Arizona Cardinals vs Indianapolis Colts: TV/Radio, preview, prediction

The Arizona Cardinals are back on the road in week two to take on the Indianapolis Colts in week two of the 2017 season

Week one didn’t go as planned for the Arizona Cardinals in a 35-23 loss at the Detroit Lions. Now the Cardinals go to Indianapolis to take on a depleted Colts team.

The Cardinals suffered some injuries in their week one game that will deplete their attack as well. Running back David Johnson is out eight to 12 weeks. Right tackle D.J. Humphries is out this week and it likely will be longer.

Tight end Jermaine Gresham is hurting. So much so that they signed Jim Dray this week to the roster and had to release linebacker Philip Wheeler.

This week they face a Colts team without defensive backs Darius Butler and Vontae Davis and without their quarterback Andrew Luck. Jacoby Brissett will get the start for the Colts at quarterback.

Both teams come in a 0-1. The Colts lost to the Los Angeles Rams 46-9 in week one. Against most other teams, you’d say the Cardinals are at the disadvantage but this week appears it is the other way around.

TV/Radio

TV: FOX10 (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston)

Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Dave Pasch, Ron Wolfley, Paul Calvisi); Sirius/XM Internet 800

Cardinals radio broadcast network:

KATO, 1230 AM, Thatcher
KAZM, 780 AM, Sedona
KNTR, 980 AM, Lake Havasu
KDDL/KQNA, 94.3 FM, Prescott Valley
KVNA, 600 AM, Flagstaff
KZUA, 92.1 FM, Holbrook
KBLU, 560 AM, Yuma
KRVZ, 1400 AM, Springerville
KIKO, 1340 AM, Miami
KCUB, 1290 AM, Tucson
KGMN,100.1 FM, Kingman

Key players/matchups

Arizona: They need to get off to a better start offensively than they did in week one, especially against a defense that is hurting. The Cardinals defense played strong for three quarters before getting tired and routed in the fourth quarter.

Cardinals receiver John Brown and guard Mike Iupati are also out this week. That won’t help the running game or the passing game. Quarterback Carson Palmer must also play better and he will be the first player to tell you that.

They can not afford to give the ball away on the road like they did last week. All eyes will be on this offense with Kerwynn Williams starting in place of Johnson. Chris Johnson also returns and will likely see some carries along with Andre Ellington.

Indianapolis: They gave up 46 points….to the Rams. That should say everything as to the current state of the Colts. Now this game will be at home for the Colts so don’t be disappointed to see a closer game.

Brissett has only been with the Colts for a couple of weeks. He had some nice moments with the New England Patriots last season but the surrounding cast is a little different this time.

He has T.Y. Hilton as his top receiver so the Cardinals will have their hands full with him. Brissett is also a danger to run with the ball.

Matchups to watch: Without Butler and Davis in the Colts secondary, watch for the Cardinals receivers to have a good day, even without John Brown, who is out with a quadricep injury.

Bruce Arians vs Chuck Pagano. The friends will face each other for the second time since Arians came to Arizona. This time a Cardinals win may just further put the nail in the coffin of Pagano’s Colts career.

Prediction

The Arizona Cardinals are desperate. For at least a week silences the critics, though just for a week because we aren’t sure how much a win is a litmus test for the rest of the season.

A loss will say a lot more about these Cardinals. The Colts are at home where they should play better than they did last week in Los Angeles. The Cardinals probably won’t be flawless on Sunday but should be good enough to win.

Cardinals 24 Colts 16

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