Entriging Match-Up For Week 11 Prediction For The Cardinals At Home
By Earl Burnett
Sep 15, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) covers Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Week eleven will be the annual Detroit Lions game for the Arizona Cardinals at home at University of Phoenix Stadium, where the game regardless to who is on each team becomes an exciting played game. Last year the Cardinals in week two were a struggling offense but managed to get the win, and the Lions only offense featured Mathew Stafford to Calvin Johnson early in the game.
The Cardinals had some broken coverages that allowed Johnson to get free for two big scores, one for 72 yards and he finished with 6 rec 116 yards and 2 td’s. Then corner-back Patrick Peterson and the defense did a great job shutting down the Lions offense in the second half.
The Cardinals did not muster much on offense themselves as Jim Dray was their leading receiver in this game with five catches for 31 yards, really the tail of two half’s in this one, but the Cards get the 25-21 win.
The 2014 match-up will be different and may be more of a shoot-out than anything, the Cards should be hitting on all cylinders on the front line in protection, and if Carson Palmer is protected there is no way the Lions defense on the outside can stop the speed of the Cardinals.
Look for Antonio Cromartie and Peterson to share the duty of locking up Johnson, and once he is taken out of the game it will be difficult for the Lions to win.
Even with the addition ex-Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate will not mount to much because the Cardinals are excellent on the outside and have speed on defense to stay with the receivers. The Cardinals front on defense will also play a big part in this game in getting pressure on Stafford as they did last year.
This will be an exciting game to watch with all of the big names and potential big plays but when its time to buckle down and lock up the opposing team, then it will be Arizona coming out victorious at home and improving the record to 7-3 on the year.