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Palmer, Cards down Jags

Nov 18, 2013 - 12:56 AM Jacksonville, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Carson Palmer threw for a season-high 419 yards to go with a pair of touchdowns as the Arizona Cardinals downed the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-14, to claim their third straight win from EverBank Field.

Palmer completed 30-of-42 throws and found Michael Floyd for a 91-yard score in the third quarter. The touchdown was the longest of Palmer's career and the second longest given up by the Jags in franchise history.

"It was just one of those games you had to create your own energy," said Palmer. "It's always important to get off to a fast start, come out of the gates hot, and I think we did."

Floyd gathered six passes for 193 yards and the score, while Larry Fitzgerald had six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Rashard Mendenhall added a 5- yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

The Cardinals (6-4) have scored 27 points in three straight wins on the heels of a two-game losing skid.

"The playoffs for us have already started," said Arizona head coach Bruce Arians. "We lose and we are out. We are a game behind teams. We've got to win to catch up."

Chad Henne passed for 255 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions on 27-of-42 efficiency for Jacksonville (1-9), which failed to build off of its first win of the season last Sunday.

Ace Sanders made eight catches for 61 yards and Danny Noble's first career catch on the opening possession of the game went for a 62-yard touchdown.

On 4th-and-1 from the Jacksonville 38, Henne faked a handoff and threw short for a wide open Noble, who made the catch and galloped into the end zone for Jacksonville's first home touchdown of the season on just the fourth play from scrimmage.

Palmer completed six passes on the Cardinals' first drive to six different receivers. Floyd hauled in an 11-yard catch on 3rd-and-8 down to the Jacksonville 14, and Fitzgerald caught a 14-yard touchdown pass two plays later.

"Defensively, the first drive was a little disappointing," said Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley. "We had some things with personnel and miscommunication but after that we settled down pretty good."

Jordan Todman returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards into Arizona territory. Clay Harbor's 21-yard reception down to the 5 set up a 1-yard Maurice Jones- Drew TD plunge.

Jacksonville led 14-7 after the first before the Cardinals ran off 20 straight points to end the contest.

Late in the second quarter, Palmer engineered a 70-yard trek in just five plays, completing a 21-yard pass to Rob Housler and a pair of 22-yard throws to Floyd before Mendenhall took it in from five yards out 1:55 before halftime.

Jay Feely put the Cards on top with a 21-yard field goal early in the third period and after a 50-yard Bryan Anger punt, Floyd made the biggest play of Arizona's season

On 3rd-and-10, Palmer found Floyd just past the first down marker. The second- year receiver broke a pair of tackles before juking a defender near midfield en route to the longest touchdown catch of his young career.

Feely's 32-yard kick following Jerraud Powers' interception of Henne midway through the fourth period capped the scoring.

Game Notes

Palmer's first nine completions went to nine different receivers. He became the first Arizona quarterback to throw for 400-plus yards since Kurt Warner in 2008 ... The Cardinals will host Indianapolis next week to try and extend their winning streak. Jacksonville heads to Houston for a meeting with the Texans.