Game Preview: Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints
Aug 5, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive line lines up against New Orleans Saints offensive line during the first quarter of a preseason game at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona (1-1, 0-1 away) at New Orleans (2-0,1-0 home)
Time: 1:00pm ET, September 22, 2013
Coverage: FOX
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
The Arizona Cardinals are looking to keep their winning ways going coming off last week’s win over the Detroit Lions 25-21. The Cards are taking a trip to “Who Dat?” nation in search of their first road win. The New Orleans Saints are 2-0 to start the season most recently beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-14.
The injury bug has bitten the Arizona Cardinals, however wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, running back Rashard Mendenhall and tight end Rob Housler are expected to play. Fitzgerald and Mendenhall missed practice days this week with hamstring and toe injuries respectively. The two have accounted for a combined total 271 yards for the Red Birds’ offense. Housler missed the first two weeks of the season with an ankle sprain.
The Saints are attempting to go 3-0 for the first time since their 2009 Super Bowl winning season. New Orleans ranks fifth overall in the league for passing yards. Quarterback Drew Brees has completed 52 of 81 pass attempts for 679 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target, tight end Jimmy Graham has caught 14 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Despite their impressive air attack, the Saints have converted only seven red-zone chances into touchdowns. That conversion rate of 14.3 percent ranks them last in the NFL.
Arizona defense ranks 21st against the pass and second against the run and have recorded only one interception and one sack. Their task does not get any easier this week in facing Drew Brees. The Dirty Birds allowed Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and St. Louis’ Sam Bradford to complete 68.9 percent of their passed for 577 yards and four touchdowns.
The last meeting between these two teams resulted in a 30-20 Arizona victory in 2010.