Ron Wolfley says big defensive plays, return of Hopkins led to Cardinals victory over Saints

PHOENIX — The home drought ended for the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night as they beat the New Orleans Saints for their first victory at State Farm Stadium in 361 days.

The 42-34 win came mainly through big plays from the defense and a sprinkle of a boosted offensive output due to the return of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals radio analyst and sports talk host Ron Wolfley believes.

“The defense totally did their job,” Wolfley told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday. “They won a game, once again, for the Arizona Cardinals.

“The offense got better and that’s encouraging. But to me, the defense and what they did, they won another game.”

The Cardinals erased a 14-6 deficit with 2:28 left in the first half with a Keaontay Ingram rushing touchdown and Eno Benjamin two-point conversion.

Then, the defense took over.

Marco Wilson returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown with 1:50 left in the half.

Isaiah Simmons made it two pick-sixes in a minute when he intercepted Saints quarterback Andy Dalton with 46 seconds left in the half, pushing the Arizona lead to 28-14.

“I don’t care where you put [Simmons],” Wolfley said. “I want to see him make plays that change games, just like he did last night.”

Arizona’s offense managed two second-half touchdowns from its offense to keep the Saints at bay.

Hopkins, returning from his six-game suspension, caught 10 passes for a team-best 103 yards.

The Cardinals’ 42 points were the most in the Kliff Kingsbury-Kyler Murray era.

“[The offense] certainly looked better than what we have seen so far through the first six games of the season,” Wolfley said. “It definitely looked better.”

Listen to every Arizona Cardinals game on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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