Final
Rookie QBs Leinart, Cutler duel on Sunday
Dec 17, 2006 - 3:15 PM Denver (7-6) at Arizona (4-9) Sunday 4:05 pm ESTGLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Rookie quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler duel for the first time on Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals host the Denver Broncos in an interconference game.
The 10th overall pick in the draft, Leinart lost his first five starts. Since then, he has led the Cardinals to three wins in four games, completing 86-of-138 passes for 1,056 yards and five touchdowns with only two interceptions in that span.
Last week, the former Heisman Trophy winner threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-21 win over first-place Seattle. The victory was Arizona's first against a team with a winning record since 2004.
"As the quarterback grows and as we keep playing together, you see what happens," Cardinals running back Edgerrin James said.
The Broncos need their rookie quarterback to develop rapidly if they hope to make the playoffs. They are one game behind Jacksonville and Cincinnati in the battle for the AFC wild-card spots.
Coach Mike Shanahan made the switch from veteran Jake Plummer to Cutler after Denver lost back-to-back games to AFC West rivals San Diego and Denver. But the losing streak is now four with Cutler dropping his first two starts against Seattle and San Diego.
The 11th overall pick in the draft, Cutler has completed 27-of-51 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in the two games.
Cutler threw a pair of touchdown passes to rookie tight end Tony Scheffler, but was sacked four times and lost a fumble in a 48-20 loss at San Diego last week.
The defense yielded 419 yards to the Chargers. Philip Rivers threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 103 yards and three scores.
On Sunday, the Broncos will face Leinart and a talented stable of receivers featuring Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin along with James, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in two straight games after failing to reach the century mark in his first 11.
The Cardinals limited Seattle's Shaun Alexander to 76 yards on 22 carries last week. They will face Tatum Bell, who has rushed for 898 yards, on Sunday.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 10 6 7 14 37
ARIZONA 0 10 3 7 20 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, JAVON WALKER 54 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (JASON ELAM KICK), 3:00.
Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards in 1:26.
DENVER 7-0
DEN - FG, JASON ELAM 30 YD, 6:09. Drive: 6
plays, 14 yards in 2:54. Ke
Dec 17 7:12 PM - NFL
TD DEN
MIKE BELL 1 YD RUN
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 37
ARIZONA 20 2:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 6:54 PM - NFL
TD ARI
EDGERRIN JAMES 4 YD RUN
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)
DENVER 30
ARIZONA 20 7:46 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 6:40 PM
TD DEN MIKE BELL 1 YD RUN (JASON ELAM KICK)
64-yard kickoff return by Morgan to Arizona 29.
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 6:24 PM
TD DEN MIKE BELL 1 YD RUN (JASON ELAM KICK)
64-yard kickoff return by Morgan to Arizona 29.
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 6:24 PM- NFL
TD DEN
MIKE BELL 1 YD RUN
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 30
ARIZONA 13 13:51 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 6:22 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 10 6 7 23
ARIZONA 0 10 3 13 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, JAVON WALKER 54 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (JASON ELAM KICK), 3:00.
Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards in 1:26.
DENVER 7-0
DEN - FG, JASON ELAM 30 YD, 6:09. Drive: 6
plays, 14 yards in 2
Dec 17 6:17 PM - NFL
FG ARI
NEIL RACKERS 38 YD
DENVER 23
ARIZONA 13 2:19 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 6:12 PM - NFL
TD DEN
ROD SMITH 10 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 23
ARIZONA 10 8:54 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 5:55 PM - NFL
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 10 6 16
ARIZONA 0 10 10 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, JAVON WALKER 54 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (JASON ELAM KICK), 3:00.
Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards in 1:26.
DENVER 7-0
DEN - FG, JASON ELAM 30 YD, 6:09. Drive: 6
plays, 14 yards in 2:54.
Dec 17 5:25 PM - NFL
TD ARI
ANTONIO SMITH 4 YD FUMBLE RETURN
(NEIL RACKERS KICK)
DENVER 13
ARIZONA 10 7:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 5:03 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 10 10
ARIZONA 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DEN - TD, JAVON WALKER 54 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (JASON ELAM KICK), 3:00.
Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards in 1:26.
DENVER 7-0
DEN - FG, JASON ELAM 30 YD, 6:09. Drive: 6
plays, 14 yards in 2
Dec 17 4:39 PM
FG DEN JASON ELAM 30 YD
Bailey 5-yard interception return to Arizona 26.
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 4:23 PM- NFL
TD DEN
JAVON WALKER 54 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(JASON ELAM KICK)
DENVER 7
ARIZONA 0 12:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Broncos vs. CardinalsDec 17 4:11 PM
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