Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images The Detroit Lions walked away from Week 3 with a big win over the Cardinals after a stellar performance from the defense. Recap and highlights here. The Arizona Cardinals came into Week 3 with a red-hot offense, ranking second in the league in scoring. But the Detroit Lions offense was up for their first big test and came through in a big way. After allowing an opening drive touchdown, the Lions defense clamped down and only allowed six points for the rest of the game on their way to a 20-13 victory. The offense looked much better in the first half against Arizona, putting up 20 points. But they were held scoreless in the second half and failed to put the game away despite several opportunities. That said, it was one key offensive play that clinched the game for Detroit. Here’s how it all happened. First quarter The Cardinals won the toss and deferred, giving Detroit’s offense the first opportunity of the game. The Lions went heavy on offense to start the game, utilizing Dan Skipper as a sixth offensive lineman. It worked early, with 16 yards on the ground from David Montgomery on two rushes. Then Jared Goff found Sam LaPorta for 12 yards on a third-and-6 to keep the drive alive and move into Cardinals territory. Back-to-back throws to Brock Wright moved Detroit to the edge of the red zone. All it took was three more runs from Montgomery to get in the end zone and give Detroit an early 7-0 Lions lead. O-Line and David Montgomery going to work early #DETvsAZ | FOX pic.twitter.com/Src4k4TeNm— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024 On the second play of Arizona’s opening drive, Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike went down with a lower body injury. He would later return. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray moved into field goal position thanks to a designed 12-yard run followed by a 16-yard pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. A holding penalty couldn’t stop Arizona, as Murray just scrambled for 21 on the following play to move into the red zone. A few plays later, Murray found Harrison again for a 10-yard touchdown. 7-7 tie. dare we say ~aura~ pic.twitter.com/LNUGuiY5Jy— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 22, 2024 During that drive, Terrion Arnold took a shot to the knee. He is officially questionable to return with a knee injury. Detroit’s offense went right back to work with a nice balance of runs and passes. A pair of passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 31 total yards moved Detroit down into field goal range, as the first quarter came to an end. Second quarter On a third-and-short, an inside run to Jahmyr Gibbs picked up 14 and put the Lions first-and-goal at the Cardinals’ 9-yard line. Three plays later, Goff found St. Brown for a 5-yard touchdown and a 13-7 Lions lead. Jake Bates pushed the extra point wide. .@amonra_stbrown got that DAWG in him : #DETvsAZ on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/kB6spzDIu2— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024 The Lions defense suffered another injury on the next drive, with linebacker Derrick Barnes suffering a lower-body injury after getting chopped down. He was carted off and did nto return. The defense held, though, as Arizona faced an early fourth-and-1, but opted to punt instead of going for it inside their own 40-yard line. Detroit managed a couple of first downs on the next drive, but on a third-and-3, Goff was sacked. The Lions managed to pin the Cardinals deep in their own zone, but they got some breathing room after Arnold, who returned to the game, committed another pass interference penalty. The drive stalled quickly after, though, as the Lions were able to get pressure on third-and-2 and force an incompletion. With 4:23 left, the Lions had a chance to extend their lead going into the half, and the drive started promisingly with a 24-yard strike to LaPorta. Detroit escaped disaster after that. Detroit appeared to snap the ball directly as the two-minute warning happened, and threw what appeared to be a pick six. However, the officials blew the play dead, believing that the clock had hit the two-minute warning prior to the snap. The play following that, Detroit converted a third-and-12 with a draw to Gibbs. A few plays later, the Lions ran an CRAZY hook-and-ladder play for a 21-yard touchdown. 20-7 Lions. Little hook n ladder shenanigans for the score #DETvsAZ | FOX pic.twitter.com/EBUcoJeBn5— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024 On this play, though, tight end Sam LaPorta was carted off, but returned for the second half. With 29 second and three timeouts left, the Cardinals attempted to chip away at Detroit’s lead. They caught a break early thanks to Jalen Reeves-Maybin committing a late hit on the very first play. As Arizona moved into field goal position, Alim McNeill suffered a shoulder injury and is questionable to return. Arizona would work their way into field goal position and convert on a chip shot to make it 20-10 Lions at halftime. Third quarter The Cardinals moved to Lions territory thanks to a pass interference call on Carlton Davis. But Murray got greedy and tried to take a deep shot, and Kerby Joseph was there for the interception in the end zone. .