The Arizona Cardinals walked into Allegiant Stadium Thursday night looking for progress. They walked out with considerably more than that.

Arizona defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 27-14 on August 13 in the Cardinals' second preseason game of 2026, producing an encouraging performance from the offense, getting the first look at rookie running back Jeremiyah Love and watching all three quarterbacks who played take care of the football.

The final score doesn't matter much in August. How Arizona reached it does.

The Cardinals scored touchdowns on each of their first three offensive possessions, led 21-14 at halftime and never allowed Las Vegas to score again. Arizona's quarterbacks combined to complete 26 of 30 passes for 220 receiving yards in the official receiving totals, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while the running game produced 142 yards on 30 attempts.

For a team installing Mike LaFleur's offense and trying to determine which players deserve roles when the regular season begins, there was plenty to like.

Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals Starting Offense Answer Immediately

One of the biggest questions entering the game was how Arizona's first-team offense would look with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.

It didn't take long to get an answer.

Las Vegas opened the game with Kirk Cousins directing a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. The Cardinals defense struggled with communication near the goal line, allowing tight end Michael Mayer to get open for a 13-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 Raiders lead.

Arizona responded exactly the way you want a starting offense to respond.

Brissett directed a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that lasted 5:57. Arizona overcame two false-start penalties during the possession and converted a critical third down when Brissett connected with Michael Wilson for 17 yards.
Then came the play Cardinals fans wanted to see.

Facing third-and-3 from the Las Vegas 7-yard line, Brissett escaped pressure, threw off his back foot and found Marvin Harrison Jr. in tight coverage in the back-right portion of the end zone.

Touchdown.

Brissett's night was finished after one possession, but it was about as efficient as Arizona could have hoped. He completed all five of his passes for 44 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a 142.9 passer rating.

Harrison only officially caught one pass.

It was the one that mattered.

His seven-yard touchdown provided an early glimpse of what Arizona hopes becomes a dangerous red-zone connection.

Jeremiyah Love Gives Cardinals Fans Their First Look

If there was one Cardinals player who demanded attention Thursday night, it was rookie running back Jeremiyah Love.
The stat sheet says Love carried the ball 11 times for 58 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry with a long run of 16 yards. He also caught three passes for 14 yards.

The film told an even more exciting story.

Love repeatedly demonstrated the ability to create something when the original running lane wasn't there.

On Arizona's second possession, Love used a phenomenal jump cut to avoid what appeared destined to become a loss in the backfield and turned it into positive yardage. Later in the drive, he evaded multiple defenders behind the line before spinning away from another defender and exploding for a 10-yard gain on third down.

That wasn't the end of it.

Late in the first half, Love broke loose for 14 yards behind excellent blocking from Arizona's offensive line. On the very next play, he exploded through the middle for 16 yards and hurdled a potential tackler.

Those are the plays that should excite Cardinals fans.

Love wasn't simply gaining the yards blocked for him. He demonstrated vision, balance, change of direction, explosiveness and the ability to turn potential negative plays into positive ones.

It's only preseason, but Arizona's rookie running back certainly looked the part.

Gardner Minshew Takes Control

Gardner Minshew replaced Brissett for Arizona's second possession and immediately kept the offense moving.
The Cardinals marched 78 yards in 11 plays, consuming 6:21 before Minshew connected with Simi Fehoko for a touchdown that gave Arizona a 14-7 lead.

Minshew wasn't finished.

After Las Vegas tied the game at 14, Arizona took possession late in the second quarter and produced arguably its most impressive drive of the night.

The Cardinals traveled 75 yards in only 2:56.

Love supplied explosive runs. Jalen Brooks became Minshew's favorite target. With 33 seconds remaining, Arizona continued attacking rather than settling for a field-goal attempt.

The result was another touchdown.

Minshew delivered a six-yard back-shoulder pass to Brooks for the score and a 21-14 Cardinals halftime lead.

Minshew finished 14-of-16 for 101 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, earning a 132.6 passer rating.

That's 87.5 percent completion.

In a preseason game where evaluation matters considerably more than the scoreboard, Minshew made a strong case for himself.

Jalen Brooks Becomes Arizona's Surprise Offensive Standout

Every preseason game seems to produce a player who forces people to learn his name.

Thursday night, Jalen Brooks was that guy.

Brooks caught all six of his targets for 52 yards and a touchdown, leading Arizona in receptions and receiving yards.
More importantly, his production wasn't confined to meaningless fourth-quarter snaps.

Brooks repeatedly helped Arizona sustain drives. He converted first downs, became a reliable target for Minshew and finished the first half by hauling in the six-yard touchdown.

When roster decisions eventually arrive, performances like this matter.

Brooks entered the night as one of many players fighting for attention in a crowded preseason environment.

He left Las Vegas considerably harder to ignore.

Reggie Virgil Makes the Catch of the Night

Brooks may have been Arizona's most productive receiver, but Reggie Virgil delivered one of the game's best highlights.

With Kedon Slovis taking over at quarterback during the third quarter, Arizona faced third-and-5.

Slovis went deep down the left side.

Virgil reached out with one hand and pulled in a spectacular 24-yard reception.

It was exactly the type of preseason play that can make coaches rewind the film.

Virgil finished with two catches for 43 yards, averaging 21.5 yards per reception.

Cardinals Quarterbacks Were Nearly Perfect

Perhaps the most encouraging offensive statistic from Thursday night was the collective performance of Arizona's quarterbacks.

Brissett went 5-of-5.

Minshew went 14-of-16.

