Kansas City Chiefs vs Arizona Cardinals

The game in Glendale began with a bang for Kansas City. Just seconds into the first quarter, linebacker Jack Cochrane stripped the ball loose on the opening kickoff return, and rookie Brashard Smith pounced on it to give the Chiefs perfect field position. Patrick Mahomes wasted no time capitalizing—on his very first snap of the preseason, he rolled right and delivered a quick 1-yard touchdown pass to Jason Brownlee. Harrison Butker’s extra point made it 7-0, and the Chiefs looked poised to control the tempo early.

Arizona’s start was far more turbulent. Kyler Murray opened his night with crisp completions, going 7-of-8 for 96 yards, but a costly interception and two fumbled kick returns hurt the Cardinals’ momentum. The turning point came in the second quarter when backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett took the reins. Brissett found Emari Demercado on a 43-yard catch-and-run for the equalizing score, then connected with Xavier Weaver from one yard out to complete a sudden 17-point surge before halftime, giving the Cardinals a 17-14 lead.

Kansas City managed to stop the bleeding coming out of the break. Gardner Minshew, getting extended snaps, kept drives alive with short completions and smart scrambles, punching in a rushing touchdown in the third quarter to tie things at 17-17. Butker then drilled a 58-yard field goal, showcasing midseason form. However, while the Chiefs’ offense found sporadic success, they struggled to sustain drives against Arizona’s mix of starters and hungry depth players.

The Cardinals’ fourth-quarter push proved decisive. Pinned deep in their own territory, Arizona engineered a steady drive that chewed clock and ended with a field goal to reclaim the lead at 20-17. Their defense then tightened, forcing Kansas City into two consecutive punts and sealing the win with an interception in the closing minutes. Statistically, Arizona outgained the Chiefs 355 yards to 249, highlighting their ability to control the game outside of the opening and midgame bursts from Kansas City.

While the Chiefs will leave Arizona disappointed in the loss, they can take positives from special teams opportunism and the composure of their backups under pressure. Mahomes’ brief appearance delivered points instantly, and rookies like Brashard Smith made a case for roster spots. For the Cardinals, the victory was a confidence-builder—Brissett’s sharp second quarter, Murray’s efficient opening drive work, and a defense that closed strong all pointed to a team more prepared to compete week to week.