NFL GAME PREVIEW

Week 11 Preview: Lions at Cardinals

The Sports Xchange

November 13, 2014 at 10:10 am.

Nov 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas (30) is stopped by the Detroit Lions defense during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Detroit won 20-16. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions (7-2) at Arizona Cardinals (8-1)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. – TV: FOX

*TV announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale

*Keys to the game: Arizona’s defensive game plan could be most anything coordinator Todd Bowles believes will confound QB Matt Stafford at the line of scrimmage. Arizona adds something new every game. Last week, Bowles moved CB Antonio Cromartie to outside linebacker, with CB Justin Bethel jumping into the base defense. The Cardinals secondary is deep and has the talent to match up with Detroit’s receivers, including the headliner: CB Patrick Peterson vs. WR Calvin Johnson.

The Cardinals count on a play or two to turn every game on that side of the ball and without QB Carson Palmer, there’s a bit more gravity working against an offense coming off of a season-worst 28 rushing yards. Finding any and all means to keep QB Drew Stanton from getting hit is the ideal plot offensively, but the Cardinals could scrap the jumbo sets that also serve to hold off Detroit’s front four should the Lions get an early two-score lead.

The Cardinals’ run game has been sputtering, and it’s not likely to improve against a tough Lions defense. Testing the Lions’ shaky cornerbacks with WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd can open things for other receivers, as well as RB Andre Ellington.

*Matchup to watch – Cardinals RG Paul Fanaika vs. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh: Fanaika has been decent but no better than that this season. He will get some help against Suh, but Arizona is also worried about DE Ziggy Ansah. The Cardinals have had trouble running the ball consistently, and last week’s 28-yard performance was a season low.

*Player spotlight – Lions RB Theo Riddick: The likely No. 2 back again this week with Reggie Bush limited by an ankle injury, Riddick’s chances will come mostly on third down and in the hurry-up sets Detroit would like to use to test Arizona’s defensive line depth. He caught the game-winning touchdown against the Dolphins last week.

*Fast facts: The Cardinals are tied for the NFL lead with a plus-12 turnover margin and lead the league with 12 fourth-quarter takeaways. … Fitzgerald needs eight yards to reach 12,000 career receiving yards. … The Lions are one of three teams in NFL history to win four consecutive games by scoring in the final two minutes.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

A narrow margin for error is more miniscule with the quarterback change, and Arizona’s sputtering running game runs into the wrong team at the wrong time.

*Our pick: Lions 22-18

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA