2024-08-18 12:50:02
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Tune scrambled right before halftime untouched for a 12-yard touchdown, capping his evening by giving his team the lead. The drive was set up by the first interception by rookie safety Rabbit Taylor-Demerson, who made a great play closing on a throw by fourth-string Colts QB Jason Bean.
“I was real special,” Taylor-Demerson said. “I was telling JT (Jalen Thompson) and Budda (Baker) all day today I was going to get one. Then literally told my two best friends I was feeling one. I told my agent I was getting one. Put it in my head all day.
“The play finally came and I caught it. I was cool. It was like electric going through my body when I caught it. I didn’t know what to do.”
TURNING POINT: As the teams traded second-half scores, the Cardinals stalled at the Colts 9-yard line and were forced to kick a field goal. With the Colts nursing a one-point lead, fourth-string QB Jason Bean led a TD drive that culminated on his own 1-yard run on fourth down and a 21-13 lead.
DEFENSE MAKES PLAYS: The Cardinals had three sacks in the first half — L.J. Collier, Cam Thomas, and Xavier Thomas — and consistent pressure on pass plays. In addition to the interception, cornerback Kei’Trel Clark also forced a fumble that Dante Stills recovered.
“The takeaways were why we stayed in the game,” Gannon said. “Without the takeaways, we get the brakes beat off of us.”
SITTING OUT: After the two joint practices during the week, it wasn’t surprising that Gannon again sat his starters. First-round picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson did not play (as opposed to Week 1). Offensively, the entire starting offensive line, receivers Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Zay Jones, and tight ends Trey McBride and Elijah Higgins all sat. On defense, defensive linemen Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols, and Roy Lopez, linebackers Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Kyzir White and Mack Wilson Sr., and defensive backs Garrett Williams, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Budda Baker, and Jalen Thompson also did not play.
