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Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 20, New Orleans Saints 13 | 2025 NFL Week 1

Saints lose in debut of Coach Kellen Moore as team commits 13 penalties

A few big plays from the Arizona Cardinals and a slew of penalties by the New Orleans Saints led to a 20-13 Arizona victory in Sunday's season-opener at the Caesars Superdome.

The game marked the debut of Coach Kellen Moore and it ended a streak of six consecutive opening game victories for the Saints. New Orleans had a chance to tie the score but its final possession end with an incompletion on fourth-and-10 from the 18-yard line.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler had a solid outing, going 27 of 46 for 214 yards and Alvin Kamara looked as reliable as ever, scoring the team's lone touchdown (an 18-yard scamper around the right end in the second quarter). Tight end Juwan Johnson and receiver Chris Olave were the top targets, with Johnson grabbing eight passes and Olave seven. Kamara's touchdown was the 1,000th the Saints have scored in the Caesars Superdome (opened in 1975). Blake Grupe added a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter.

The defense applied pressure on Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, sacking him fives times (veteran defensive end Cam Jordan had 1.5, giving him 123 for his career), but just as many times he was able to scramble for gains (38 yards rushing). Cardinals running back Trey Benson had a 52-yard carry and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. hauled in a 45-yard pass, both helping set up scores. Add in the 13 accepted penalties on the Saints, and it was too much to overcome.

The Saints lost starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga to a knee injury in the second half.

New Orleans will play host to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 14.

Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Arizona Cardinals for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL Season on Sept. 7, 2025 at Caesars Superdome.

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