The Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers were in a similar position at the beginning of last season, and they're ... in a similar position again this year. They're both right around third place in tough divisions, and they were both counted out big time before surprising just about everyone with strong play last season.
Chargers vs. Cardinals 2014 game preview: Two overlooked teams square off in opener
Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer led their teams farther than anybody expected a season ago, and the two will square off in their season openers on Monday.
Steve Dykes
Arizona, despite playing in the NFC West, managed 10 wins and was fighting for a playoff spot, threatening to unseat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. San Diego managed just nine wins, but it found a way into the playoffs, giving the AFC West three representatives alongside the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.
The divisions are just as difficult this season, and neither team will be taken lightly by their rivals going forward. It’s arguably a tougher road to the playoffs this time around, but either team can get things started off with a win in Glendale, Ariz. on Monday night.
Let’s take a look at both teams below:
Meet the Cardinals
The Cardinals' defense was as solid as advertised, but they were never supposed to get as far as they did with Carson Palmer at the helm. Just about everybody was convinced he was done, and everybody else was convinced that 2012's offensive line, arguably the worst in the NFL, would not keep Palmer upright long enough to get anything done.
Well, Palmer did end up getting sacked quite a lot, but he also completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 4,274 yards with 24 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. That interception total is definitely high, and it’s something he’ll need to get under control if the Cardinals are to make the playoffs, but he was essentially better than he had any right to be given the circumstances.
There's also running back Andre Ellington, who managed 1,023 yards from scrimmage as a rookie last season. That was with the Cardinals going to great lengths to limit Ellington's touches due to some questions about his durability. He's dealing with an injury though, and at the time of writing, it's unclear if he'll be able to play.
Meet the Chargers
San Diego should be hoping that Ellington won't play -- their defense was a definite weak point last season. The Chargers finished 23rd in the league in total defense, but the pass defense received an upgrade with the addition of cornerback Brandon Flowers this offseason. There's also Dwight Freeney, who appears to be healthy, which is a nice change from last season.
The offensive side of the ball is where the Chargers flourished last season. They managed 393.3 yards per game, putting them at fifth in the league in total offense. Philip Rivers was phenomenal from the quarterback position, completing 69.5 percent of his passes, the best among quarterbacks last season. He threw for 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns, with a 105.5 passer rating.
Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates, Ryan Mathews and all the rest are banking on Rivers to continue his resurgence. He was named the Comeback Player of the Year award last year and if he's even close to being as good as he was a season ago, then the Chargers will be in good shape.
Injuries
The biggest name on the injury report is Ellington for the Cardinals. He was limited in practice with a foot injury on Friday, and the Cardinals aren’t talking about the severity. There’s real concern that he could miss the game or be limited, but without the Cardinals announcing anything, it’s unclear.
The Chargers don’t have many injuries, at least not to big names. Cornerback Jason Verrett and wide receiver Keenan Allen appeared on the injury report throughout the week, but both were full participants in practice and will not have limitations on Monday. Manti Te’o remains a limited participant in practice.
Follow the Fun
Cardinals:
Chargers:
Odds
The Cardinals, the home team, opened up as three-point favorites and that line has been consistent among the top books, according to OddsShark.
Next Week
The Cardinals will hit the road to take on the New York Giants on Sept. 15. The Chargers will play their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on the same day.
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