Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports
Kyler Murray and Improving Cardinals Next Obstacle in Saints Path
Seeking what would be their 6th consecutive victory, the (6-1) New Orleans Saints return home to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this coming Sunday afternoon to face the (3-3-1) Arizona Cardinals. The game is scheduled for a 12:00 PM CST noon kickoff and televised regionally by FOX affiliates. The New Orleans broadcast will be on Fox Channel 8, WVUE-TV.
As of the moment, there is a possibility that Saints starting QB Drew Brees — who has missed the last five games that the Black and Gold have had while he recovers from recent surgery from a torn thumb ligament on his right throwing hand — could see action in this contest. That determination however won't be made until later in the week.
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The expectation is that back-up #2 Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater will once again start under center for New Orleans. The former University of Louisville star has guided the team to an undefeated record (5-0) since Brees has been out of the starting line-up.
Additionally, the Saints will also be determining the playing status of several other players that may or may not be able to play in the game due to injuries, which includes starting #1 RB Alvin Kamara, tight end Jared Cook, and #2 starting CB Eli Apple. Despite that, the Saints have opened up as an early 9-point favorite according to the oddsmakers out in Las Vegas.
On the opposite side, the Cardinals will come into New Orleans this weekend seeking what would be their 4th consecutive victory, behind the play of the starting rookie quarterback Kyler Murray; who was the #1 overall selection in this past April's 2019 NFL Draft.
Through 7 games, the 5-foot-9 signal-caller and Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Oklahoma has completed 167 passes out of 259 attempts for 1,768 yards with 7 TD's and 4 interceptions; and a completion percentage of 64.5%. Playing under the "Air Raid" scheme of 1st-year Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Murray has guided the Cardinals offense to an average of 29 points per game in their current 3-game winning streak.
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta. USA TODAY Sports
However, Arizona has accomplished that feat in wins over three of the League's lesser-talented teams which includes the (1-6) Atlanta Falcons, the (0-6) Cincinnati Bengals, and the (2-5) New York Giants. Undoubtedly, the Cardinals might be hard-pressed to accomplish such a feat again in this game against what has been a top-caliber defensive unit so far for the Saints. Nevertheless, this is an improving Cardinals team that New Orleans must take seriously and be careful not to overlook.
The Cardinals once again will turn to back-up RB Chase Edmonds to fuel that offense, as the 2nd year small-school superstar from Fordham University will look to build upon his effort from this past weekend; when he rushed for a career-high 126 yards and 3 TD's in Arizona's 27-21 over the Giants. Edmonds has been starting in place of injured starting #1 RB David Johnson, who is expected to miss the game against the Black and Gold as he deals with an ankle injury.
The Cardinals receiving game is led by long-time 16th year NFL veteran Larry Fitzgerald and rookie WR Christian Kirk. Fitzgerald on the season so far has caught 36 receptions for 439 yards and 2 TD's, while averaging 71.2 yards per game and twice has games of 100-plus receiving yards to his credit.
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Kirk has caught 24 receptions on 37 targets for 242 yards, but has failed to score any TD's and has missed 3 of Arizona's games (including last Sunday's win over the Giants) while he also deals with an ankle injury. Kirk is expected to play against the Saints.
Defensively, Arizona has struggled to defend the pass, which doesn't bode well for them as they will have to face the Saints high-powered passing attack this coming Sunday. The Cardinals are currently ranked 25th overall at defending the pass, as they have been yielding an average of 263.3 yards per game.
But they have shown some very notable improvement recently, and are led by the stellar play of two of their recent big free-agent acquisitions on that side of the ball in outside linebacker Chandler Jones and inside linebacker Terrell Suggs. In their win at New York this past Sunday, Jones had 4 out of the Cardinals' 8 sacks. Suggs meanwhile has 5 sacks on the season, and has 14 tackles to his credit along with forced 4 fumbles.
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports
Saints fans of course are more than familiar with the leader of their defensive secondary, which is led by former LSU All-American and 9th-year NFL veteran DB Patrick Peterson. Peterson missed Arizona's first 6 games while he served a suspension, but returned to action this past week against the Giants. Peterson had a team-high 7 tackles, and forced a fumble late in that game that ultimately sealed the victory. He will start against the Saints.
Bottom line: the Cardinals are an underrated team that is slowly improving week-by-week, and the Saints will have be extra-cautious not to underestimate or look past them; especially with the Bye Week for New Orleans coming up immediately after the conclusion of this game.
The Saints have exceeded all of the figurative restrictions and limitations that many NFL observers and analysts believed that they'd have while Drew Brees was out of the line-up, and winning their last five consecutive games while he was gone is a testament to that fact.
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But even if Brees does return to action to this Sunday against the Cardinals, there's still an entire half of a season remaining to be played in which anything can happen. And as the Black and Gold are likely more than well aware given the events of this current season already, they have to be prepared for everything.
For New Orleans, there is still much that they need to achieve if they plan on reaching their ultimate goal of getting to and winning the Super Bowl. And this Sunday at the Superdome, the improving Cardinals are the next obstacle in that path.
