Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals Match Player Stats: Top Players, Big Plays and Full Game Numbers
Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals match player stats tell a clear story about one of the NFL’s older rivalries, and the last meeting between these two teams was a close and exciting game. In this article, we look at every important number from that game in simple words. You will learn how the quarterbacks played, which runners and receivers stood out, how the defenses changed the game, and what to expect when the teams meet again in October 2026. You do not need to be a football expert to follow along. We explain everything step by step.
What was the final score of the last Lions vs Cardinals game?
The Detroit Lions won the last game 20-13 against the Arizona Cardinals. The game was played on Sunday, September 22, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona, which is the home of the Cardinals. It was Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season.
The game had two very different halves. Detroit was strong on offense in the first half, and Arizona could not stop them. In the second half, the Lions offense slowed down a lot, so the Detroit defense had to protect the lead. The Lions defense kept Kyler Murray and his team out of the end zone for the whole second half and allowed only one field goal.
Here is the score by quarter, based on the official box score:
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
As you can see, no team scored in the third quarter, and Arizona scored only a field goal in the fourth.
How did Jared Goff play for the Lions?
Jared Goff played one of the cleanest first halves of his career. He completed his first 14 passes before his first miss in the third quarter. This was the longest streak of its kind to start a game in his nine years in the NFL. By halftime, Goff was 12 of 12 for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
His full numbers from the box score look like this:
| Stat | Jared Goff |
|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 18 / 23 |
| Passing yards | 199 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Times sacked | 2 |
| Passer rating | 113.6 |
| Rushing | 3 carries, 6 yards |
A small note: some news reports list Goff at 196 yards, while the official box score shows 199 passing yards. Small differences like this are common between sources, so it is always good to check the official box score.
Goff also made one of the most important plays at the very end. He ran for an 8-yard gain to get the first down that sealed the win. Before that, he found Amon-Ra St. Brown for 17 yards on a third-and-11 play, which moved the game to the two-minute warning. These plays let Detroit keep the ball and run out the clock.
How did Kyler Murray play for the Cardinals?
Kyler Murray had a fair game, but the Lions defense made life hard for him after halftime. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 207 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked once and also ran 5 times for 45 yards.
Murray’s legs were one of Arizona’s best weapons in this game. After Detroit scored first, Murray made a few big runs before he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. That drive tied the game 7-7.
Still, his passer rating of 76.5 was much lower than Goff’s 113.6. That gap shows how much better the Lions were at moving the ball through the air in this game. After the loss, Murray said his team had many chances to win, but Detroit simply made more plays.
Which running backs stood out in the game?
David Montgomery was the best running back on the field. He carried the ball 23 times for 105 yards and one touchdown, and he also caught 3 passes for 17 yards. His touchdown came on the Lions’ very first drive. He pushed through the line on a 1-yard run and fell back into the end zone.
Jahmyr Gibbs was also very useful. He ran 16 times for 83 yards and scored a 20-yard touchdown after a pass play. Together, Montgomery and Gibbs gave Detroit almost 190 rushing yards, which helped the team control the game.
For Arizona, the running game did not work as well. James Conner ran 9 times for only 17 yards. Trey Benson and Emari Demercado each had 2 carries for 8 and 7 yards. Most of Arizona’s running yards came from Murray himself.
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Montgomery | DET | 23 | 105 | 1 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 16 | 83 | 0 |
| Kyler Murray | ARI | 5 | 45 | 0 |
| James Conner | ARI | 9 | 17 | 0 |
Who were the top receivers in the match?
Amon-Ra St. Brown was the top receiver for Detroit. He caught 7 of his 8 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown was a 5-yard catch early in the second quarter, and he also helped create the Gibbs touchdown with a smart trick play (more on that below).
For Arizona, two players tied for the most receiving yards. Michael Wilson caught 8 passes for 64 yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. caught 5 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Harrison Jr. was a rookie at the time, and this was his third touchdown catch in two games. Tight end Trey McBride, who is usually one of Arizona’s best players, was held to 3 catches for 25 yards.
| Player | Team | Catches | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | 7 | 75 | 1 |
| Michael Wilson | ARI | 8 | 64 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI | 5 | 64 | 1 |
| Sam LaPorta | DET | 2 | 36 | 0 |
| Greg Dortch | ARI | 3 | 35 | 0 |
| Brock Wright | DET | 4 | 34 | 0 |
| Trey McBride | ARI | 3 | 25 | 0 |
One thing stands out here. Goff spread the ball to many players, and six different Lions caught at least one pass. This made Detroit hard to defend.
What were the biggest plays of the game?
