With Week 3 of the NFL season underway, let us hope the Lions have a bounce-back game against the Arizona Cardinals after that lackluster performance on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To sum it up, Jared Goff was the primary reason for Week 2's loss, and going up against a Cardinals team that just gave a beat down to the LA Rams is going to be a tough hole to dig out of. But every player can be in a slump; it is up to them to get out of it, so I expect a win for the Lions this week.
The Matchup
The Lions and the Cardinals have faced each other a total of 69 times, with the Lions winning 35 of those matchups. They have also tied a total of 6 times over all of these matchups as well. It's not hard to say these teams have battled it out over the years, with the Lions having an edge overall in terms of wins. The last time these two teams squared off, the Lions got the W. The Lions went 3-13-1 during that season, so it was pretty surprising that they could come away with a win, especially by a big margin, with a score of 30-12. But these teams have gone through a lot of changes since their last match up, so expect a much different game out of both teams.
Lions Statistical Rankings 2023:
Pts Scored Per Game: 27.1 (5th)
Total Yards Per Game: 406.9 (3rd)
Passing Yards Per Game: 270.9 (4th)
Rushing Yards Per Game: 135.9 (5th)
Sacks: 41 (23rd)
Interceptions: 16 (11th)
Who to Watch
The main person to watch this week is Aidan Hutchinson for the Lions. Hutchinson is coming off career-high single-game sacks, with 4.5 total. Hutchinson has been on fire so far all season, leading the league in total sacks with 5.5. Expect him to carry that momentum into this next game or at least put pressure on Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray is one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the NFL, so it will be a tall task for "Hutch" to get his hands on Murray, but getting the Cardinals QB off his game and balance is enough to tip the scales in favor of the Lions defense in the game.
Also, expect another big game from Jameson Williams, who has been the most productive weapon on the Lions' offense since the start of the season. Leading the Lions in both passing yards and touchdowns, Williams has been the go-to wide receiver on the offense, and that does not look like it will change. Amon Ra St. Brown is the number one wide receiver, but Williams was the go-to for Jared Goff at the beginning of the season. "Jamo" will be a major factor if the Lions are to win on Sunday.
Jared Goff
Goff needs this win. Not as he needs this win for the Lions, but he needs it for himself. A great performance here will cast all doubts about him leading the Lions to the playoffs aside and set his place as one of the top quarterbacks in the league again. Coming off his disastrous performance against the Buccaneers, Goff needs a bounce-back game and a big one. I'm not saying break single-game records, but three passing touchdowns, 200+ throwing yards, and a high-grade passing attempt stat would be a huge help in establishing Goff's presence and giving some confidence back to his game. The Lions as a team need a performance like Goff's, as morale will skyrocket knowing the man leading the offense is capable of being the quarterback they need.
Outcome
The Lions need this win, and so do the Cardinals. But with the Lions' offense having more talent and depth, I expect the Lions to walk out of the desert with a win. It won't be a shootout or a beatdown; this game could come down to a touchdown or a field goal. The Lions should not underestimate Kyler Murray and his improvisation of the play. But I don't see that happening with them, and the Lions will pull out the win.
Final Score: Lions 28, Cardinals 17
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