Patrick Peterson Will Be X-Factor For Arizona Cardinals In Week 8

By Rick Stavig @rickstavig on October 23, 2014

Week 8 in the NFL will feature a key matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles in what could be a playoff preview between the two teams. The Cards sit at 5-1, good for the lead in the NFC West while the Birds also sit at 5-1, putting them a half game back in the NFC East. It’s no secret the Eagles can move the ball, and it’s well known the Cards can stifle even the strongest of run games. But when it comes to defending the pass, it’s a different story. This is exactly why CB Patrick Peterson is the x-factor for the Cardinals this week against the Eagles.

Peterson is arguably the most physically gifted CB in the NFL. You could even make the case he just might be the best overall athlete in the entire league. As such, he’s being compensated like one of the best in the league after signing a gigantic 7-year, $83 million dollar contract with just under $50 million guaranteed. Utterly astronomical numbers for someone who isn’t an elite QB.

But from the Cardinals perspective, it’s a passing league and you need as many top flight cover corners as you can to defend against the bevy of high powered passing attacks prominently featured in the NFL, and Peterson had shown he was elite in both coverage and in the return game. It’s not like you can just go to the store and pick up an 24-year old elite cover corner just entering his prime. Did they overpay? Of course. Did they have much of a choice? Not really.

The only problem, however, is that Peterson has done nothing since signing that fat contract to prove he’s worthy of such astronomical figures. Through six games he’s put up 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD and that’s it folks. He’s given up 4 TD’s while picking off none. He’s allowed a 124.9 passer rating against him, which is one of the worst in the entire league. He himself has even acknowledged his play needs to improve after getting torched by DeSean Jackson for a 64-yard TD a few weeks ago.

With Peterson playing at a subpar level, the Cards pass defense has been getting lit up. As of now the Cards are giving up more than 284 passing yards per game, good for second to last in the NFL. Yes, there is something to be said for the fact that opponents are passing more against them because they’re often times down early on and are trying to work their way back up, but it takes about one series of game tape to see it’s still a huge weakness for this defense.

Now they face the Eagles, who are 7th in the league in passing yards per game with 262 and are loaded with receiving options. Their primary option has been Jeremy Maclin, who’s having a breakout seasons with 27 receptions for 445 yards and 4 TD’s, good for an impressive 16.5 yard average. The dude literally hasn’t dropped a single pass all year long.

Peterson needs to have a big game this week if he wants to improve the chances the Cards come out with a big home win. I’m not saying Peterson needs to bust out multiple INT’s to ‘win’ this matchup, but he absolutely cannot give up any big plays. The two matchup well from a size/speed standpoint, and Eagles QB Nick Foles has been unusually inaccurate this year so Peterson will have his chances to make a big play, but he can’t play too it too risky.

Rick Stavig is an NFL Draft Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @rickstavig or add him to your network on Google+.