clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Lions vs. Cardinals score update: Detroit turns ball over 3 times, trails 21-7 at halftime

The Arizona Cardinals took advantage of three Lions' turnovers to take a 21-7 halftime lead.

USA TODAY Sports

After a first quarter that consisted of six punts, five three-and-outs and one interception, the second quarter proved much more fruitful for the Cardinals, who managed to score three times on three Lions turnovers and lead at halftime, 21-7.

The Lions began the second quarter in Arizona territory, continuing a slow, steady drive they started prior to the end of the first quarter. Detroit pounded the ball with Mikel Leshoure and passed the ball to Calvin Johnson three times. The drive appropriately finished on a Calvin Johnson reception, which took the ball to the 1-yard line, then a Leshoure touchdown run put the Lions on top, 7-0.

The Cardinals could not answer on their next possession and punted after only seven plays. But the Detroit Lions fumbled the ensuing punt, and Arizona recovered to set itself up with a first-and-goal situation on the Lions' 5-yard line. Beanie Wells punched it in to the end zone on his next carry to tie the game up, 7-7.

After a punt by either team following the scores, Matthew Stafford and the Lions took over deep in their own territory with 4:10 remaining in the half. Two false start penalties backed them up to their own 2-yard line before Stafford threw deep to Calvin Johnson and was intercepted by Patrick Peterson.

Peterson returned the pick to Lions' 3-yard line, after which, again, Beanie Wells punched in for his second score of the day.

With just more than three minutes remaining on the clock, Stafford and the Lions looked to tally another score before halftime. But the drive turned to disaster when Rashad Johnson intercepted Stafford and returned it 53 yards for the touchdown, to give the Cardinals a 21-7 halftime lead.

Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley is 8-of-12 for 58 yards and one interception. Stafford is 9-of-22 for 85 yards and two interceptions.