Three keys to victory for the Arizona Cardinals in week twelve
By Sion Fawkes
Contain Cam Newton
Cam Newton remains a legitimate dual-threat and he has proven it with his 9 rushing touchdowns. And don’t let his passing touchdown-to-interception ratio fool you. It’s ugly, but Newton has remained an accurate quarterback who has completed nearly 69 percent of his passes for 1,900 yards.
The Cardinals pass rush can’t underestimate Newton’s throwing ability and they definitely can’t underestimate his ability to sneak by and pick up yards with his legs. The Cardinals own one of the league’s most aggressive pass rushes, calling blitz packages 40.3 percent of the time and they have the sack numbers to show for it with 25 on the season. Nothing spectacular, but enough to put opponents on edge.
And the Cardinals have the manpower to make life miserable for Newton, even if they have struggled to stay healthy on the defensive line. Their outside pass rush can make up for the lack of experience up front with the absence of some of their best defensive linemen to get a push.
Haason Reddick, Markus Golden, Devon Kennard, and Dennis Gardeck have all contributed, with Reddick putting together a stellar 2020 season. And with utility Isaiah Simmons coming along and turning into a playmaker the Cardinals thought they were drafting back in April, this is a battle the Cardinals can win. And win it they must if they hope to keep Newton contained.