Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders: Live Score and Analysis for Arizona

It wasn't pretty at times, but the Arizona Cardinals emerged victorious for the fifth time in six games this season, beating a feisty Oakland Raiders squad, 24-13.

Carson Palmer was up and down in this one but finished completing 22 of 31 passes (71.0 percent) for 253 yards, two touchdowns and the team's first interception of the season for a 103.3 passer rating.

He started strong, completing 11 of his first 14 passes, including both of his touchdowns. But from then on, he struggled with accuracy. Palmer missed high and wide at times; not horribly, but enough to cause the interception and a slew of incompletions.

The running backs were the stars of this game, as Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor combined to touch the ball 44 times for 219 yards and two touchdowns—both by Taylor (one rushing, one receiving).

Ellington led all rushers with 24 carries for 88 yards (3.7 yards per carry). But he also led all receivers, hauling in six receptions for 72 yards (12.0 yards per catch). I will do some research this week and get back to you on when the last time a Cardinals running back was the leading rusher and receiver for both teams combined.

Defensively, coordinator Todd Bowles did a nice job calling blitzes to get to rookie quarterback Derek Carr. Early on, it appeared as though Arizona's defense may have something special working, but Carr and the Oakland offense adjusted and made it a closely contested game throughout the second half.

The Cardinals (5-1) will sit atop the NFC West for another week. The Raiders (0-6) are the only team without a victory this season since the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. These are two franchises traveling down two very different paths, and it could be that way for a while.

3rd Quarter	1	2	3	4	Score
Cardinals	7	7	7	3	24
Raiders	0	10	3	0	13