Kansas City, MO -- (Sports Network) - Matt Leinart threw for 62 yards and a touchdown as the Arizona Cardinals downed the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-17, in preseason action.

Rookie running back Tim Hightower ran for 28 yards and a touchdown while Tim Castille hauled in four passes for 45 yards and a score for the Cardinals (1-1). Kurt Warner started under center and went 6-for-9 with 54 yards and directed a scoring drive.

Tyler Thigpen went 16-for-27 for 174 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Larry Johnson rushed 14 times for 61 yards for the Chiefs (1-1). Brodie Croyle started at quarterback and went 7-for-13 with 38 yards.

Nick Novak got the only points of the first quarter as his 32-yard field goal gave K.C. a 3-0 lead.

Hightower capped a 13-play, 78-yard drive with a four-yard plunge into the end zone, but the extra-point attempt failed and Connor Barth's 35-yard field goal later in the second made it a 6-6 game at halftime.

Leinart connected with Steve Breaston on a 14-yard score on the Cardinals' first possession off the second half.

Novak countered with a 40-yard field goal, but Castille scored a 24-yard touchdown on a Brian St. Pierre pass to give Arizona a 20-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Dennis Keyes' 84-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Cardinals a 27-9 lead while Thigpen and Sergio Joachim hooked up on a 14-yard score in the final moments of the contest.