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Cardinals breeze past Dolphins, 31-10
Mesa resident Kavin Mudd grills up food with other tailgaters before the Arizona Cardinals game with the Miami Dolphins at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale Sunday.
Thomas Boggan, Tribune
Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin makes a reception and goes for a 79-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Thomas Boggan, Tribune
Cardinals Steve Breaston get upended by the Dolphins Renaldo Hill during their game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
Darryl Webb, Tribune
The Arizona Cardinals improved to 2-0 for the first time in 17 years Sunday by shredding the Miami Dolphins, 31-10, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
SLIDESHOW: Cardinals vs. Dolphins
Arizona utilized a big-play passing game to quickly take control of the game and cruise to the easy win. Quarterback Kurt Warner connected with Anquan Boldin for three touchdown passes, and both Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald had well over 100 yards receiving on the afternoon.
The Cardinals didn’t waste any time getting started.
After two offensive penalties to start its opening possession, Arizona scored on its first official offensive play from scrimmage on a 79-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Boldin.
Then on the Cardinals' second drive, Warner connected with Larry Fitzgerald on a spectacular 75-yard pass that gave Arizona a first-and-goal on the Miami 4-yard line. Two plays later, Warner drilled Boldin on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the right side of the end zone for a 14-point lead.
In the third quarter, the Cardinals opened up a 24-0 advantage on a 2-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Tim Hightower.
The Dolphins got on the scoreboard for the first time on a 32-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter with 5:26 left in the third quarter, making the score 24-3. But Arizona responded on its ensuing possession, marching 80 yards on eight plays, and scoring on an 8-yard Warner touchdown pass to Boldin to put the game out of reach late in the third quarter.
Warner completed all six of his first-quarter passes for 187 yards and the two scores, and did not throw an incomplete pass until his 10th attempt. He finished 19-of-24 for 361 yards and three touchdowns.
Boldin caught six balls for 140 yards, including the three scoring receptions, and Fitzgerald had six receptions for 153 yards.
Edgerrin James had 18 carries for 55 yards for Arizona, and eclipsed the 15,000-yard mark for his career.
Arizona kicker Neil Rackers connected on a 45-yard field goal on the Cardinals' third possession. The Dolphins scored a touchdown with just more than two minutes remaining in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Brown.
Last week, the Cardinals opened their season with a 23-13 win in San Francisco over the 49ers. Its defense forced five turnovers in the victory.
Arizona was last 2-0 back in 1991. The Cardinals will visit the Washington Redskins next Sunday.
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