What to watch for in Arizona Cardinals season finale

D-Hop versus Jalen

We’re looking at the most interesting one-on-one matchup of the afternoon when one of the NFL’s best receivers stacks up against one of the NFL’s best and brash corners in Jalen Ramsey. The last time these two met, you can call it a draw. Hopkins had a decent game but amassed just 52 receiving yards. The Cardinals need to get Hopkins to stretch the field.

You can say Jalen’s having an off-year, with just 1 pick and 5 pass deflections. But sometimes blatant numbers lie, and it’s the case with Ramsey. Consider the following.

Ramsey has also allowed just 32 completions on 62 targets in 14 games started in 2020. He’s allowing a 51.6 completion percentage, 311 yards, 5.0 yards per target, 9.7 yards per reception, and a 70.0 passer rating. All career bests. So while Ramsey isn’t making plays and creating turnovers, he’s shutting down opposing receivers.

Hopkins is a different story. He has caught 111 out of 150 targets in 15 games, for a 74 percent catch percentage. He has had 509 yards after the catch, 4.6 yards after the catch per reception, has 15 broken tackles, and 7.4 catches per broken tackles, all career-bests.

You’re about to see, barring anything unforeseen like injuries, COVID, etc., a battle of the league’s best at their positions going head to head in Sunday’s matchup. And it may become a deciding factor in the game.