Now let’s take a look and breakdown the team’s defenses for Sunday’s showdown.

Arizona Cardinals:
The Cards come into the game with the #14 ranked defense in the league. They are ranked 3rd with 32 takeaways on the season and still allow less than 100 yards per game rushing. In 13 games they have only allowed two 100 yard rushers and have forced opponents to go 3-and-out 38 times, good enough for 8th in the league. But the thinnest part of the defense is secondary, where starters Eric Green and Adrian Wilson have been lost for the season due to injury. Wilson’s injury has been near catastrophic for the team because so much of what this unit does on defense revolves around him and his abilities. Safety Oliver Celestin is a solid back up, but that’s what he is, a back up. He has not been solid in pass coverage over the last three games and the Cards gave up four passing TDs to the Seahawks last weekend, as they were unable to cover Seattle’s receivers one-on-one. DT Darnell Dockett has been quiet as of late, going 5 games without a sack after recording 8 sacks during the first eight games this season. Dockett needs to have a big day this weekend along with fellow D-Line standout Antonio Smith and get some pressure on Drew Brees. Cards Def Coordinator Clancy Pendergast is a wizard when it comes to creative blitz schemes, and I would look for stud LB Karlos Dansby to be dialed up to bring some added pressure.

Bottom Line: The Saints are going to air it out against our secondary, and we need to get pressure and cause some turnovers if we want the W.

New Orleans Saints:
The Saints come into Sunday’s contest with the #19 ranked defense in the league. They have been outstanding against the run (#7 overall) but exceptionally poor against the pass (#24 overall). They lead the league in giving up plays over 20 yards and opposing QBs are averaging a QB rating of 94.1 against their secondary, with CB Jason David leading the way enroute to his new nickname of TOASTY. But the main reason that the opposing QBs can post such great numbers against the Saints is not entirely the fault of the Secondary. New Orleans has only garnered 25 sacks on the year, which is good enough for a #22 ranking in the league. Without any consistent pressure, their secondary has been picked apart. DT Charles Grant & DE Will Smith have done well in the run game, but been less effective getting penetration passed the line of scrimmage.

Bottom Line: I don’t anticipate anything really different. They will look to stuff Edge and the run, trying to make us win the game through the air and hoping for another 5 INT performance from Kurt.

A final look at the special teams coming at you later today, GO CARDS!!

Mike Duggan
AZCardsfan4life