Winning this Sunday would earn Arizona Cardinals respect
By Jim Koch
Beating a formidable foe like the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend could help the Arizona Cardinals get the NFL’s attention
If you want to know how far the Arizona Cardinals have fallen, just glance at the point spread for their matchup this weekend. Head coach Steve Wilks’ squad is an embarrassing 17-point underdog to the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs. Which basically means that the oddsmakers have given the Cardinals very little chance of winning the contest.
The eight and one Chiefs, led by head coach Andy Reid, are the current leaders of the AFC West. Their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is well on his way to a Pro Bowl berth in just his second professional season. The Cards had reportedly coveted the young gunslinger during last year’s draft, before Kansas City stole him away.
What a pity. No disrespect to Arizona signal-caller Josh Rosen, but Mahomes is lighting the league on fire. With seven games still to play, the 6’3, 230 pounder has already thrown for 2,901 yards and 29 touchdowns.
The Chiefs’ rushing attack, led by second-year back Kareem Hunt, has also been a nightmare for opposing defenses. The third-round draft pick out of the University of Toledo has totalled 683 yards on the ground, with seven scores. Hunt has also hauled in 21 passes for 312 yards, with an additional six touchdowns through the air.
Wide receiver/running back/punt returner Tyreek Hill has developed into the NFL’s ultimate weapon. Travis Kelce is arguably the best tight end in football, although fans of the New England Patriots’ would say that the title still belongs to Rob Gronkowski. Wideout Sammy Watkins, in his first year with Kansas City, has contributed 39 catches for 515 yards and three scores in 2018.
The Chiefs’ Achilles heel during the current campaign has been their defense. The unit is ranked 31st-overall, and is giving up a whopping 427.4 yards per matchup. Coordinator Bob Sutton’s defensive backfield is allowing 302.7 yards per game through the air, a statistic that bodes well for Rosen and the rest of the Cardinals’ passing attack.
Next. Arizona Cardinals could have trouble with Chiefs. dark
That fact aside, the Cards’ chances of coming out of this one with a victory are extremely slim. The incredibly long odds would make winning that much sweeter, however. In the wild, unpredictable world of the National Football League, crazier things have happened.