3 Key Matchups for the Arizona Cardinals vs Chiefs – Week 1
By Sion Fawkes
The Arizona Cardinals season opener is fast approaching. Here are three key matchups to watch heading into the Week 1 contest.
The Arizona Cardinals face a tall task as they square off against the Kansas City Chiefs. Right now, the Cardinals are dealing with injuries and are notoriously thin at corner, with Byron Murphy slotted in as the only established player in the defensive backfield.
To beat Patrick Mahomes, however, you need to do more than just contain his top targets; you also need to pressure him often. Therefore, it is no surprise that the three key matchups below involve the Cardinals defense against some of the Chiefs best offensive puzzle pieces. Let’s check them out.
Arizona Cardinals vs Chiefs Key Matchups: Week 1 – JuJu Smith-Schuster vs Byron Murphy
Smith-Schuster has dealt with injuries, but he should be ready to go by Sunday. And while he had an up-and-down career during his first five seasons in the league, we also know Smith-Schuster can take over games. And if left unchecked, he will be the most dangerous pass-catcher on the field next to Travis Kelce.
This leaves Byron Murphy with the challenge of holding Smich-Schuster in check and taking away a player who may evolve into one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ favorite targets. While Smith-Schuster can be a playmaker, Murphy has improved with each passing season since he entered the league in 2019.
In 2021, Murphy and the Cardinals secondary were especially effective. He held opposing quarterbacks to just an 87.6 passer rating and allowed a 65.3% completion percentage. Despite his smaller size, Murphy has also shown over the past two seasons he is not afraid to get physical, and expect him to display that physicality come Sunday.