for their backfield, but the veteran rusher failed to show his form that made him the Vikings’ all-time career rushing leader with 11,747 yards and 97 touchdowns.
QB Carson Palmer shines for Cardinals
Carson Palmer completed 18 of 22 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns with an interception while Larry Fitzgerald caught 10 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. John Brown and Troy Niklas were the recipients of Palmer’s two other touchdown passes. Brown finished with three catches for 63 yards while Jermaine Gresham caught two passes for 32 yards.
Phil Dawson made a 28 yard field goal to help the Cardinals’ cause.
Buccaneers lost QB to shoulder injury
Buccaneers starting quarterback Jameis Winston was pulled out of the game after suffering an injury to his throwing shoulder. The Buccaneers were trailing 24-0 when Winston sustained the injury after he was dropped by Cardinals pass-rusher Chandler Jones to the ground.
Before the injury, Winston completed five of 10 passes for 61 yards. Veteran signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick took over for Winston, going 22 for 32 for 290 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.
The Cardinals led 31-0 in the third before the Buccaneers scored 20 straight points behind two touchdown passes from Fitzpatrick and Lavonte David’s 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
After a punt by the Cardinals, the Buccaneers had another chance to cut the deficit, but Fitzpatrick’s pass was intercepted by Tramon Williams, setting up Peterson’s one-yard touchdown run for a 38-20 advantage with 7:17 remaining. Doug Martin scored on a one-yard scoring run after an 11-play, 70-yard drive by the Buccaneers, but their two-point attempt failed. Fitzpatrick later found Mike Evans for a 37-yard touchdown drive with 2:02 left, making the final score 38-33.
