Both teams are flying under the radar but they each have high hopes for the 2017 season. The Arizona Cardinals are looking to get back to their 2015 form when they won 13 games and advanced to the NFC Championship. There was a huge dropoff last season that resulted in only seven wins, the fewest in the Bruce Arians era. The Cards are counting on David Johnson to put another MVP-type season together to lead the offense. He’ll be matched against a Detroit Lions defense that has already suffered significant injuries when the clubs battle in Week 1.
Don't miss any of the NFL Week 1 action on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 1 p.m. ET. This duel from Ford Field will be televised on FOX
NFL Week 1 Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona Cardinals +2.5
Detroit Lions -2.5
Over/Under 48
David Johnson vs. Expectations
Johnson put up numbers comparable to Le’Veon Bell and Marshall Faulk last season with his unique ability to run the football and be a threat in the passing game out of the backfield. And Arians is going to lean heavily on Johnson to shoulder a lot of the offensive load to take some pressure off Carson Palmer in 2017.
The expectations are sky high for Johnson after he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 2,118 last year. He ranked seventh in rushing with 1,239 yards on 293 carries with 16 touchdowns. Johnson was the Cards second leading receiver with 80 catches on 120 targets for an additional 879 yards.
Arians said he wants to get Johnson 30 touches a game, but there will be times where he won’t touch the ball as often as others. But it’s a nice plan. Johnson had at least 30 touches three times last season and the Cards didn’t lose in those contests. He’ll be operating against a Lions defense that already lost end Kerry Hyder and linebacker Brandon Copeland to season-ending injuries.
Drew Stafford vs. Cardinals History
It isn’t the most ideal opponent for Stafford to start the year, but at least he’ll be motivated for a better showing against a team that has given him fits during his career.
Stafford has started four games in his career against the Cardinals and has yet to beat them. He was pulled from the last meeting when the Cards torched the Lions in Detroit 42-17 during the 2015 campaign. Stafford threw three picks in that game and was replaced by backup Dan Orlovsky in the third quarter.
Stafford has averaged just 224 passing yards per game against the Cards, the fewest per game average against any opponent, and his seven interceptions thrown to Arizona defenders are the most against any non-NFC North foe. Stafford will also be asked to end a seven-game overall losing streak to the Cards that dates back to the 2006 season.
Ameer Abdullah vs. Cardinals Front
The Lions had the third-worst rushing attack in the NFL last season with 82 yards per game, and that was mainly because they couldn’t keep their top two backs healthy. But establishing anything on the ground has been troublesome for the Lions, who ranked last with 83.4 yards per outing in 2015.
Detroit drafted Abdullah from Nebraska in the second round in 2015 with the hope that he would be the next Barry Sanders. Abdullah’s rookie season was one of transition, but it turned out to be decent. He ran for 597 yards and averaged 4.2 yards per tote. That was a lead in to what was expected to be a bigger season in 2016. It didn’t turn out that way, though.
Abdullah is back after playing in just two games last season and the offensive line has two new starters acquired in free agency and one of the best blocking tight ends in former Cardinal Darren Fells. The game plan isn’t going to change. Stafford will still chuck the ball through the air, but having a respectable ground attack will help. Watch for the Lions to try and establish something on the ground and Abdullah will be the featured player in the run game.
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