Slovis went 7-of-9.

Combined, Arizona completed 26 of 30 passes with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

That's an 86.7 percent completion rate.

Slovis didn't produce a touchdown, but he finished with 75 passing yards and a 101.4 rating while helping Arizona add a third-quarter field goal.

The Cardinals also avoided turning the football over for the entire game.

For a preseason offense trying to establish rhythm, efficiency and command of a new system, that's an encouraging night.

Fernando Mendoza Gets His First NFL Preseason Test

Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza received a huge ovation when he entered the game.

Arizona's defense immediately gave him a test.

Mendoza's first pass resulted in a throwaway after solid Cardinals coverage. Denzel Burke later delivered a physical hit to break up a pass intended for Mike Washington Jr.

Mendoza eventually settled in and led Las Vegas on a touchdown drive, connecting with Jack Bech for the score.
Arizona also managed to get to him.

Walter Nolen recorded a sack that pushed Las Vegas backward eight yards during the second quarter.

Mendoza finished 10-of-16 for 97 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, with a 100.3 passer rating.

The Raiders rookie showed flashes, but Arizona kept Las Vegas off the scoreboard throughout the second half.

The Cardinals Defense Rebounds After a Rough Beginning

Arizona's defensive performance requires some context.

The opening drive wasn't good.

Las Vegas moved 68 yards on 10 plays, and the touchdown to Mayer appeared to be the result of a communication breakdown that left the tight end open.

There were also tackling problems.

Mike Washington Jr. broke loose for a huge run during the second quarter after Arizona missed multiple opportunities to bring him down. The play helped set up Las Vegas' second and final touchdown.

But here's the important part.

Arizona adjusted.

The Raiders didn't score another point.

Las Vegas finished with 103 rushing yards, although more than half of that production came on Washington's long run. The Raiders quarterbacks combined for two touchdowns and no interceptions, but Arizona recorded two sacks and repeatedly got off the field during the second half.

Late in the fourth quarter, Elliott Brown delivered one of Arizona's final defensive highlights when he sacked Aidan O'Connell for a 10-yard loss. Las Vegas subsequently failed on fourth-and-20, giving Arizona possession and effectively ending the threat.

There are still things to clean up, particularly tackling and communication.

But allowing zero second-half points represents progress.

Chad Ryland Shows Off His Leg

Don't overlook what Chad Ryland did.

Arizona's kicker drilled a 56-yard field goal during the third quarter to extend the Cardinals' advantage to 24-14.

He later connected from 40 yards to make it 27-14 before missing a fourth-quarter attempt wide right.

The 56-yarder matters.

Being able to realistically attempt kicks from beyond 50 yards changes the decisions a coaching staff can make near midfield.

One Major Concern: Chase Bisontis' Knee Injury

The most concerning moment of Arizona's night had nothing to do with the scoreboard.

Rookie guard Chase Bisontis, a second-round pick out of Arizona, went down during the Cardinals' opening drive of the third quarter and required attention from the medical staff.

Arizona later listed Bisontis as out with a left-knee injury.

The severity of the injury was not established in the game notes, so any larger conclusion would be premature.

For a rookie offensive lineman trying to establish himself during training camp, however, his status becomes one of the biggest Cardinals stories to follow after this game.

Arizona's Running Back Room Looks Deep

Love understandably receives the headlines, but Arizona received production throughout its backfield.

Corey Kiner rushed nine times for 44 yards, including a 15-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Tyler Allgeier produced 19 yards on four carries, Bam Knight added 15 yards on three attempts and Evan Hull had six yards on three carries.

Collectively, Arizona rushed 30 times for 142 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per attempt.

Love's explosiveness gives the group a potential difference-maker, but the overall depth was equally encouraging.

What Did We Actually Learn About the Cardinals?

Preseason wins don't count in September.

Development does.

Arizona's 27-14 victory provided several legitimate positives that extend beyond the final score.

Brissett took one possession and turned it into a touchdown.

Minshew completed 14 of 16 passes and threw two touchdowns.

Love displayed exactly the explosiveness and elusiveness Arizona hoped to see.

Brooks emerged as a legitimate player to monitor.

Virgil supplied another explosive receiving threat.

Arizona rushed for 142 yards.

The quarterbacks didn't throw an interception.

The offense didn't turn the ball over.

And after allowing touchdowns on two first-half possessions, the defense pitched a second-half shutout.

Arizona's own drive-by-drive performance showed three consecutive touchdown drives to open the game before the Cardinals added two third-quarter field goals and controlled the second half.

There were problems.

The defense had communication issues. Missed tackles helped create Las Vegas' biggest rushing play. Arizona committed avoidable penalties. The offensive line allowed pressure later in the game. Most importantly, the Cardinals will need to learn more about Bisontis' knee injury.

That's what preseason is supposed to reveal.

Not whether a team can win a meaningless game, but whether the pieces are beginning to fit.

On Thursday night in Las Vegas, more of Arizona's pieces looked like they were fitting.

And if Cardinals fans were waiting for a reason to get excited about Jeremiyah Love, they certainly got one.

Sports Media X Takeaway

The headline coming out of Las Vegas isn't simply that the Cardinals beat the Raiders 27-14.

It's that Arizona's offense looked efficient at every quarterback level, Love flashed legitimate playmaking ability, Brooks demanded attention in the receiver competition and the defense recovered from an uneven start to keep Las Vegas scoreless for the entire second half.

There is still a long way to go before the games count.

But this looked like progress.

And in August, that's exactly what you're looking for.


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