NFL Arizona CardinalsDetroit Lions

Predicting The Final Score Of Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals

Fresh Videos

By

Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Patrick Peterson Arizona Cardinals

Getty Images

One of the best games of Week 11 will come Sunday afternoon when the Detroit Lions visit the Arizona Cardinals for a clash of two of the top defenses in the NFL. This will mark the third straight year the Lions have traveled to University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Cardinals have prevailed in each of the previous two meetings.

Perhaps the most intriguing battle of the week will be between Calvin Johnson and Patrick Peterson. Johnson has gotten the best of Peterson lately, hauling in 16 catches for 237 yards and a pair of scores in the last two games against the Cardinals. However, after a slow start to the 2014 season, Peterson recorded his first two interceptions last week against the St. Louis Rams and will certainly be up for the challenge against Megatron.

Johnson has proven that he’s capable of dominating a game against an elite corner, but that doesn’t always translate to wins. Golden Tate filled in well as the number one option while Johnson was injured, and the team will count on Tate to continue to produce against another All-Pro corner in Antonio Cromartie. Tate, who already has experienced his career-best output in receiving yards, can top 1,000 yards for the first time in his career if he can reach 91 yards on Sunday.

On the other side of the ball, Cardinals backup quarterback Drew Stanton will replace Carson Palmer under center after an injury ended the starter’s season. Stanton received three starts earlier this year, while Palmer was sidelined with another injury. He earned  two wins in those games, with his only loss coming against the Denver Broncos. Stanton will have his hands full this week as he will line up across from the league’s best scoring defense, allowing only 15.8 points per game.

This game will come down to whether the Lions are able to find space in the Arizona secondary, which features some of the league’s best defensive backs. The only team that was able to score more than 20 points on the Cardinals’ defense was the Broncos.

The Lions will struggle to score in Arizona, but not as much as the Cardinals will against a Detroit defense that only allows 71.3 rushing yards per game. Detroit will stop the run and dare the backup to beat them through the air. Stanton has only completed 49.5 percent of his passes this year and won’t be able do much more against one of the top pass rushes in the NFL.

In the end, Detroit will find ways to make big plays in a slug-fest that will live up to its billing. The Cardinals’ defense will keep it close, but the Lions will ultimately end Arizona’s five-game winning streak.

Prediction: Lions 21, Cardinals 17

Brenden McLaughlin is a Baltimore Ravens writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @b_maction or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on