@JKERB25 going for the INT#DETvsAZ | FOX pic.twitter.com/TweE0Xbtfx— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024 Detroit was only able to pick up one first down on the ensuing drive. A false start on Graham Glasgow turned a third-and-1 into a third-and-6, and Goff couldn’t find St. Brown on the ensuing play, leading to Detroit’s second punt of the day. A 61-yard punt pinned the Cardinals at their own 2-yard line. The Lions got the three-and-out they needed to secure good field position on offense. Kalif Raymond took the ensuing punt to Detroit’s own 43-yard line to set the Lions up with good field position. But the drive ended almost as it started. A reverse to Jameson Williams was sniffed out immediately, leading to a 7-yard loss on first down. Then Goff didn’t see Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck and threw it right to him for an interception. GARDECKY WITH THE INT pic.twitter.com/mgP7dtSJss— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 22, 2024 Arizona quickly found themselves into a fourth-and-1, and they tried to catch the Lions with a Murray keeper, but Carlton Davis stopped him just short of the line to gain upon a review. Gibbs kick started the next offensive drive with an 18-yard run, then St. Brown added another 15 to move into Cardinals territory. But then it was the Cardinals’ time for a fourth-down stop. After Montgomery appeared to convert on third down, officials marked him short, and Detroit’s fourth-down run to Montgomery was doomed from the start. BIG stop for @AZCardinals on 4th and 1 : #DETvsAZ on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/kGLLhCSxNX— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024 Detroit’s defense continued to hold strong after offensive mistakes, though. A quick three-and-out gave the Lions offense the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter. A few plays to Montgomery moved the chains and pushed the game into the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter A Montgomery run gave Detroit a fresh set of downs in Cardinals territory, but that would be it for the offensive drive. Goff took a sack on second down, and Detroit came up well short on third down. With 13:24 left, Arizona’s next offensive drive would start at their own 12-yard line. After a roughing the passer penalty on Josh Paschal, the Cardinals were already near midfield. Arizona then found themselves in a fourth-and-7 right there, and opted to go for it. Murray targeted Trey McBride, but Kerby Joseph there was to bat it away for the turnover on downs. Detroit’s offense took over in Cardinals territory, but could not put the game away. After two unsuccessful runs, Goff went deep to Jameson Williams and did not come close for another three-and-out. A decent punt pinned Arizona at their own 9-yard line, and the defense continued to hold strong. While Arizona got one first down, the Lions then forced three straight incompletions and a punt. The Lions had yet another opportunity to put the game away, taking over with 8:35 left at their own 21-yard line. It was another promising start thanks to a hilarious run from Montgomery that included him getting literally carried downfield for an extra 7 yards. David Montgomery going O-Line surfin'#DETvsAZ | FOX pic.twitter.com/cuyXM0C8s5— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024 But facing a third-and-2 on the next set of downs, Detroit only picked up a single yard. That left a fourth-and-1 at midfield, and while it looked like they were going to go for it, Detroit eventually opted to punt away with 6:48 left. The Lions did successfully burn two Cardinals timeouts, and pin Arizona at their own 6, but home team was still alive. On the ensuing drive, there was a huge head-to-head collision between Cardinals TE Trey McBride and Lions safety Brian Branch. Both players left the game, and Branch was officially ruled questionable with a neck injury. Murray responded by finding Michael Wilson for a 28-yard gain. A sack from Aidan Hutchinson slowed them down, though, forcing a key third-and-17 for the Cardinals. .@aidanhutch97 with the sack!#DETvsAZ | FOX pic.twitter.com/fvNxxWyjJL— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024 They simply used the opportunity to get a shorter field goal, and Matt Prater was good from 44 yards to make it 20-13 Lions with 3:48 left. Just when it looked like the Lions were going to go three-and-out and give the ball back to Arizona, Goff found St. Brown for 17 yards on a third-and-11, moving the game to the two-minute warning. To finally clinch it, Jared Goff ran a bootleg run to give Detroit the first down they needed to run the rest of the clock.