The Arizona Cardinals face the Detroit Lions at home at State Farm Stadium Sunday at 1:25 p.m. Arizona time. The Lions are favored in the game but both teams are 1-1 with their only wins coming against the L.A. Rams.
In this game, several matchups will be intriguing to watch.
Which matchups matter and will be fun to watch?
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Lions CB Terrion Arnold
Both are rookies. Both are first-round picks. Both have significant roles on their teams. Get your popcorn. Expect some fun!
Harrison, of course, had four catches for 130 yards and two scores last week against the Rams. Arnold has nine total tackles in two games but has not yet broken up a pass.
Cardinals RT ?? vs. Lions Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson has 5.5 sacks in two games and, including the end of last year’s regular season, has 10.5 in his last five. He had 4.5 alone in the Lions’ loss to Tampa Bay.
Kelvin Beachum would start but has a hamstring injury and is questionable to play. Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck were both elevated from the practice squad. Beachum seems unlikely to play, which likely means that it will be Barton, who has 13 career offensive snaps, will have the task of blocking Hutchinson.
Cardinals CBs Star Thomas, Sean Murphy-Bunting vs. Lions WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams
St. Brown had 11 catches last week against the Bucs. Williams has 200 receiving yards through two games. They will test the Cardinals’ cornerbacks.
Cardinals LBs Kyzir White, Mack Wilson vs. Lions RBs David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs
The Cardinals struggled against Buffalo’s James Cook. They completely shut down the Rams’ Kyren Williams. The Lions have a two-headed attack of Montgomery and Gibbs. Each has over 120 yards through two games.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
