Stiff challenge lies ahead for Arizona Cardinals this Sunday

The Buffalo Bills have the talent to provide the Arizona Cardinals with one of their toughest matchups of the 2020 campaign

No one ever told the Arizona Cardinals it was going to be easy. Any club with playoff aspirations must prove that it can defeat the best opposition that the NFL has to offer. Arizona’s opponent in week 10, the Buffalo Bills, absolutely deserves to be a part of the league’s upper echelon.

The Bills, led by head coach Sean McDermott, will bring a 7-2 won-loss record with them when they visit State Farm Stadium this weekend. Buffalo has a two-game lead over the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East division, and a commanding four-contest advantage over the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots. How has McDermott’s squad soared to such impressive heights in 2020?

Most of the praise should go to Josh Allen, the Bills dual-threat quarterback. In nine starts this season, the 24-year old has completed 68.9% of his passes for 2,587 yards and 19 touchdowns. Allen has also served up just five interceptions, and his completion percentage is a full 10 points higher than it was in 2019.

Allen can also do extensive damage to opposing defenses with his legs. In 37 career appearances (36 starts), the seventh-overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has rushed for 1,382 yards and 22 scores. Allen’s outstanding size (6’5, 237) and strength make him a handful to bring down for any defender who attempts to do so.

During the offseason, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane supplied Allen with a top-flight wide receiver to throw to. Stefon Diggs, a former fifth-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings, was acquired back in March. The Bills gave up four draft selections (including a first-rounder) in the trade that added the 26-year old Diggs to their scoring attack.

Buffalo has a couple of other productive wideouts as well. Cole Beasley, a former member of the Dallas Cowboys, came to the team as a free agent last year. John “Smoke” Brown, an old friend of the Cardinals organization, came to the Bills as a free agent in ’19 as well.

On defense, Buffalo is led by safety Jordan Poyer, who has recorded 79 tackles, two sacks and an interception in his nine starts. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has registered 63 tackles and a sack in the eight games he has dressed for. The Bills pass rush features defensive ends Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison, who have been credited with four sacks each.

It certainly appears that the Cards are going to have their hands full this Sunday. If Kliff Kingsbury‘s crew want to get into the postseason, victories over talented foes like the Bills are a must. It’s another nail-biter for Arizona’s fans, but the home team prevails by a score of 34-33.