Preview: Arizona (2-0) vs. Washington (1-1)
By Scott Allen
When: Sunday September 21, 2008 10:00am
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, MD
TV/Radio: Fox (10)/KTAR-FM 92.3; Sirius Radio 110 (Arizona), Sirius Radio 126 (Washington)
Last week: Arizona defeated Miami 31-10; Washington defeated New Orleans 29-24
Arizona attempts to start 3-0 in a season since 1974. The task will be mighty as the Cardinals head back east for the first of two consecutive games on the east coast. Arizona, who won their road opener in San Francisco, was 2-6 on the road last season, including a loss in Washington 21-19, after kicker Neil Rackers just missed a game winning field goal as time expired.
Washington is 1-1 after losing their opener in New York against the Giants, then coming home last week to defeat New Orleans 29-24, a game that went back and forth for most of the contest. Receiver Santana Moss had 7 catches for 164 yards and running back Clinton Portis carried the ball 21 times for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Key Matchup: Arizona’s offense vs. Washington’s Defense. Kurt Warner most likely will be dodging more defenders this week than he did against the Dolphins last week. Washington defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin had a sack and three tackles against the Saints last week. Although he doesn’t have a sack yet in the first two games, linebacker London Fletcher has been all over the place, recording 24 tackles so far, including 17 in the opener in New York. Warner will have to find his receivers quickly and since the Arizona running game didn’t see the same balance it saw in the 49ers game, look for more of a balanced attack, unless the Redskins get to the Cardinals early again just as they did last season, and force Warner to throw for the better part of the day. I pick against the Cardinals this week, but it’ll be close and could go either way.
Prediction: Washington 28 Arizona 24
Go Cards!
Scott Allen
AZScott