THE STORY: It wasn’t what Jonathan Gannon wanted early — a turnover on special teams, a touchdown allowed on a short field, a turnover by the offense — but this is the time of year when the Cardinals can have such missteps.

That’s why preseason games are played.

The result also doesn’t count, although Gannon wants to win regardless of the meaning. He got that against the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-17, in Saturday night’s preseason opener at State Farm Stadium.

Starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who hadn’t played in a preseason game since 2021, only had one bad pass. But it was an interception, thrown right to defensive back Jaden Hicks — who Murray apparently never saw slide off coverage of Trey McBride and in front of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (although the pass even with no defender might not have gotten to Harrison.)

Murray finished with 96 yards passing on 7-for-8, and had 9 yards on two scrambles. His second drive ended in a field goal (although the Cardinals couldn’t convert a third-and-1 to force a kick) and the offense got protection for Murray and production from Harrison and tight end Trey McBride.

Wide receiver Greg Dortch fumbled away the opening kickoff and then DeeJay Dallas fumbled on the next kickoff. The Cardinals kept Dallas’ drop; the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes turned Dortch’s into a 13-yard TD drive before Mahomes came out of the game after only three plays.

Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett looked sharp, leading the Cardinals to a touchdown drive right before halftime, finishing with a 1-yard TD strike to Xavier Weaver.

The defense — playing without Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat — was put in a tough spot against Mahomes to open the game, but forced a punt on the Chiefs’ second possession before the substitutions began. Brissett had a second TD pass when running back Emari Demercado took a dump pass and turned it into a 43-yard score.

More to come on azcardinals.com.