While the two rookies battle in Tampa, a pair of wily, veteran quarterbacks will lock horns in the desert when the Cardinals host the Saints. Arizona was cruising along at 8-1 last year until Carson Palmer was shelved for the year with a knee injury, tossing all hopes of a lengthy playoff run out the window. Palmer was 6-0 as a starter last season and is 16-6 both SU and ATS in his two seasons in Arizona.
ODDS
Arizona opened at -2.5 and with the uncertainty surrounding the Saints, the Cards are a trendy pick. The total went on the board at 47 and with two offenses more than capable of putting up points, that number jumped to 48. Still, the over carries plenty of value in this one.
KEY INJURIES
C.J. Spiller – Is doubtful for Sunday as he continues to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery last month. He was No. 2 on the depth chart and will give his reps to either Khiry Robinson or Tim Hightower.
Jairus Byrd – Was the likely starter at free safety until a knee injury hobbled him. Byrd is out for a few games as he continues his recovery.
Mike Iupati – Is out for a few weeks after having knee surgery in August. Iupati is part of an offensive line coach Bruce Arians says is the best he’s had while with the Cards. Right tackle Bobby Massie, also a part of that group, will serve a two-game league-mandated suspension, leaving the line to shuffle around until they both return.
KEY MISMATCH
With a healthy Carson Palmer back to run the offense, the Cardinals believe they have the talent to contend for the Super Bowl. The Cards were unbeatable in games Palmer started last season, going 6-0, and they were 8-1 when Palmer suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10. The Cards averaged 359.8 yards in his six starts, with Palmer throwing for an average of 271 yards, with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions for a 95.6 quarterback rating. Palmer’s knee is at full strength, and after rehabbing a shoulder injury that also sidelined him last year, the 35-year-old declared his arm is “as strong as it’s ever been, maybe stronger.” He faces a defense in transition after allowing 384 yards and 26.5 points per game last season.
KEY STAT
25.8 – Arizona’s scoring average in games Palmer started. Just how important is Palmer to the success of the Cardinals? They went 6-0 scoring 25.8 points in his starts and were just 5-4 while scoring 15.5 points in the games he didn’t.
BETTING ANGLE
The only other time in the past six years there has been this much doubt and uncertainty surrounding the Saints was in 2012, when coach Sean Payton was serving a year-long suspension. But that’s what happens when you finish 7-9, then radically revamp everything from the roster to the coaching staff to the playbooks to the scouting department. But nothing is more important to the Saints than the status of quarterback Drew Brees, who remains the biggest reason why they are bona fide playoff contenders. Brees struggled with turnovers last season so the Saints worked to improve the O-line, run game and defense around him, so he doesn’t have to force things. Brees enters the season feeling confident about his game and his team.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Palmer is healthy, which means a lot to the fortunes of the Cardinals. But the team is deep, much deeper than they’ve been under Arians, who said last week, “This is the best football team we’ve had.” Unfortunately they won’t be their best at the beginning of the season with two-fifths of the offensive line out and a running back situation that hasn’t been resolved. The Cards will get by New Orleans simply because they have better all-around talent, but this game will be close and possibly the best of the day. The Saints have a bunch of new faces and will take a few weeks to come together. They’re also missing some pieces in the secondary, which will allow the Cards’ talented receivers to make plays.
Arizona 27, New Orleans 22
The NFL lines for this Sunday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Cardinals were pegged as 2.5-point chalk while the total opened at 47. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The game between the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals will commence Sunday, September 13, 2015, at 4:05 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium. The contest will be broadcast regionally on FOX.
