Two fourth-quarter touchdowns gave the Arizona Cardinals a 18-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers in their opening NFL game of the season on Monday night.
It was a slow start for both sides at the University of Phoenix Stadium, with the first points coming to the Cardinals in the second quarter courtesy of a 22-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro.
Rookie linebacker Jerry Attaochu made his presence known by breaking through the Cardinals line to block a punt, and it wasn't long before his side got points on the board.
In the fourth down, Nick Novak kicked a 36-yard field goal to draw level on 3-3, but Arizona responded through Catanzaro once again with a 44-yard field goal.
After a struggling first half for the Chargers, who dropped two passes during the first two quarters, the visiting side scored the first touchdown of the contest.
Malcolm Floyd received a pass from quarterback Philip Rivers for six yards to edge into the end zone and take the lead for the first time in the clash.
The Chargers began to take the momentum once again and their use of special teams set the tempo on the field.
Attaochu impressed once again with a sack on Carson Palmer, who fumbled the ball, which caused Dwight Freeney to recover and seal the turnover.
With around five minutes left on the clock in the third quarter, the Chargers extended their score to 17 after Ryan Mathews rushed 20 yards to the endzone.
The Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald reached a disappointing stat of his own by being held without a target through three quarters for the first time in his career.
The wide receiver did manage to get his hand on the ball in the early stages of the fourth quarter, but it was an incomplete pass from Palmer.
However, minutes later, Arizona clawed their way back into contention when Stepfan Taylor received the ball from Palmer to claim a five-yard touchdown.
The home side went for a two-point conversion, but three Chargers made the stop to prevent Arizona from edging closer to the visitors' lead.
Fitzgerald's first catch came with four minutes to go in the clash as the Cardinals tried to cause a late upset, and it eventually materialised for the home side after John Brown received the ball from Palmer for a 13-yard touchdown.
A two-point conversion failed due to Palmer's incomplete pass to Fitzgerald, but Arizona were able to maintain their one-point lead to take victory.
Danielle Joynson