The biggest play of the game was a trick play just before halftime. Goff threw a short pass to St. Brown, who quickly passed the ball back to Gibbs, and Gibbs ran 20 yards for a touchdown. This kind of play is called a “hook-and-ladder.” Goff said after the game that the team had practiced it for a while and felt it was the right time to use it.
Here is every scoring play in order:
| Quarter | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lions | Montgomery 1-yard run | 7-0 |
| 1st | Cardinals | Harrison Jr. 10-yard catch from Murray | 7-7 |
| 2nd | Lions | St. Brown 5-yard catch from Goff (kick missed) | 13-7 |
| 2nd | Lions | Gibbs 20-yard touchdown on the trick play | 20-7 |
| 2nd | Cardinals | Prater 42-yard field goal | 20-10 |
| 4th | Cardinals | Prater 45-yard field goal | 20-13 |
Other big moments included a 28-yard catch by Michael Wilson late in the game, which gave Arizona hope, and Matt Prater’s field goal right as the first half ended.
How did the defenses change the game?
The defenses decided this game, especially in the second half. Each team caught one interception.
The Lions got the first big stop. Early in the third quarter, Murray threw deep to Harrison Jr., but the ball was short, and Kerby Joseph caught it in the end zone. It was Murray’s first interception of the season.
Arizona answered soon after. Dennis Gardeck intercepted a Goff pass and gave the Cardinals the ball at Detroit’s 33-yard line. But the Lions defense stopped Murray just short of a first down on fourth down. That stop was one of the key moments of the game.
Aidan Hutchinson was a big problem for Arizona’s offense all day. He got another sack, which gave him 6.5 sacks after only three games of the season. Late in the game, his sack pushed Arizona back to a third-and-17, so the Cardinals had to settle for a field goal. Lions coach Dan Campbell was very happy with his defense. He praised the team for making stop after stop in the second half.
What does the history between these two teams show?
The Lions have the better record in this long rivalry. The two teams have played 70 times. Detroit has won 36 games, Arizona has won 28, and 6 games ended in a tie.
In recent years, Detroit has been even stronger. After the 2024 win, the Lions were 5-0-1 against the Cardinals since 2017. The biggest win in the series goes back a long way. The Lions’ largest win over Arizona was 39-0 at home on September 28, 1936. Back then, the Cardinals were not even in Arizona. The team has moved a few times in its long history.
When do the Lions and Cardinals play next?
The two teams meet again on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The game starts at 4:25 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and it will be shown on FOX.
This game is special for a few reasons. It is Detroit’s only trip to the west coast this season, and it comes just before their Week 6 bye. Arizona now has a new head coach, Mike LaFleur, who was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams for the last three seasons.
Arizona also has a new starting quarterback. Jacoby Brissett looked good in Week 1. He completed 27 of 37 passes for 277 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in a 26-14 win over the Chargers. Trey McBride caught 9 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in that game. So the Lions defense will face a very different Cardinals team this time.
We will update the player stats once this new game is played.
How can you read NFL player stats easily?
If you are new to football stats, here is a short and simple guide to the terms used in this article:
- Comp / Att means completions and attempts. For example, 18 / 23 means the quarterback threw 23 passes and 18 were caught.
- Yards is how far the ball moved forward on a play or across the whole game.
- TD means touchdown, which is worth 6 points.
- INT means interception. This is when a defender catches a pass meant for the other team.
- Sack is when a defender tackles the quarterback behind the line before he can throw.
- Passer rating is one number that shows how well a quarterback threw the ball. A rating above 100 is usually very good.
- Targets is how many times a pass was thrown to a player, even if he did not catch it.
With these terms, you can read almost any NFL box score and quickly see who played well.
Conclusion
The last Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals game was a close 20-13 win for Detroit. Jared Goff had a near-perfect first half, David Montgomery ran for over 100 yards, and Amon-Ra St. Brown led all receivers in yards. For Arizona, Kyler Murray, Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. kept the game close, but the Lions defense, led by Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph, made the key stops. With a new coach and a new quarterback in Arizona, the October 11, 2026 game should be an interesting next chapter in this long rivalry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the last Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals game?
The Detroit Lions won 20-13 on September 22, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Detroit led 20-10 at halftime and then relied on its defense in the second half. Arizona scored only one field goal after the break, and the Lions ran out the clock at the end to win the game.
Who was the best player in the Lions vs Cardinals game?
Many fans would pick Jared Goff. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and he did not miss a pass until the third quarter. David Montgomery is also a strong choice, since he ran for 105 yards and scored the first touchdown of the game.
When is the next Lions vs Cardinals game in 2026?
The next game is on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET. It will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and shown on FOX. Arizona has a new head coach, Mike LaFleur, and a new starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, for this season.
