The start of NFL season has been rocky for the Tennessee Titans as the team’s offense stumbled in the first game on Sunday. The Arizona Cardinals thrashed the Titans 38-13 despite having penalty issues again.

The lead was 10-0 at the end of the first quarter, which went to 24-6 in the second and 38-13 in the third before settling at the final score.

The Titans added seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones during the offseason to an offense that already has AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Derrick Henry and Pro Bowl receiver AJ Brown. Yet Tennessee went three-and-out on its opening series, then Chandler Jones sacked Ryan Tannehill and stripped him of the ball on the second play of the next drive.

Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury already used two of his timeouts in the first quarter, and the Cardinals had four penalties for 29 yards. Tennessee held Arizona and Kyler Murray to a Matt Prater field goal on its opening series after having first-and-goal at the 9.

Corey Peters recovered the Tannehill fumble and was ruled down inside the 1. Murray hit DeAndre Hopkins for a 5-yard touchdown pass after another penalty for a 10-0 lead.

Also read: NFL: Los Angeles Chargers make a flying start, Washington claw back

Chandler Jones, the Cardinals outside linebacker has sacked Ryan Tannehill three times in the first quarter and stripped Tannehill of the ball to set up Arizona’s lone touchdown. Jones has been beating Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan easily in Lewan’s first game back since tearing his right ACL in the middle of October last season.

The Cardinals widened the gap between the teams to 38-13 by the end of the third quarter. No team could break the other’s defence in the fourth quarter.

(With AP inputs)