Saints score 3 TDs on first 3 drives, lead Cardinals 35-14 at half; Kurt Warner hurt

Saints lead Cardinals 35-14 at half; Warner hurt

NEW ORLEANS — The St. Louis Cardinals scored on a 70-yard run in the opening seconds of Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game. The New Orleans Saints answered with scoring drives on their first three possessions, and the Saints were leading the Cardinals 35-14 at halftime.

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner left the game in the second quarter after taking a hard hit on an interception return.

Warner’s return was questionable with a chest injury after he was intercepted by Will Smith, then hit by defensive end Bobby McCray. Warner was pursuing Smith when McCray knocked him down.

Backup Matt Leinart came in for the next drive, after the Saints had scored a touchdown to take a 35-14 lead.

On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Tim Hightower ran 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Cardinals up 7-0.

New Orleans came back with a 10-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard scoring run by Lynell Hamilton. On their next possession, the Saints went up 14-7 when Drew Brees threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey.

After the Saints recovered a fumble, Reggie Bush ran 46 yards for a touchdown on their third possession to give New Orleans a 21-7 lead.

Beanie Wells gave the Cardinals their second touchdown on a 4-yard run with about five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

In the last three minutes of the second quarter, Drew Brees hit Devery Henderson on a 44-yard touchdown pass, and threw a 2-yard pass to Marques Colston to make the score 35-14.