When you think of NFC home-field advantage and the teams usually vying for it, the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals are normally pretty far down the list. In fact, the last team either team had a postseason bye week since the NFL-AFL merger was 1991, when Detroit (7-2) went to the NFC Championship Game. Arizona (8-1) has never had a bye in the postseason, but could take a massive step toward one with a win over the Lions.
Lions vs. Cardinals 2014: 3 things to watch
Perhaps the most underrated game of the week, Arizona and Detroit battle for the NFC’s top spot.
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona has a terrific defense, led by coordinator Todd Bowles. Bowles, who was signed this week to a three-year contract extension, is the most aggressive play-caller in the NFL, blitzing more frequently than any team in the NFL. Without any standout pass-rusher, the Cardinals get a litany of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. While the blitzes have only resulted in 14 sacks, 27th in the league, they have forced an NFL-best 14 interceptions.
Detroit's Matthew Stafford will be trying to avoid those costly errors, and has a bevy of options to hit with quick passes. With Calvin Johnson fully recovered from a problematic ankle, the Lions have two dynamic weapons on the outside with Golden Tate proving to be one of the best pickups this offseason. Tate has 66 catches and 909 yards, leading the team in both categories. With Reggie Bush likely out this week, Joique Bell will get the workload out of the backfield.
1. Drew Stanton
Stanton is the Cardinals quarterback from here on out after Carson Palmer tore his ACL last week against the St. Louis Rams. Stanton started three games earlier this season and went 2-1, but has only completed 49.5 percent of his passes. He will be challenged right away by a Lions unit that has the third-ranked pass defense in the league, allowing only 212 yards per game. Detroit doesn't have any All-Pro corners, but relies instead on an excellent pass rush led by Ndamukong Suh and Ziggy Ansah.
Stanton has one of the most talented receiving groups at his disposal between John Brown, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. The question is whether Stanton can make all the throws necessary. When Palmer went down with the injury, head coach Bruce Arians immediately proclaimed to Sports Illustrated's Peter King that Stanton could win Arizona the Super Bowl. We will begin to find out on Sunday whether that statement is false bravado or one that could go down in history.
2. Calvin Johnson vs. Antonio Cromartie
This should be a terrific matchup. Cromartie is one of the longer, more physical corners in the game today. Johnson is even more massive, outweighing Cromartie by 26 pounds while having three inches on him. Johnson returned last week after missing three games and lit up the Miami Dolphins, going for seven receptions, 113 yards and a touchdown. With Arizona being so blitz-happy, Stafford will likely look to Johnson on quick throws such as slants and curls. It will be interesting to see if Detroit tries to max-protect occasionally in order to spring Johnson on a deep route.
Cromartie has been exceptional in his first year with the Cardinals after coming over from the New York Jets. The 30-year-old in his ninth season out of Florida State has three interceptions this season, giving him 31 for his career. With Patrick Peterson on the other side, Cromartie gets ample opportunity for those picks with teams trying to stay away from the game-breaking ability Peterson possesses.
Play Fanduel, Win big money
3. Arizona’s playcalling
Does Arians call the game the same way with Stanton under center as he would if Palmer was there? The Cardinals have been a very aggressive offense this season and one reason is Palmer’s ability to throw the deep ball. With the trio of receivers on Arizona’s roster, few teams are more suited to go for a major gain more often. The question is whether Arians believes that Stanton can make those same plays.
If last week is any indication, Arians will keep the good times rolling. Stanton came in for Palmer in the fourth quarter and unloaded a bomb to Brown, which ultimately proved to be the game-winning score. If Stanton can make those throws on a consistent basis, maybe the loss of Palmer doesn’t derail the Cardinals and their hopes of a Super Bowl run.
See More:
