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Arizona Cardinals: Best ‘GIFs’ from 48-23 Win over Bears

By Shaun Church

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The Arizona Cardinals took it to the Chicago Bears last weekend, to the point that FOX play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman sounded surprised that quarterback Carson Palmer continued to throw the ball with the game well in hand.

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Palmer completed 17 of 24 passes (70.8 percent) for 185 yards, four touchdowns and an interception for a 115.5 passer rating. He was not sacked.

With starter Andre Ellington out with a knee injury, running back Chris Johnson started and racked up 72 yards on 20 carries (3.6 yards per carry). Rookie David Johnson—you’ll see him featured below—carried five times for 42 yards (8.4 YPC) and a touchdown.

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The star of the offensive show was Larry Fitzgerald, who hauled in a regular-season career high three touchdowns amid an eight-catch, 112-yard performance.

Defensively, the Cardinals struggled to slow down Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

He led two scoring drives, and the Bears racked up 197 yards under his watch. But backup Jimmy Clausen came in after Cutler left with a hamstring injury—you’ll see that play below as well—and Chicago amassed just 119 yards over the final two-plus quarters.

With the win, the Cardinals moved to 2-0 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC West. It’s still early, but the season appears to be shaping up nicely.

Here are the best GIFs from the Cardinals win over the Bears.

Flea Flicker Alert!

Head coach Bruce Arians shook things up early in the third quarter to break the game open by calling a flea flicker, and everyone involved did a great job of selling it long enough for Palmer to find Fitzgerald for the second of his three scores. Bears linebacker Shea McClellin did all he could to prevent Fitz from hauling in the pass, but No. 11 is who he is for a reason and finished off the play with a highlight-reel grab.

Pick to Stiff Arm to End Zone

Third-year safety Tony Jefferson has come a long way from being an undrafted free-agent to where he is now. Despite his status within Arizona’s stacked secondary, Jefferson had not recorded an interception before this display. Cutler did his best to bring down his interceptor, but all he got for his efforts is a strained hamstring.

It happens, Tony…apparently.

Why is He Jogging? …Wow, that Speed!

This is the longest play in Cardinals franchise history. It’s also the second-longest kickoff return for touchdown in NFL history. David Johnson began this historic return by jogging out of the end zone, patiently waiting for his blockers to get set. When they did, he took off up the middle and eventually to the sideline and into the end zone—all told, 108 yards in 13 seconds.

A Cold-Hearted Defensive Lineman

Defensive end Frostee Rucker has spent his career making plays like this. He doesn’t flash every game, but he will make about five great plays like this every season. Beating right tackle Kyle Long to the point of attack and leaving the former first-round pick grasping for air, Rucker shot the gap to bring Clausen down before he could hand the ball off to running back Matt Forte. Long saved face by recovering the subsequent fumble.

Next: Carson Palmer on Fast-Track to Comeback POY Award

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