Arizona Cardinals Regular-Season Predictions: Week One
By Earl Burnett
Aug. 24, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith (29) against the San Diego Chargers during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals in week one face the San Diego Chargers and this game will be played on Monday Night Football as the second of two games.
The Chargers coming into the game with a new offense for quarterback Phillip Rivers, their offense will look like the style of their new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Reich was the position coach for the Indianapolis Colts when a certain Peyton Manning was the quarterback.
This match-up will be the Cardinals verses the old Colts offense as the Chargers will be running the same heavy no-huddle scheme the colts ran years ago with Manning.
So the game will feature the Chargers receivers against the Cardinals secondary, who may be short-handed without Tyrann Mathieu and of course without linebacker Daryl Washington.
Will Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie be able to keep up with the likes of the Chargers wide-outs; Keenan Allen in his second season will be the featured guy and will cause some issues with speed. Look for Peterson to match up with the second year man through the entire game.
If the Cardinals secondary can cover the back end and the patched up linebacker position can cover short routes the Cardinals will be able to keep this offense under control, that being easier said than done of course. Also can rookie Deone Bucannon be ready to face a high octane attack on his first night of action in the NFL?
Pressure may not be a factor as Rivers will have quick hitting routes trying to set up the long ones, linebackers will be the main difference in this game covering Antonio Gates, but the Cards offense may also have to match the Chargers score for score.
The advantage in this game will probably go to the Cardinals simply because the Chargers are running their new offense for the first time and it may not look as fluid in the first few weeks. The Cardinals will have the home crowd on their side as they have proven to be a good home team over the years.
Also the Cardinals may be more polished on offense and have way more speed than the Chargers defense, this will be a high scoring affair and the Cardinals will open their season (1-0) getting the close shoot out win at home.