Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks will be X-Factor in Week 3

The Arizona Cardinals are facing a Rams passing unit that can be one of the NFL’s most dangerous, and also the most mistake-prone. 

Through two weeks, the Arizona Cardinals defensive backfield logged exactly zero interceptions, but in Week 3, they will face the NFL’s most turnover-prone quarterback through the first two weeks in Matthew Stafford. Of course, Stafford and his dynamic receiving unit can grow hot at any time, but the Cardinals corners have an opportunity to be game changers in this one.

One piece of good news is that Byron Murphy held one of the NFL’s greatest receivers in check last Sunday. More good news on the corners front pertains to Trayvon Mullen, who the Cardinals should have back this week. The corner remains on the injury report, but he was full-go during Wednesday’s practice.

Arizona Cardinals corners will be X-Factors in Week 3

Getting Mullen back this week will be huge. Marco Wilson, who filled in for Mullen in the season’s first two weeks, currently has a PFF rating of 38.1, 100th out of 103 eligible corners. While Murphy’s rating sits at just 66.5, he fared much better than his grade and even advanced statistics (105.9 quarterback rating) show.

If Murphy comes back and plays Cooper Kupp the same way he played Adams, look for him to force Stafford to look elsewhere. A healthy Trayvon Mullen will help the Cardinals far more than Marco Wilson has done this season, and he could even force Stafford to test safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson.

So far, the Cardinals corners and entire defensive backfield have enjoyed one solid performance, and toiled through one abysmal performance. If they get Mullen back in Week 3, look for another dose of solid play from a group that made several clutch plays last week against one of the NFL’s best passing units.

If they make it two weeks in a row, the Cardinals can easily sit atop the NFC West at 2-1, carrying hordes of momentum halfway through DeAndre Hopkins’ suspension. And it could set the stage for something great when Hopkins returns.

(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)