The Arizona Cardinals will host the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium Sunday afternoon in Week 3. The Cardinals have not beaten the Lions since 2015, going 0-4-1 against them since then and haven’t beaten their starting quarterback, Jared Goff, since his rookie season in 2016.
The Lions and Cardinals are both 1-1 on the season. Both have beaten the Los Angeles Rams.
To prepare for this game, Lions Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon answers a few questions about the Lions to take us behind enemy lines and preview the game. You can also catch him with me on the podcast.
Detroit’s offense and defense
What do we know about the Lions so far after two games offensively and defensively?
The offense has been very effective at moving the ball, but has not been good at converting all those yards into points. Detroit has a top-five overall offense in nearly every statistical metric except scoring, where they’re 16th after two games and 28th in red zone efficiency. It’s very close to being great, but OC Ben Johnson’s play-calling and situational awareness has not been good thus far.
Defensively, Detroit has been very good at rushing the passer. Or should I say, Aidan Hutchinson has been great and gets some help from Levi Onwuzurike and Marcus Davenport (who will play). The team tackles in space well, and the man coverage from the revamped secondary has looked pretty good. They’ve vulnerable in zone coverage and to quarterbacks that can tuck and run, though the Detroit defense is still elite at stopping opposing running backs on the ground.
DE Aidan Hutchinson
Is there any stopping Aidan Hutchinson? What has led to his increased production?
Hutchinson was trending upward all offseason, enough that he was a viable Defensive Player of the Year candidate entering the year. Watching him get win after win in practice reps against All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell was incredibly encouraging, and that was more about Hutchinson rising up than any issues with Sewell.
Hutch has improved the timing of his moves, notably with his power-to-speed. He’s become a complete and versatile talent in his third season, capable of winning inside or out, with speed or power. There’s a fresh and intense confidence to him that the great ones have, and Hutchinson didn’t necessarily have that before.
Jameson Williams
What have the early big numbers for Jameson Williams meant so far? Do you think it will continue?
“Jamo” has matured as a football player so much. The Lions desperately needed him to step into the No. 2 WR role and he has risen to the challenge. His downfield speed has always been ridiculous, but now he’s tracking the ball better and coordinating his feet and length better in his routes. It’s created mismatches and big plays for the Lions offense outside of the way Jared Goff thrived a year ago.
In the first two weeks, the opposing defenses focused on taking away Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams emerging as a real threat has impacted the attention defenses can pay to those guys.
Key matchups
Which matchups are you most excited to see on Sunday? Which give you the most concern?
The rookie duel between Terrion Arnold and Marvin Harrison Jr. should be worth the price of admission. Arnold has been very good in man coverage and has the physicality and mentality to match Harrison, who has also looked fantastic. May the best rookie win.
I’m curious how the Cardinals pass rushers fare against Sewell and Taylor Decker, one of the best tackle tandems in the league. Dennis Gardeck is dangerous with his size (or lack thereof) and the shorter rushers have typically been the ones who give Decker some trouble at left tackle.
From a personal standpoint, I’m anxious to see what Starling Thomas can offer. He nearly made the Lions as a UDFA last year before the Cardinals snagged him. The drafted rookie DBs in Arizona were both guys I know the Lions looked at during the draft process, so I want to see those guys go up against a creative, aggressive Lions offense.
Predictions
Who wins this game? How?
I think this is a “get-right” game for the Lions offense, which has moved the ball at will but fizzled badly in the red zone. I do think the Cardinals offense will be able to keep pace pretty well, but David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, et. al are just a little too much. Lions 35, Cardinals 31
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