Nov

10

Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals NFL Week 10 - Preview

Posted by Kevin Mack

November 10, 2007 |

  • Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals NFL Week 10 - Preview

Detroit Lions logoArizona Cardinals logoDetroit Lions 6-2 vs Arizona Cardinals 3-5

Sunday November 11, 2007 @ 4:15 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: Fox with Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli and Kevin McCabe

Detroit, after an impressive performance routing the Denver Broncos 44-7 Week 9 travels to Arizona. The Lions face the Arizona Cardinals losers of 3 straight including last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-10.

  • Detroit Lions Offense vs Arizona Cardinals Defense

Detroit has used a more balanced offensive attack the last 2 weeks. The Lions must continue to be balanced this week against the Cardinals NFL 9th rated overall defense. QB Jon Kitna will continue to spread the ball around to Wideouts Roy Williams from Detroit Lions siteRoy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey. They will be going up against the Cardinals 7th ranked passing defense with ex-Lion FS Terrance Holt and CB Eric Green. RB Kevin Jones will get the bulk of the rushing attempts but look for RB T.J. Duckett to get carries for a change of pace. Arizona’s rushing defense, ranked 18th in the NFL, will depend on LB Gerald Hayes and SS Adrian Wilson to stuff the Lions running game. Detroit’s offensive line must protect Kitna to keep the Cardinals, 12th in the NFL in QB sacks, from pressuring the QB. If Kitna has time, and he has been sacked more than any QB in the NFL this season, he should be able to have some success against the Cardinals defensive backs who are 25th in the league getting interceptions. Detroit’s 12th overall offense has a better reputation than it actually is. The ‘experts’ all rave about genius Mike Martz’s offense being high powered and all passing all the time. Martz himself says right now the offense is just ok.

“We’re a long ways from being a good offense. We’re kind of just OK, really. We’re getting better, but we’re not nearly where we need to be. There always seems to be an execution issue here or there. It just takes one guy, one foul-up someplace, a stumble or trip on a particular play. We’re getting better. I think we’ll start to snowball here in a little bit.”

Source: Mlive Tom Kowalski

Detroit will find a significant challenge with the Cardinal defense and must mix in a good rushing attack with Jones and keep the pressure off Kitna to find success.

  • Arizona Cardinals Offense vs Detroit Lions Defense

Arizona with QB Kurt Warner and the 13th ranked passing offense will test the Lions 30th ranked pass defense. Warner will look often to wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Detroit will try and control the passing game with CBs Stanley Wilson, Fernando Bryant and the Lions will rotate in CB Keith Smith to help. Detroit leads the NFL in interceptions and Arizona is 4th in the league in throwing interceptions. Detroit hopes to continue their good fortune with interception with the hope that Warner throws a couple at least. The Cardinals will attempt to utilize RB Edgerrin James to gash the Lions with a strong running game. James has caught very few passes but other opponents have exploited the Lions with screen passes and short throws to the running backs earlier in the season. Detroit will have emerging star LB Ernie SimsErnie Sims and DT Shaun Rogers to help control the Cardinal ground game. The Lions will be missing DE Dewayne White which will hurt the Lions ability to control the run as well as their ability to get pressure on Warner. Arizona is very strong protecting Warner, they are 2nd in the league giving up sacks. That protection will hamper one of Detroit’s strengths, the Lions are 5th in the NFL with 24 sacks this season. Detroit will mix in some blitzes and man to man defenses that have been successful recently. Detroit’s strenth is the Tampa Two defense which they use so much to make teams have long drives without making mistakes to score.

  • Your ‘Lion Eyes’ Blogger’s Thoughts

The Lions, in the past, have not performed well in the Valley of the Sun. Detroit has lost their last 4 trips to Arizona and are only 1-4 overall since the Cardinals moved to Phoenix in 1988. Your ‘Lion Eyes’ blogger expects a close game with the Cardinals able to move the ball well with their passing game. Detroit has been successful creating turnovers and keeping teams out of the endzone even when giving up many yards. The Lions will have to rely on that formula to escape the Valley with a win. In past years, the Lions after a big win like they had against the Broncos would play horribly the next week and lose. I don’t think they will play horribly, but they will most likely lose. Coach Marinelli has ingrainedRod Marinelli from Detroit Lions site in the team that they are not entitled to NFL victories they have to work hard to get them. The Cardinals are a desperate team and must win this home game to keep up with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West race. I expect the Cardinals to win a tight game and the Lions to come back to Detroit at 6-3. As always when I think the Lions are going to lose, I hope I am incorrect and they come back to Detroit to meet the New York Giants next week at 7-2. If Detroit does win they would have their first 4 game winning streak of this millennium.

Photos Roy Williams, Ernie Sims and Rod Marinelli Source: Detroit Lions 

Cast your Vote in This Week’s Poll

    Which Team will Win the Game on Sunday November 11, 2007

    • Detroit Lions (85%, 46 Votes)
    • Arizona Cardinals (15%, 8 Votes)

    Total Voters: 54

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Injury Report Source: Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions Week 10 IR Logo

Pos. Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday
FB Jon Bradely - Probable Ankle No Practice Full Practice Full Practice
T Jonathon Scott - Doubtful Hand No Practice No Practice No Practice
DE Dewayne White - Doubtful Elbow No Practice No Practice No Practice
QB Jon Kitna - Probable Left Shoulder Limited Practice Full Practice Full Practice

Arizona Cardinals Week 10 IR Logo

Pos. Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday
FS Aaron Fancisco - Out Knee No Practice No Practice No Practice
SS Adrian Wilson - Quest Heel Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice
CB Eric Green - Probable Hamstring Limited Practice Full Practice Full Practice
QB Kurt Warner - Probable Left Elbow Full Practice Full Practice Full Practice

NFL Injury Report Logo

Reported Status Percent Chance to Play
Probable 75% Chance Player will Play in Game
Questionable 50% Chance Player will Play in Game
Doubtful 25% Chance Player will Play in Game
Out Player will not Play in Game


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