Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
Sunday, November 16, 2014, 4:25 pm Eastern, TV: Fox, NFL Sunday Ticket
Opening Line: Arizona -1
Current Line: Arizona pick
Opening Total: 41 1/2
Current Total: 41 1/2
Opening Money Line: Cardinals -130 / Lions +110
Current Money Line: Cardinals -115 / Lions -105
Four of the six NFC teams with 3 losses or less meet Sunday. The 6-3 Green Bay Packers host the 7-2 Philadelphia Eagles while the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals host the 7-2 Detroit Lions. We should have a better understanding of the power structure in the NFC after today.
Arizona has the best record in football and leads the NFC West by two games over the Seattle Seahawks. Detroit leads the NFC North by a game over Green Bay. Right now Detroit and Arizona would be the top two seeds in the NFC but there is still a long way to go before that happens.
Since 2001, Arizona leads the series 7-3 against Detroit. The Cardinals have won 5 straight games in the series dating back to 2006. This is the third straight season Detroit and Arizona have played in Glendale. The Cardinals won last year 25-21 at home in a mid-September game.
Detroit is coached by Jim Caldwell. Detroit has losses at the Carolina Panthers 24-7 and at home to the Buffalo Bills 17-14. The Lions have home wins over the New York Giants 35-14, the Packers 19-7, New Orleans Saints 24-23 and last week against the Miami Dolphins 20-16. Detroit also has road wins at the New York Jets 24-17, Minnesota Vikings 17-3 and against the Atlanta Falcons 22-21 in London. Detroit has won 4 straight games. The Lions are 5-4 ATS and the total is 2-7 this season. Detroit was a 3 point favorite against the Dolphins and the total was 43.
Arizona is coached by Bruce Arians. The only loss for the Cardinals came at the Denver Broncos 41-20. Arizona has won 5 straight games since that game. The Cardinals have home wins over the San Diego Chargers 18-17, San Francisco 49ers 23-14, Washington Redskins 30-20, Eagles 24-20 and last week against the St. Louis Rams 31-14. Arizona also has road wins at the New York Giants 25-14, Oakland Raiders 24-13 and the Dallas Cowboys 28-17. The Cardinals are 7-2 ATS and the total is 3-5-1 this season. Arizona was a 7 point favorite against St. Louis and the total was 43.
For years, the Detroit Lions were known for having an explosive offense and a so-so defense at best. This year the script has been flipped as the Lions are struggling to move the ball and have a dominant defense. Detroit is outscoring teams 20-16 this season. The Lions are #23 in scoring and #1 in points allowed. Detroit is averaging 340 yards per game including 262 passing and 78 rushing yards per game. The Lions are #19 in total offense, #9 in passing and #31 in rushing. On defense, Detroit leads the league in total defense allowing 283 yards per game including 212 passing and 71 rushing yards. The Lions are #3 in pass defense and #2 in rush defense. Detroit is 57/136 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 40/121. Detroit has allowed 27 sacks and forced 26 this season. The Lions are +2 in turnovers. Detroit has 2 defensive touchdowns this season.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 61.4% of his passes for 2,496 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, along with 2 rushing touchdowns. Running back Joique Bell has 108 carries for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 17 catches for 174 yards. Reggie Bush has 53 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown, plus 26 catches for 169 yards. Bush is out with a nagging ankle injury that has cost him several games this season. Receiver Golden Tate has 66 catches for 909 yards and 3 touchdowns. Calvin Johnson has 29 catches for 461 yards and 3 touchdowns, despite missing three games with an ankle injury. He returned last week against Miami and is not listed on the injury report. Tight ends Brandon Pettigrew, Joseph Fauria, and Eric Ebron have all missed the last few games, but Ebron and Pettigrew are expected to return against Arizona. Fauria is still questionable. Six defensive players and three offensive linemen are listed as questionable or out.
Arizona is outscoring teams 25-19 this season. The Cardinals are #5 in points allowed and #12 in scoring. Arizona is averaging 331 yards per game on offense including 247 passing and 84 rushing yards per game. The Cardinals are #23 in total offense and #29 in rushing. On defense, Arizona is allowing 353 yards per game including 274 passing and 79 rushing yards per game. The Cardinals are #30 in pass defense and #3 in rush defense. Arizona is 62/137 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 48/126. The Cardinals have forced 14 sacks and allowed 16 this season. Arizona is +12 in turnovers. The Cardinals have three defensive and and one special teams touchdowns and have allowed a defensive touchdown.
What has made the Cardinals’ great start even more remarkable is the fact that Arizona has used 3 quarterbacks this season. Carson Palmer missed three games with a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder. He was replaced by Drew Stanton. Even rookie Logan Thomas took some snaps against the Broncos when Stanton was injured. palmer tore his ACL last week against the Rams and is out for the season. Stanton will start for the rest of the season. Palmer started the last 5 games before the injury. He has completed 62.9% of his passes for 1,626 yards with 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Stanton has thrown for 614 yards with 3 touchdowns. Thomas was only 1/8 against the Broncos but the one completion was an 81 yard touchdown pass.
Running back Andre Ellington has 167 carries for 582 yards with 3 touchdowns, plus 37 catches for 332 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is probable with a foot injury. Jonathan Dwyer will also get a few carries. Running back Stepfan Taylor is probable with a calf injury. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald has 44 catches for 625 yards and 2 touchdowns. Michael Floyd has 24 catches for 400 yards and 2 touchdowns. John Brown has 29 catches for 399 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tight end John Carlson has 20 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. Seven defensive players are questionable to out for the Cardinals including 5 linebackers.
Detroit is 10-22-1 ATS in November, 2-5 against teams with winning home records, against teams with winning records, and in road games, 2-7 after a cover, 1-4 in week #11 and 0-4 on grass. The over is 8-2 in this series recently.
Arizona is 4-0 ATS at home, after a straight up win, after a cover, in November and on grass, 8-2 after allowing less than 90 rushing yards, 11-3 after rushing for less than 90 yards, 16-5 against NFC teams, 6-2 after passing for more than 250 yards, 19-7 overall, 5-2 against teams with winning records and after allowing 15 points or less, and 2-5 after a straight up win of 14 points or more. The home team is 10-1 ATS in this series recently. The Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in the last five games against the Lions, and 6-0 ATS at home in the series recently.
It is amazing how Arizona is doing what they are doing. They have battled numerous injuries, especially on defense. The pass defense is terrible and they can’t really run the ball well but they keep winning. This is a testament to Bruce Arians who has a very good shot of winning his second NFL coach of the year award. Detroit has also battled injuries and has been successful because of their defense. The Lions are starting to get their weapons back on offense. I think Detroit finds a way to pull off the tough road upset in a close game.
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