Arizona beat New Orleans 20-13 in Week 1, but the win’s value goes beyond the scoreboard. Late-game defense and two star plays from the Cardinals’ defense defined the finish: Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson dislodged the would-be game-tying pass, and Baker prevented a critical third-down conversion in the final seconds. It’s a 1-0 start, and one that might become a stepping stone for a defense-first approach and steady fantasy value from Arizona’s playmakers.

First Week 1 win in New Orleans since 1996 and first since 2021 for the Cardinals, with a blueprint that could fuel confidence and IDP upside. The offense wasn’t dominant, but the defense and late-game execution suggest Arizona can win tight games and provide fantasy-friendly opportunities, especially for Baker and Thompson as top defensive assets.

The Cardinals’ No. 6 lineage is short but notable, anchored by James Conner’s sustained presence since 2021. With six days until the 2025 opener at New Orleans, this piece traces a century of No. 6 wearers and crowns Conner as the enduring benchmark, while reminding fantasy managers that the number’s history is thin and unpredictable beyond Arizona’s current backfield.