It wasn’t the best matchup of Week One of the 2025 NFL season, but Cardinals-Saints produced an exciting finish.
After Arizona dominated most of the game and appeared set to cruise to a road win, New Orleans stormed back late in the game, cut the Cardinals’ lead to 20-13 and drove deep into Cardinals territory in the closing seconds. But the Saints came up short and the Cardinals won 20-13.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes and ran for 38 yards although he struggled for much of the game to deal with the Saints’ pass rush. Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had a big game, with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler wasn’t particularly good, but he kept the team in contention late and at least did enough not to get benched. Rattler finished 27 of 45 for 214 yards, plus 29 rushing yards.
The Saints had won their Week One game six years in a row, a league-long winning streak in openers that the Cardinals snapped today. This Saints team doesn’t appear likely to win a lot of games this season, and today they missed an opportunity.
Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney said that he’d be a game-time decision this week and the call didn’t go the way he was hoping.
Mooney is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. He was listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury that has limited him in practice.
With Mooney out and right tackle Kaleb McGary on injured reserve, the Falcons are without two of their projected offensive starters for the season.
Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud, KhaDarel Hodge, Casey Washington, David Sills, and Jamal Agnew are the other Falcons wideouts.
Steelers at Jets
Steelers: LB Nick Herbig, OL Max Scharping, OL Andrus Peat, DL Esezi Otomewo, DL Derrick Harmon
Jets: WR Allen Lazard, TE Jelani Woods, T Esa Pole, DE Braiden McGregor, DL Leonard Taylor
Cardinals at Saints
Cardinals: OL Will Hernandez, RB Bam Knight, CB Kei’Trel Clark, CB Elijah Jones, LB Xavier Thomas
Saints: S Jordan Howden, DL Vernon Broughton, DT Khristian Boyd, WR Trey Palmer, G Xavier Truss DE Chase Young, G Trevor Penning
Dolphins at Colts
Dolphins: QB Quinn Ewers, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Ethan Bonner, TE Darren Waller, OL Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Zeek Biggers
Colts: CB Johnathan Edwards, RB Tyler Goodson, QB Riley Leonard, TE Will Mallory, LB Chad Muma, T Luke Tenuta, DE JT Tuimoloau
Raiders at Patriots
Raiders: RB Raheem Mostert, G Caleb Rogers, DT Leki Fotu, DT JJ Pegues, LB Brennan Jackson, T Charles Grant, S Tristin McCollum
Patriots: G Caedan Wallace, LB Anfernee Jennings, WR Efton Chism III, DT Eric Gregory, QB Tommy DeVito, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Charles Woods
Giants at Commanders
Giants: T Andrew Thomas, S Beau Brade, OL Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Darius Alexander, QB Jameis Winston
Commanders: RB Chris Rodriguez, QB Josh Johnson, LB Ale Kaho, LB Kain Medrano, T Trent Scott, T George Fant, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
Panthers at Jaguars
Panthers: WR Jimmy Horn Jr., T Ikem Ekwonu, WR Dalevon Campbell, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson
Jaguars: CB Montaric Brown, OL Wyatt Milum, OL Cole Van Lanen, DL Danny Striggow, DT Maason Smith, DL B.J. Green II
Bengals at Browns
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, OL Matt Lee, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Howard Cross III
Browns: QB Shedeur Sanders, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Zak Zinter, T KT Leveston, WR Gage Larvadain
Buccaneers at Falcons
Buccaneers: WR Chris Godwin, T Tristan Wirfs, CB Benjamin Morrison, CB Christian Izien, RB Josh Williams, TE Devin Culp, CB Kindle Vildor
Falcons: WR Darnell Mooney, DL Sam Roberts, CB Clark Phillips III, S DeMarcco Hellams, RB Nate Carter, LB Josh Woods, OL Jack Nelson
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is under the weather, but it isn’t expected to keep him off the field in New Orleans on Sunday.
The Cardinals announced on Sunday morning that Murray has been added to the team’s injury report because of an illness. That announcement came shortly after the team posted a video of Murray arriving at the Superdome and they did not give Murray an injury designation for the game.
With no injury designation, Murray is still set to start the season opener.
The Cardinals are favored to beat the Saints by nearly a touchdown, but the game could play out differently than predicted if Murray’s illness impacts his game in a meaningful way.
The Saints ruled a pair of players out for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
Defensive end Chase Young will not play due to the calf injury he suffered in practice earlier this week. Young did not participate in practice on Thursday or Friday.
Carl Granderson, Cam Jordan, and Chris Rumph will be the options off the edge for the Saints.
Head coach Kellen Moore also said that guard Trevor Penning will miss the game with a toe injury. Dillon Radunz and Cesar Ruiz are likely to start at the two guard spots against Arizona.
Safety Jordan Howden (oblique) will be listed as questionable to play this weekend.
Saints defensive end Chase Young landed on Wednesday’s injury report after getting hurt in practice and his participation dropped on Thursday.
Young was out of practice due to the calf injury that limited his participation on Wednesday. Young told reporters that he’s confident that the injury won’t keep him out long, but the nature of calf issues and the short window before Sunday’s game against the Cardinals will make his status a point of interest when the Saints make their injury designations on Friday.
Defensive tackle Khristian Boyd was the only other player with a change in status on Thursday. Boyd (hand) went from limited to full participation.
Guard Trevor Penning (toe) remained out while safety Jordan Howden (oblique) and cornerback Alonte Taylor (groin) were limited participants for the second straight day.
